Palace of Facets, 15th-century Renaissance palace in Moscow, Russia
The Palace of Facets is a two-storey white palace on Cathedral Square in the Moscow Kremlin. Its upper storey is covered in a raised diamond pattern of white stone blocks, while the lower storey is plain white. The upper level has four large square windows with dark frames, each in a recessed white surround, and a fifth smaller window above the right side. The lower level has smaller square windows and a wooden door at its centre. The roof is dark and low-pitched behind a dark cornice.
Italian builders erected the building between 1487 and 1491 for Ivan III. The complex was rebuilt and expanded several times in the 16th and 17th centuries to meet growing ceremonial demands.
The throne room continues to serve for official state receptions and diplomatic events of the Russian government. Biblical scenes and allegorical representations run along the walls in bright colors, shaping the interior of the hall.
Access is only possible through guided tours that must be reserved in advance. Visitors should allow time for security checks and may not bring large bags or backpacks.
The Red Porch on the south facade, with stylized lions on its railings, was demolished under Stalin in the 1930s and replaced by a canteen for Kremlin workers; it was rebuilt in 1994 as the first Moscow monument restored in that period. Tsars descended it toward the Dormition Cathedral for coronations, the last being Nicholas II in 1896.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,246 contributors worldwide.
