The Faceted Chamber was founded in 1487. by the Italian master Marco Fryazin as a ceremonial throne room for ceremonial receptions in the new grand-ducal palace of Ivan III. Its construction was completed in 1491. Lombard architect Pietro Antonio Solari.

The building is built of brick. The reception hall in the form of a single-pillar chamber covered with four cross vaults is located on a high ground floor. From the west it is adjoined by the ceremonial Holy Entrance, to which an open stone staircase leads from the south - the Red Porch. A chamber with a square plan, covered with vaults resting on the walls and a central pillar, is the most common in Russian civil architecture of the 15th-16th centuries. type of halls. For two centuries, the Faceted Chamber with an area of ​​495 sq.m. remained the largest hall in Russian architecture.

The name of the chamber comes from the architectural design of the main eastern facade facing Cathedral Square. It is lined with white stone blocks, each of which is hewn into four sides. This stone treatment, characteristic of Italian Renaissance architecture, was called “diamond rustication.” The side facades had smooth brick surfaces, painted to resemble brick. As the graphic materials show, the Faceted Chamber ended with a high hipped gilded roof. The monument received its current low three-slope roof in the 19th century. The original window openings had the form of paired lancet arches, separated by an impost column and framed in a rectangular frame, similar to the windows of Italian palazzos. The existing windows with their Baroque frames date back to the last quarter of the 17th century.

The strongly protruding volume of the chamber with a richly decorated main facade, giving deep chiaroscuro, plays an active role in shaping the architectural appearance of Cathedral Square.

In the 16th century the walls and vaults in the interior of the chamber were painted with frescoes. In 1668 the painting was resumed by Simon Ushakov, compiling a detailed inventory of the subjects. The painting that has survived to this day was made by Palekh icon painters in 1881. in accordance with Ushakov's inventory.

During construction in 1838-1849. Of the Great Kremlin Palace, the Chamber of Facets was included in the new complex of palace buildings and was connected through the Holy Entrance to the Vladimir Hall.

During the restoration work of 1967-1968, the unique carved white stone portal in the western wall of the chamber and the relief decoration of the central pillar were restored. In 1992-1994. The Red Porch, dismantled in the 1930s, was rebuilt.

Currently, the Chamber of Facets is one of the representative halls at the Residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

It is famous for its large number of architectural and historical monuments. Among these is the Chamber of Facets, an architectural monument of world heritage.

For several centuries, the Chamber of Facets was the main ceremonial reception hall in the Grand Duke's palace. Meetings of zemstvo councils were held in it, and the boyar duma met here. In this place, in 1552, Ivan the Terrible celebrated the capture of Kazan, in 1709, Peter I celebrated his brilliant victory over Charles XII, and in 1721, the Peace of Nystad with Sweden was concluded in the Chamber of Facets.

Nowadays, the Kremlin Chamber of Facets is a representative hall at the residence of the President of Russia.

The Chamber of Facets is a two-story building. At the same time, the lower, ground floor is not connected to the upper one. According to surviving documentation, there were once ovens on the lower floor, and a huge ceremonial hall on the upper floor.

The peculiarity of the Faceted Chamber is given by a unique system of cross vaults, which rest on one central pillar. The area of ​​the hall is 495 m², height – 9 m.

During the daytime, sunlight enters the chambers from 18 windows located on three sides. In the evening and at night, 4 round massive bronze chandeliers are used for lighting. Ancient Novgorod chandeliers were used as a model for their manufacture.

The walls and vault system are painted with frescoes, the main theme is biblical. Here you can see images of paintings of the creation of the world, a number of fragments from the life of Adam and Eve.

In addition, here you can observe the life of Joseph conveyed in pictures, drawn scenes about righteous and unjust judgment.

The holy vestibule and the vestibule of the Chamber of Facets are decorated very solemnly. They are given grandeur and splendor by the portals, which are carved from white stone and richly covered with gilding.

Adjacent to the south side of the facade is a staircase, today called the Red Porch. In the old days, Russian tsars and emperors walked along it, who were crowned in the Assumption Cathedral. The last procession took place here in 1896, when Nicholas II ascended the throne. In 1930, by order of I. Stalin, the staircase was dismantled, but in 1994 it was restored again.

