Allow plenty of time to explore the Kremlin. There was so much to see. I'll comment on a few of the things I remember. Probably one of the first things we came to was the Emperor Cannon ("Tsar Pushka") which is said to be the world's largest cannon. To this day, it has never been fired.

The Russian Orthodox Cathedrals are spectacular, but a bit overwhelming. Icon paintings cover EVERY INCH of the walls. The Cathedral of the Dormition was where Tsars were crowned, & contains Ivan the Terrible's 1551 throne. The Cathedral of the Annunciation was the wedding cathedral of the Tsars dating from 1490.

The Ivan the Great Bell-Tower survived the attempt by Napoleon to blow it up in 1812. The three-level inscription reads: "By the grace of the Holy Trinity & on the order of the Tsar & Grand Prince Boris Fyodorovich, autocrat of All Russia, this sacred place was completed & gilded in the second year of their reign."

As we left the Kremlin hours later, we passed the Emperor Bell ("Tsar Kolokol") said to be the world's largest bell. Cast in 1734-1735, it contains just under 80% copper. During a great fire in 1737, the bell, still in the foundry pit, had to be sprayed w/ water to prevent it melting. The difference in temperature caused an 11.5 ton piece to break off. That piece, taller than I am, sits @ the base of the bell.

While filming the bell, a heavily armed motorcade whizzed past, possibly Putin headed to his office nearby. He was preparing for a meeting w/ US President, George W. Bush.

Inside the walls of the citadel's watch towers were concentrated many of the most significant of Russia's oldest churches and living quarters. Over the centuries many buildings underwent changes. The churches and dwellings of the 18th and 19th Centuries are the most well preserved.

The oldest part of the Kremlin is the Cathederal Square. It is here that you will encounter the Cathederal of the Assumption which was built by the Italian architect, Aristotal Florovanty. This church served as the main Cathederal of Russia and it was here that the Tsars of Russia were crowned and where the most important political and religious ceremonies occurred.

In front of the south facade of the church of the assumption is the Cathedral of the Annunciation. This was the church of the Tsars and was built by Russian Masters in 1487-1489. There is also the Church of the Deposition of the Robe (1484-1486) which is characterized by the refined one dome construction that was built to memorize the occasion of the transfer of the Robe of the Virgin from Palestine to Konstantinopal. This church became the home church of Russian Metropolitans. Today it houses a collection of old Russian sculptures.

In 1508 the architect, Alviza Montanyana, built the Cathederal of the Archangel Michael. This church was very important until the beginning of the 18th Century because it was here that the Tsars and Dukes of Russia were buried. This changed with the death of Peter I, as he and his heirs, were buried in the Peter and paul Fortress in the new capitol city of St. Petersburg. Every church mentioned thus far are filled with collections of monumental art and some of the most venerated of all Russian icon paintings. It is important to note that the art contained in the churches was not destroyed or stolen as was often the case in occuppied parts of Russia during the first three years of WWII. Other old pieces of art and churches were destroyed the time after the Revolution of 1918.