Centuries Of Abuse Take Their Toll On St. Basil’s

“It is one of Moscow’s most enduring landmarks. St. Basil’s Cathedral on Red Square survived Napoleon, the Nazis, and the rise and fall of the Soviet empire. But decades of military parades, and in more recent years, rock concerts, have all taken their toll on the 450-year-old cathedral.” Adding to the problem is the government’s plans to develop the area around St. Basil’s, erecting a hotel and casino nearby. A new study warns that if something isn’t done soon to reinforce the cathedral’s foundation, the entire structure could collapse within the next century.