Historical reference

The history of the Chamber of Facets begins in 1487, when, by order of Ivan III, the Italian architect Marco Fryazin began construction of the ceremonial throne room in the palace of the Grand Duke of All Rus'. The construction of the chamber was completed in 1491, but by another Italian architect - Pietro Antonio Solari.

The chamber received its unusual name “faceted” due to one of its facades, which was completely decorated with faceted stone rustication. True, the chamber did not immediately become “faceted”. Initially, it had a different name – “Big”.

The structure was erected on the site of the old gridnitsa, a room in the princely courtyard in which warriors lived.

In 1684, under the leadership of the architect Osip Startsev, the Faceted Chamber was partially remodeled. It was decided to cut out the double lancet windows and decorate them with white stone frames with small columns intertwined with vines.

In 1838-1849, during the construction of the Grand Kremlin Palace, the architects decided to integrate the Faceted Chamber with the Terem Palace. Today, through the Holy Entrance Hall, the chamber is connected to the Vladimir Hall.

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Among the oldest civil buildings and structures of the capital of the Russian Federation, the Chamber of Facets is one of the most famous. It is located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin and is included in the list of cultural heritage sites of the peoples of the Russian Federation.

History of the construction of the Chamber of Facets

Until the 80s of the 15th century, on the site of the Faceted Chamber there was ancient princely gridnitsa- a large room where the squad was located. The building could easily accommodate up to 400 people, and therefore the gridnitsa was often used for feasts and receptions on the occasion of major holidays.

In 1487 the architect Marco Ruffo, who was born in Italy and worked in Russia, laid the first stone in the new building. It was expected that it would become the venue for ceremonial receptions, meetings and gala dinners hosted by the royal family. The customer of the construction was the king Ivan III. Another architect of Italian origin completed work on the construction of the Chamber of Facets - Pietro Antonio Solari. At the same time, the architect worked on the construction of the largest towers of the Moscow Kremlin.

The Faceted Chamber received its name due to the special decoration of the eastern facade. This wall has outside faceted rust, which in the old days was often called diamond. Rust is a facing of quadrangular stones that fit tightly to each other and have a roughly hewn front side. The protruding parts of the stones give the building a massive and durable appearance and provide noise and heat insulation. This method of finishing facades is typical for buildings built during the Renaissance in Italy.

Construction lasted four years, and 1491 Pietro Antonio Solari reported to the king about the completion of the work. Next to the Faceted Chamber was erected Middle Golden Chamber. There were several ways to get here from Cathedral Square:

The main porch was called Red. It is located near the southern wall of the Chamber of Facets, and in the old days, during holidays or with the announcement of important decrees, the king solemnly came out to it.

Along the middle staircase, named at the end of the 17th century Golden lattice, one could enter the vestibule of the Middle Golden Chamber. Thus, diplomatic representatives of states that professed non-Christian religions entered the royal palace.

It was possible to get to the Faceted Chamber from Cathedral Square through the porch of the Annunciation Cathedral, which is separated from the chamber by only a few meters.

The first reconstruction and major renovation of the Faceted Chamber took place in 1684, when the arched windows were cut out and replaced with full-fledged window openings, a new portal was added opposite the entrance from the vestibule, carved ornaments were added to the platbands, and seven additional windows were cut through the western and southern facades. The head of the construction team that carried out the reconstruction of the building was Osip Startsev, who is called one of the most talented Russian architects who worked in the Moscow Baroque style.

Faceted Chamber in the 18th-20th centuries

New emperors were crowned in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin until the end of the 19th century. Each such ceremony was accompanied festive feast, which took place in the Chamber of Facets. Usually on such days the building was additionally decorated, for which precious things and decorations were received from the State Order. The chamber celebrated the victory at Poltava in 1709 and the signing of a peace treaty with Sweden in 1721.

Trinity Fire of 1737 caused very significant damage to the Faceted Chamber. The roof and floor in the entryway were destroyed in the fire, and the white stone carvings were severely damaged. Restoration work continued in 1753, when the Red Porch was rebuilt, maintaining its original appearance.

