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The Moscow Kremlin is the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation, and a unique architectural ensemble, included in the UNESCO world cultural and natural heritage. It includes museums-cathedrals: the Dormition Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Archangel, Cathedral of the Annunciation; the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the Patriarch's Palace of the XVII century and the Church of the Twelve Apostles, the ensemble of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower and the Kremlin Armoury. The Kremlin museums preserve unique works of different genres of art, which illustrate the ceremonials of secular and spiritual rulers. The first settlements on the territory of the Kremlin belong to the bronze age, they were first mentioned in chronicles in 1147. The first fortifications were built by 1156. Since 1264, this castle became the residence of the Moscow princes, and later of the kings and the church hierarchs. Wooden walls and towers of the fortress wall, built of oak, appeared in 1339, stone - in 1367. The Kremlin has received modern design after a major reconstruction in the second half of the XV century. The reconstruction was lead by the Italian architects. The famous Spasskaya (Saviour) tower with chimes, built in 1491 became the symbol of the Kremlin. The Spassky (Saviour) gate is the main gate in the Kremlin, Russian tsars and emperors used it to enter Kremlin, according to tradition. In 1955 the Kremlin was partially open to the public, and became a museum under the open sky.
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