The Taynitskaya Tower is a middle tower on the south side of the Moscow Kremlin. The First Unnamed Tower was built next to the Taynitskaya Tower in the 1480s. The Second Unnamed Tower was built in the middle of the 15th century.
Historical information
The Taynitskaya Tower is a middle tower on the south side of the Moscow Kremlin. It was built in 1485 by Antonio Gilardi on the spot of the gates to Dmitry Donskoy's whitestone Kremlin.
The Taynitskaya Tower had a secret well and an underground tunnel leading to the Moscow River (hence, the name "Taynitskaya", or "secret"). In 1770, the tower was dismantled due to the construction of the Kremlin Palace by Vasili Bazhenov. It was rebuilt in the 1770s. In 1930–1933, the Soviets bricked up the gateway and filled up the well. The Taynitskaya Tower is 38.4 m in height.
The First Unnamed Tower was built next to the Taynitskaya Tower in the 1480s. It performed strictly defensive functions.
In 1547, the tower was destroyed by fire after the gunpowder stored there exploded, and was rebuilt in the 17th century. In 1770, the tower was taken apart to clear the site for the Kremlin Palace. After the construction of the palace ended, the tower was rebuilt in 1783, closer to the Taynitskaya Tower.
In 1812, the tower was blown up by Napoleon’s retreating troops, but it was soon restored to its original form by architect Osip Beauvais. Its height is 34.15 m.
The Second Unnamed Tower was built in the middle of the 15th century. It had purely defensive functions. In 1680, a quadrangular structure and a tall pyramidal tent roof with a watchtower were added to the top of the tower. It is crowned with an eight-sided hipped cupola with a weather vane.