The next works began before the coronation Alexandra III. Then the lighting system in the ward was replaced, installing chandeliers and sconces made of bronze. They were created in the style of Novgorod lamps of the 15th century. The paintings on the walls and ceiling, darkened by time and partially lost in the fire, were restored by a team of painters drawn from the village Palekh.

Revolutionary changes also affected the Moscow Kremlin. The Faceted Chamber was handed over Kremlin commandant's office. It was to become a venue for various protocol events. In the 60s of the 20th century, restoration measures were carried out in the chamber, as a result of which a white stone portal decorated with carvings reappeared on the western wall, and the central pillar was re-decorated with reliefs. The paintings were cleaned and partially renewed, cracks in the masonry were filled and covered with fresh plaster, and the lost gilding was applied to the walls and pillars.

What to see in the Chamber of Facets

The two-story chamber building consists of basement bottom and square throne room- On the second floor. The area of ​​the upper hall is 495 square meters. m. Its cross vaults come together in the center and flow into the central pillar, richly decorated with stucco. The height of the vaults reaches nine meters. During the day, the chamber is illuminated by natural light pouring through eighteen windows. In the evening, the Chamber of Facets lights up bronze chandeliers, made in the 18th century.

Along the western wall adjoining the throne room Holy canopy, and opposite the throne place there is a hiding place. You can enter the Faceted Chamber from Cathedral Square through the Red Porch.

The stone staircase that led to the main passage to the Chamber of Facets was called Red porch. In the 17th century, guards stood on it to guard the entrance to the royal palace. Under the porch there were utility rooms. The staircase consisted of 32 steps, hewn from white stone and covered with iron. Gilded figures of lions were placed on each of the three landings of the Red Porch, and the staircases were accompanied by railings. The porch was protected from rain and snow by a roof in the form of tents made of copper plates.

The original Red Porch, built along with the main chamber building, was dismantled and rebuilt in connection with construction and renovation work on Cathedral Square in 1753 and 1841. The staircase was finally dismantled in 1934. Then instead of the Red Porch there appeared dining room for delegates to congresses of the CPSU and deputies sitting in the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The dining room was adjacent to the southern wall and existed until the early 90s of the last century, when it was dismantled. In 1994, the Red Porch was rebuilt using a model of the chamber stored in Museum of Architecture, and drawings, which, fortunately, were made before the demolition of the stairs. Double-headed eagles are installed above the side gables of the restored Red Porch, and stone lions are installed on the platforms, as before.

Holy canopy in front of the entrance to the main building of the Faceted Chamber were added in the 30-40s of the 19th century, when the Great Kremlin Palace was being built in the Kremlin. The front room of the entrance hall was painted in 1846-1847 Fedor Zavyalov, Russian historical painter and professor at the Imperial Academy of Arts.

From a hiding place opposite the throne seat, the queen watched the ceremonies taking place in the Chamber of Facets. The window of the hiding place was covered with bars and covered with a curtain, the walls were decorated with expensive fabrics, and the window sills were made of marble.

Paintings of the Chamber of Facets

There is no doubt that the most important treasures preserved in the Chamber of Facets are her wall paintings. The first frescoes appeared in the chamber in the 16th century, and he continued to paint the royal ceremonial guest dining room Simon Ushakov. This happened in 1668, when the master was already a mature and accomplished artist. Semyon Ushakov was a very talented icon painter and became famous for his desire to absorb new trends and master many painting techniques and techniques. Ushakov accepted Western art and actively invented new compositions, trying to give the depicted figures character and dynamism.

In the first third of the 18th century, the wall paintings of the Chamber of Facets were destroyed by order of the emperor Peter I. The frescoes on the ceilings were simply whitewashed, on the vaults they were painted over, and the walls of the Chamber of Facets were covered from the inside with crimson-colored velvet material, on which double-headed eagles were embroidered in gold.

