The Church of the Ascension was designed by Italian architect Pietro Annibale and it was built to celebrate the birth of Ivan IV, the future tsar of Russia, who later became known as Ivan the Terrible.
The beautiful Church of the Ascension is the park’s main attraction, made truly exceptional by the mix of different architectural styles, including clear references to Italian influences. The building’s innovative architecture diverges from the Byzantine tradition of the time. The ground floor is in the shape of a cross, which then becomes a tower that is initially octagonal before being topped by a pyramid that reaches 28 meters high.
This temple is an important milestone in Russian architecture thanks to details such as the narrow pillars that line the sides, the arrow-shaped windows, the three rows of cut arches and the stairs.
I’ll leave you with an interesting fact: if you're a fan of apples and happen to have come to the village of Kolomenskoye in the right season, in the garden of the Church of the Ascension you’ll find a number of different varieties of apples that you’re free to pick. Don’t forget to bring a basket with you!
