Within the Kremlin Palace complex, that vast symbol of Russian power in the centre of Moscow, lies the treasure trove that is the Armoury.Centuries' worth of precious Russian items is on display here, including state regalia, coronation dresses and ancient vestments of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Armoury is Moscow's oldest museum - it was opened in 1808 - and its enormous collection of Tsarist treasures makes it one of Russia's most prestigious.
Originally the royal arsenal before Peter the Great moved his capital to St Petersburg, the Armoury was nominated as the first public museum in Moscow by Alexander I. The renowned imperial architect Konstantin Ton, who also designed the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, designed the current building which opened in 1851.
The Bolshevik Revolution saw the Armoury collection growing with items taken from private collections and from the Orthodox churches but Stalin also ordered that many items be sold abroad.
While some treasures have been lost, what remains is truly splendid. The Armoury collection is spread over nine halls on two floors - the ground floor exhibition space is filled with extraordinary artefacts linked to Russia's Tsarist rulers, from horse-drawn carriages to state memorabilia.
You don't have to be a student of history or a lover of fashion to gasp in astonishment at Catherine the Great's coronation dress (contained, like all costumes and clothing, behind glass cases) in silver silk with lace sleeves and embroidered golden eagles as the pattern.
Russia's lavish imperial past can be seen in some of the eye-opening thrones on display here, including the carved ivory throne from which Ivan the Terrible once ruled with an iron fist and the gorgeous gold and turquoise throne, presented by the Shah of Persia to Boris Godunov.
The Armoury is also home to the Russian Diamond Fund, a collection of gems and jewellery that dates back to the era of Peter the Great. That collection now includes the Imperial Crown of Russia, first used in Catherine's coronation in 1762 and made with an amazing 4936 diamonds.
The greatest symbol of the Russian aristocracy, Monomakh's Cap (the Golden Cap), is the oldest crown on display. An early 14 th century gold filigree skullcap with sable trimming and decorated with precious stones and pearls, the cap was the crown worn by all Muscovite grand princes and tsars until Peter the Great.
No Russian collection would be complete, of course, without Fabergé eggs - originally conceived as gifts exchanged between the tsar and tsarina at Easter - and there are an incredible 10 imperial Fabergé eggs on display in the upstairs exhibition space, which includes Russian gold and silver from the 12 th century onwards.