Thanks to the inventory compiled in the 17th century by Simon Ushakov, information about the paintings was preserved, which made it possible to return the lost frescoes in 1881. The work was carried out Belousov brothers– icon painters from Palekh:

The portal at the main entrance is decorated with pilasters, decorated with carvings in the form of floral patterns and heraldic animals. The oldest image of a double-headed eagle in the building stands out in the composition.

The vaults and slopes of the vaults are filled with cosmogonic scenes.

The central pillar, on which the four cross vaults of the chamber rest, is decorated with images of dolphins in the central part. The frieze ribbon contains the coat of arms of Russia and images of various animals.

On the lunettes located above the windows of the southern wall you can see written scenes from the Old Testament, as well as portraits of Fyodor Ioannovich and Solomon and the scene of the crowning of Vladimir Monomakh.

The slopes of the window openings introduce the viewer to representatives of the princely family of Rurikovich - 24 portraits in total.

The source for the subjects of Simon Ushakov’s frescoes was the Bible and monuments of ancient Russian writing, called Chronographs. They first appeared in the 15th century and were chronicles, the authors of which tried to systematize historical information and available data. The Chronograph usually briefly recounted biblical events and contained an outline of general history.

On a note:

• Nearest metro stations: "Borovitskaya", "Alexandrovsky Sad", "Lenin Library", "Arbatskaya".
• Official website: www.kreml.ru
• Opening hours: From May 15 to September 30 - every day except Thursday, from 9:30 to 18:00. The ticket office is open from 9:00 to 17:00. from October 1 to May 14 - every day except Thursday, from 10:00 to 17:00. The ticket office is open from 9:30 to 16:30. The Armory Chamber and the observation deck of the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great operate according to a separate schedule.
• Tickets: sold near the Kutafya Tower in the Alexander Garden. Ticket price to Cathedral Square, to the Kremlin cathedrals: for adult visitors - 500 rubles. For Russian students and pensioners upon presentation of the relevant documents - 250 rubles. Children under 16 years old - free. Tickets to the Armory Chamber and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower are purchased separately from the general ticket.

For many centuries, the Kremlin has been and continues to be a symbol of Russian statehood. After all, it was here that the most important decisions for the state were made, the most significant victories were celebrated, and human destinies were decided. It is unlikely that there will be a person, even one completely indifferent to history, who will refuse to walk under the ancient arches in order to touch for a moment the history of Russia.

Moscow Kremlin. Perestroika

The first buildings on the territory of the modern Kremlin appeared in the 12th century, but were mostly wooden. But already under Dmitry Donskoy, intensive construction of stone walls and buildings began, for which local light-colored stone was widely used. It is from here that the name Moscow Belokamennaya, which is often used to this day, came from.

Ivan the Great took a thorough approach to rebuilding the Kremlin, managing to bring together the scattered Slavic principalities and become the head of a centralized state. First of all, the majestic Assumption Cathedral was erected in Moscow, followed by the Church of the Deposition of the Robe and the Annunciation Cathedral, and new strong Kremlin walls and towers were built.

The further construction of the Grand Duke's Palace became quite natural. After all, in order to emphasize the power, authority and wealth of his principality, its ruler needed a worthy residence. Thus, the brilliant Italian architects Marco Ruffo (Fryazin) and Antonio Solari arrived in Moscow. Construction of the palace began in 1485 and lasted, with significant interruptions, for almost 30 years.

Big Chamber. Italian architecture in Moscow

To this day, of the entire palace ensemble, only the Chamber of Facets has survived. Its construction was completed in 1491, at which time it received the name Great Chamber. The outer facade of the building, built of red brick, was lined with tetrahedral limestone from top to bottom, which impressed the Russian people and became the reason for the “speaking” name. Restrained proportions, high ceiling, cubic shape indicate nobility and dignity. For European countries, these architectural solutions have long become traditional. And to this day they are perfectly preserved in many cities of Italy, France, and Germany.

The faceted chamber of the Moscow Kremlin successfully combines the trends of the Renaissance and original Russian traditions. Despite the fact that the building is officially recognized as a Russian monument of Italian architecture, the shape of the ceilings and the central support were traditional for the era of Kievan Rus.

