Behold the Amusement Palace. It stands near the Kremlin’s west wall between Komendantskaya and Troitskaya towers. This palace has a rich history dating back to 1651. It began as the living quarters of I.D. Miloslavsky. He was the father-in-law of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich.
The Amusement Palace is the only surviving example of boyar mansions in the Kremlin. Its location was dictated by a narrow space. This space existed between the fortress wall and the Tsar’s residence. Miloslavsky’s estate was planned accordingly. The building was placed centrally. Front and household yards were to the south and north. The almost square building included an archway. This archway connected both territories.
After Miloslavsky’s death in 1669, the residence changed hands. It became the Tsar’s treasury. Stone passages connected it to the Tsar’s Palace. In 1672, public entertainment began here. It was for the Tsar’s family. These were Russia’s first theatrical performances. This is how the chambers became the Amusement Palace. After 1679, the royal family settled here. The palace was extended and partly reconstructed.
The Amusement Palace’s construction marked a stage in stone housing development. It was similar to the Terem Palace. This style soon became widespread in Moscow. The facades had floor divisions. White-stone carved decorations adorned them. The living quarters had an enfilade-like arrangement. The Praise of the Virgin Private Chapel is a distinctive feature. It rises above the east facade’s middle part. Strong brackets support the church altar. This avoids placing the altar above living quarters. A flat roof with a hanging garden served as a porch.
During Peter the Great’s reign, the Police Department occupied the palace. In 1806, the building became a dwelling. It also served as the chancellery of the Moscow commandant. I.V. Egotov oversaw the rebuilding. The eastern facade was transformed. It faced the newly formed Dvortsovaya Street. A northern wing was added for symmetry. The facade and interiors gained pseudo-Gothic details. The church was abolished at that time.
Architect N.A. Shokhin tried to restore the structure’s ancient look. This happened in 1874 to 1875.
Currently, the Kremlin Commandant’s Office uses the palace. Restoration work occurred from 2000 to 2004. The goal was to restore its original finish. Some facades of the Praise of the Virgin Private Chapel were also restored.
The Amusement Palace stands as a testament to Moscow’s history. It has transformed from a residence to a place of amusement. It is a unique architectural landmark within the Kremlin. The Amusement Palace connects us to the lives of tsars and nobles. It lets us glimpse into Russia’s cultural evolution.