The Wall of Kitay-Gorod

The wall of Kitay-Gorod is an architectural monument created by Italian architect Petroc Minor in 1534. A reconstructed fragment of the wall goes along Kitaisky Passage.

We are standing in Kitaisky Passage where Kitay-Gorod used to be situated. It was fenced with an ancient white-stone fortification wall presenting an example of Russian military architecture of the 16th century, and was a reliable fortress. The walls were up to six meters thick and from eight to 12 meters high. It stretched for 2.6 km. It is supposed the strange name Kitay-gorod originated from the bunches of poles - "kit" - used to build the wall. Historian I.Zabelin considered the most trustworthy explanation to be one saying that "Kitay" means "middle" in Mongolian, i.e. the middle fortress, which the Kitay-Gorod wall was. A small fragment with a round turret is preserved; one can see it in an underground passage.