Enormous scale of construction

The Faceted Chamber still amazes today with its splendor and grandeur. Its area is almost 500 meters. Sunlight enters the room unhindered through 18 windows. In the evenings, ample lighting was provided by four massive lamps hanging from the ceiling. The vaults and walls of the room are richly decorated with paintings on biblical themes. A list of materials used to decorate the Chamber of Facets has been preserved to this day.

For the construction, 90 experienced craftsmen required at least 100 thousand sheets of the best gold leaf, 200 arshins of bleached canvas and an incredible amount of natural paints. The central column was decorated with stucco in the form of plant and animal designs and was surrounded by a gold-plated lattice. The throne was located near the eastern wall.

Architectural features

It was possible to get to the Chamber only by climbing the Red, Middle or Annunciation stairs. The red one consisted of four spans and was intended exclusively for the exit of royalty. Most of the time, the entrance to the stairs was blocked by a wrought-iron grille painted in gold. Initially, the Red Staircase was covered, its roof was decorated with massive autocratic eagles. However, during one of the fires it burned down and was never restored. In the 17th century, the staircase landings were decorated with lions, symbolizing the inviolability of royal power.

Foreign ambassadors, merchants and boyars entered the chamber via other staircases - the Middle and Blagoveshchenskaya, the latter intended exclusively for Christian visitors. They all led to the Upper Red Porch, from there to the Holy Entrance Hall, and then to the sovereign's chambers. It was in the Holy Entrance Hall that all those invited to an audience with the sovereign waited their turn. Their walls were decorated with frescoes with scenes from the Holy Scriptures.

Chamber of Secrets

Above them there was a secret room for the beautiful representatives of the royal family. According to unbreakable traditions, women were deprived of the right to attend official receptions and festive feasts. In order to make their lives a little more interesting and give the princesses and princesses the opportunity to satisfy their curiosity, an “observation grill” was installed in the felt-lined room. Hanging with the finest silk, it made it possible to observe the action taking place and at the same time remain away from the gaze of the sovereign's guests.

Purpose

For many centuries, the Faceted Chamber served as the throne room of the palace of the Grand Duke, and then the Russian tsars. Foreign ambassadors were received there, zemstvo councils were held, and feasts were held in honor of great victories that lasted for many hours. At the feast, each invitee occupied a certain place; the more noble the guest was, the more significant his rank, the closer his place was to the ruler. The more significant the visit, the more pompous the reception was. The amount of gold and silver dishes decorated with precious stones amazed the imagination of the guests and was often mentioned in the reports of foreign ambassadors.

Design style in different periods

The Faceted Chamber in the Kremlin changed its appearance several times. Initially, both the ceiling vaults and the walls were covered with unique paintings. The southern vault was decorated with biblical scenes on the theme of the creation of the world, the central part symbolically reflected the division of the Earth between the sons of Noah and the division of Rus' by the sons of Prince Vladimir. On the eastern vault, Jesus Christ appeared before the eyes of the guests. Scrolls with wise sayings were placed in the hands of biblical prophets. The throne was surrounded by images of real historical characters.

For almost 200 years, the Chamber of Facets in Moscow retained its original appearance. However, time does not spare anyone or anything. The building has aged, the colors have faded and crumbled. The appearance of the mansion has lost its former luxury. At the beginning of 1967, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich gave the order to repair it and restore the existing frescoes as accurately as possible. Simon Ushakov, the most famous icon painter of that time, took up the matter. He not only restored the paintings that had been damaged by time, but also made an inventory of them, which repeatedly helped descendants in carrying out restoration work.

However, the next Russian autocrat, Peter the Great, considered the frescoes out of date and ordered them to be whitewashed and covered with exquisite fabrics. The hall was used for performances and other entertainment events. Paul I ordered the walls to be covered with the best velvet. Only in 1882 did the Faceted Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin restore its original appearance. Based on the sketches of Simon Ushakov, father and son Belousov re-painted the room, giving it its original solemn appearance.

Latest restoration

The latest restoration work was completed quite recently - in 2012. The scale of reconstruction that the Chamber of Facets underwent was truly enormous. The tour, lasting more than an hour, allows its participants to instantly be transported back to the 17th century.

