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Ivan III was present when in 1472 two
Russian builders from Pskov, Krivtsov and Mishkin laid down the first stones
for the new Cathedral of the Assumption, to replace the
old one built in 1327. They worked for two years and had almost finished the
job when, suddenly, the walls crumbled down. Some Soviet architects now blame
the disaster on an earthquake, and on the poor quality of the mortar, which
also had not had time to completely dry out and harden. The furious grand duke
ordered that foreign architects be brought to Moscow to rebuild the cathedral.
Italians were chosen, not without Sophia's suggestion, as the most suitable to
finish the work. In Russia, Italy already had the reputation of being a land of
talented architects, painters and sculptors. A special mission headed by Boyar
Tolbuzin went to Italy to search for the best architect.
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