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Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
Truth be told, Saint Basil’s iconic, candy-colored domes weren’t a part of its original design. When it was ordered, and completed in 1560, by Ivan the Terrible (Russia’s OG tsar), it was done up in stark white with gold domes, all to match the nearby Kremlin. It’s brilliant hues were introduced in the 1600s, once the cathedral was already at the center of much urban folklore—including a rumor that Ivan had personally blinded the Italian architect behind the holy spot in order to ensure he would never reproduce his genius design.
