Moscow Spasskaya Tower

About the Spasskaya Tower

Moscow, the capital of Russia, is symbolized by the iconic Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin. This historic clock tower serves as the main entrance to the Moscow Kremlin and is one of the most recognizable symbols of Russia, representing the political and cultural heart of the nation with its distinctive architecture and famous chimes.

Built in 1491 by the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari as part of Ivan III's reconstruction of the Kremlin walls, the Spasskaya Tower acquired its present name in 1658, after an icon of the Saviour placed above its gate. Its tented top, with the clock, was added in the 1620s by the English master Christopher Galloway, and the chimes have been rebuilt several times, most notably by the Butenop brothers in the 1850s. A ruby glass star replaced the imperial eagle in 1935. Because the tower's bells mark the New Year for television audiences across Russia and its gate faces Red Square, it now functions as a shorthand image for Moscow and the Russian state alike.