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The Senate
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This building was constructed in 1776-1788 by architect Matvey Kazakov in the early Russian classical style. The Senate is triangular, with truncated corners and three inner courtyards – a result of the awkward shape of the construction site. Notwithstanding this difficulty, Kazakov brilliantly handled the task and created an exquisite building.
One of the halls, the Catherine - or White - Hall, was for gatherings of the nobility. Semicircular with a rotunda, the White Hall, thanks to its fairy-tale decorations and bold architectural design, is rightly regarded as one of the most remarkable Russian interiors of the 17th century. In the piers between the windows of the second tier there are bas-relief portraits of Russian tsars and grand dukes. The hall is crowned with a giant dome made with one layer of brick and 24.7 meters in diameter. Kazakov is said to have climbed on top of the dome to demonstrate its durability.
In 1908 a memorial cross designed by V.M. Vasnetsov was installed near the Senate building on the spot where Grand Duke Sergey Alexandrovich was assassinated. On May 1, 1918, the Bolshevik leadership dismantled the cross with their own hands.
In 1918, the Senate became the site of the new government agencies, as well as Vladimir Lenin’s apartment and office. Since then, the building has always been the residence of the head of the state.
Bird’s Eye View of the Kremlin
Moscow Kremlin State Historical and Cultural Museum Sanctuary