Modern restorers again used the inventories of Simon Ushakov and completely restored the interior of that time. The most experienced English specialists were brought in to restore the furniture, which had not been touched since the 19th century. Only in England was there a small factory that produces special fabric with gold threads. The exhibition of the chamber includes 51 restored unique exhibits. During the work, more than 3,000 unique items were found, including a gold brooch, which was transferred to the Armory.

Visit to a historical monument. Prices and conditions

Currently, the Chamber of Facets is also included in the representative premises of the residence of the President of Russia.

The opening hours of this cultural heritage monument are not regular. Receptions of official foreign delegations are held here, and protocol dinners are organized for guests of the highest level. Therefore, it is not surprising that any excursion is coordinated with the Kremlin commandant’s office and is planned many months in advance.

Each excursionist must have a valid passport with him; for those without documents, the Faceted Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin will remain only an unfulfilled dream.

Prices for visiting it are significantly higher than other Kremlin museums. Thus, a visit to the Armory costs tourists 700 rubles on their own, and 1,100 rubles as part of an excursion group. Acquaintance with the architecture of Cathedral Square costs 500 rubles, accompanied by an experienced guide - 900. The Chamber of Facets, prices for visiting which at various excursion bureaus start at 4,500 rubles, can only be viewed in organized groups. And for every visitor to the Faceted Chamber, this rather impressive sum seems quite adequate for the opportunity to touch the ancient history and greatness of Russia.

Story

XV-XVII centuries

The Faceted Chamber was founded in 1487 on the site of an ancient gridnitsa by the architect Marco Ruffo for ceremonial receptions in the Grand Duke's palace of Ivan III. Construction was completed in 1491 by Pietro Antonio Solari. The building received its name from the eastern facade, decorated with faceted “diamond” rustication, characteristic of Italian Renaissance architecture, for example Diamond Palace en in Ferrara.

Next to the Faceted Chamber, the Middle Golden Chamber was built. In front of it rose the Upper Porch (Front Passages), to which three staircases led from Cathedral Square:

Between the stairs of the Faceted and Middle Golden Chambers there were the Red Gates, which led from the courtyard of the palace to the square. Behind the Middle Golden Chamber there was a wooden wooden hut, broken in 1681. To the south of it stood the Embankment Chamber, which existed, like the Middle Golden Chamber, until 1753.

In 1684, renovation work was carried out in the Faceted Chamber, led by Osip Startsev: the arched windows were cut out and replaced with existing openings, the platbands were decorated with floral ornaments, and the Upper Entrance Hall was built over the Holy Entrance Hall. To illuminate them, additional windows were cut through: three on the southern facade and four on the western. A wooden balustrade was created above the eaves of the chamber, the doorway in the southern part of the facade was converted into a window, and a new portal was built opposite the entrance from the vestibule to the Chamber of Facets. A frame was created for it from carved columns and a pediment, above which there was a double-headed eagle.

XVIII-XIX centuries

The Faceted Chamber was damaged in the Trinity Fire of 1737: the roof, the floor in the entryway, the frames in the windows were burned, and the white stone carvings were damaged. In 1753, during the construction of the new Kremlin Palace, according to the design of the architect Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli, the Red Porch was redone, preserving the original design and stone carvings.

During the construction of the Grand Kremlin Palace in 1838-1849, the Chamber of Facets was included in a new complex of palace buildings and was connected to the Vladimir Hall through the Holy Entrance. In 1840, by decree of Nicholas I, a second portal was opened into the Holy Entrance. The framing of the new opening exactly repeated the decor of the ancient portal. During these same years, the roof of the chamber was renewed, laying it on metal rafter structures. In 1846, the crowning part of the building was almost completely rebuilt by merchant Fyodor Chelnokov.

XX-XXI centuries

In 1934, the Red Porch was dismantled and in its place, close to the southern facade of the chamber, a two-story dining room was built for members of the congresses of the Communist Party and meetings of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In 1992-1994, the Red Porch was rebuilt in the appearance of the mid-18th century, and the dining room was dismantled.

