Red Porch, Ceremonial staircase at Palace of Facets in Kremlin, Moscow, Russia
The Red Porch is a ceremonial outdoor staircase attached to the Palace of Facets in the Moscow Kremlin, decorated with stone lions and medieval architectural details. It connects the palace to the courtyard below and demonstrates the Italian architectural style of the late 1400s.
Italian architects Marco Ruffo and Pietro Antonio Solari built this staircase in the late 1400s as the main entrance to the palace complex. For centuries, it served as the setting for state ceremonies and imperial rituals.
The name comes from an old Russian word meaning beautiful, reflecting how people once described this grand entrance rather than referring to its color.
The staircase is visible from outside and can be viewed from the Kremlin grounds at any time, though you cannot walk on it. Complete restoration in 1994 brought it back to its original appearance after Soviet-era changes.
During the reign of the tsars, they would pause on this staircase and bow three times to the crowd gathered below, a gesture that showed respect and connection to their people. This ritual made the location a symbol of the relationship between ruler and subjects.
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