The square itself is not as old as its stately neighbour – the Kremlin. The chronicles say the square came to existence as a precaution against frequent Moscow fires. Historically, the trading quarters in Moscow were situated right under the Kremlin walls. And as these districts were mostly wooden and they were not protected by the town walls, every invader deemed it necessary to burn them to the ground. Ivan the Third ordered to move the districts from the wall to prevent the hostile fire getting to the city walls. And the new open space promptly became a market square.
As time went by, the square began to fill up with some buildings. The first church there was the Holy Trinity Church which gave the square its first historical name. But as it was made of wood it couldn't last long. In the 16th century Ivan the Terrible orders to build a new grand cathedral to celebrate the victory over the Kazan Khanate. So the St. Bazil's cathedral was born.
The Execution Place is situated near the St. Basil's. It looks like a slight platform surrounded by the brick fence. When tourists hear about the Execution place, they immediately imagine the dark ages with hundreds or even thousands of people executed. Actually, this is very far from the truth. In reality, this place was used mostly for the vocalizing the tsar's will or the new laws for the mob gathered on the market square. Also, near the St. Basil's the Minin and Pozharsky Monument is located. They were the heads of the resistance movement that freed Russia from the Poles and Swedes during the Time of Trouble.