Happy 450th Birthday, St. Basil's Cathedral

St. Basil's Cathedral
Corbis

Unmistakable
St. Basil's Cathedral, or the Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, was consecrated on July 12, 1561. The church, seen here in an 1823 painting, was constructed to commemorate Czar Ivan IV's capture of the cities of Kazan and Astrakhan.

Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.