As a result of restoration work in 1967-1968, the carved white stone portal in the western wall of the chamber and the relief decoration of the central pillar were restored. During the same period, the paintings were updated, cracks and breaks in the masonry and plaster were eliminated, and the gilding on the walls, portals and pillars was re-done.

In 2011-2012, the foundation, screeds, load-bearing walls were strengthened, the roof was completely replaced, chandeliers were updated, parquet and carpets were recreated, and frescoes from 1881 were restored. At the same time, archaeological excavations were carried out, during which about three thousand objects were discovered.

As of 2018, the Chamber of Facets is part of the Grand Kremlin Palace complex, which is the government residence of the president. It hosts meetings of heads of state, award ceremonies and other state events. The patriarch's residence is located in the basement of the chamber.

Architecture

The chamber building is two-story: the upper floor is occupied by a square throne room with an area of ​​495 m², covered with four cross vaults resting on a central pillar, the lower floor is a basement. Adjacent to the hall from the west is the room of the Holy Entrance Hall.

The entrance to the Faceted Chamber from the Cathedral Square is called the Red Porch and is a remodel of the 20th century, built on a historical site. Above its side gables there are two double-headed eagles, and on the spans of the railing there are stone lions. A small extension containing a staircase is attached to the northern façade.

Murals

In the 16th century, the walls and vaults in the interior of the chamber were painted with frescoes. In 1668, painting was resumed by Simon Ushakov, who compiled a detailed inventory of the subjects and deciphered the inscriptions in 1672 at the direction of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Under Peter I, the murals were destroyed, the vaults were whitened, and the walls were covered with crimson velvet with embroidered golden double-headed eagles. The chamber remained in this form until 1881, when its painting was resumed by Palekh icon painters, the Belousov brothers, in accordance with the inventory of Simon Ushakov.

The portal of the main passage is framed by flat pilasters with floral carvings and completed with images of heraldic animals. The central figure of the composition is the image of a double-headed eagle - the oldest in the Palace of Facets and one of the oldest in the Kremlin.

The source of the plot for the painting of the Chamber of Facets was the Bible and Chronographs. On the vault and slopes of the vault there are cosmogonic compositions. Initially, the pillar and portals were decorated with gilded white stone carvings, painting and gilding. Dolphins are placed in the center of the pillar, and on the frieze ribbon there is the Russian coat of arms and images of animals.

In a fire in 1737, the premises burned down; it was restored for the coronation of Elizabeth Petrovna, which took place in 1742. In 1882, elements of the decoration of the chamber from the 1840s, removed when the paintings were resumed, were moved to the cache: wall upholstery, chandeliers and sconces in the form of double-headed eagles. In 2010-2011, the walls and vaulted ceiling were restored, the painting was updated, and marble sill boards were made again.

red porch

The Red Porch is an open stone staircase leading from Cathedral Square to the main passage to the Chamber of Facets. It is adjacent to the southern facade and has three flights. A carved white stone portal faces the top landing of the staircase, through which you can enter the vestibule.

In the 17th century, a permanent guard was stationed on the Red Porch, guarding the entrance to the palace from Cathedral Square. Under the arches of the stairs there were rooms for employees. It consisted of 32 steps of white stone covered with iron slabs. Three rests were arranged on the stairs, on each landing there was a stone gilded figure of a lion, and on the left side there were stone railings. The staircase was covered with a copper roof in the form of tents, which ended with the figures of eagles. During the fire of 1696 it burned down and was never rebuilt. During the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich, the staircase was called Golden; in the 17th century it was also referred to as Bolshoi and Red.

In 1753, during the construction of a new palace, the white stone arcade on the upper platform in front of the Holy Entrance was dismantled. The staircase and arches were rebuilt in the same shape. The porch was dismantled again in 1841, then restored again. The stone work was supervised by Mikhei Ivanov, the lion figures were made by the artist and sculptor Santino Campioni. They were then painted by Anton Langerotti.

After the porch was demolished in the 1930s, it was restored in 1992-1994 under the leadership of architect Nikita Mukhin. For the reconstruction, drawings made during the demolition were used, a model of the chamber from the Museum of Architecture.