La Cathedral of the Assumption It is the oldest, largest and most important of many churches in the Kremlin. It stands on the site of a small cathedral built by Ivan I around 1330 to commemorate Moscow's new status as the seat of Russian Orthodoxy.
A century and a half later, Ivan III (the Great) decided that his predecessor and by then modest time-worn work was insufficient as a symbol of the greatness of the city. After a brief and unsuccessful flirtation with the local builders, he decided to go all out and hire an Italian (after all, it was the Renaissance).
Thus, in 1475, Alberti (also known as Aristotle) Fioravanti arrived from Bologna went to work. Just four years later Fioravanti died.
In addition to its historical importance as the main church of Russian Orthodoxy (and therefore as the site of all forms of coronations, funerals, victory services, and intrigues), the Cathedral stands out for its elements architectural and decorative out.
The frescoes, icons, and the Monomakh Throne are of particular interest to visitors, as is Fioravanti's archetypal synthesis of traditional Russian ecclesiastical architecture.