St. Basil's Cathedral

St. Basil's Cathedral

Sagrada Família

Sagrada Família

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica

Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer

Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame

Kaaba

Kaaba

Western Wall

Western Wall

Karnak

Karnak

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

Sensō-ji

Sensō-ji

Pantheon

Pantheon

Borobudur

Borobudur

Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral

Lalibela

Lalibela

Lotus Temple

Lotus Temple

Milan Cathedral

Milan Cathedral

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque

Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel

Religious Landmarks

Religious Landmarks

St. Basil's Cathedral - Landmarks

40 chapters
levelbeginner

Explore our quick readings on religious landmarks to find out what makes them special and easily improve your language skills!

Vocabulary
1.
famous
[adj]
/ˈfeɪməs/
2.
building
[n]
/ˈbɪldɪŋ/
3.
moscow
[n]
/ˈmɑˌskoʊ/, /ˈmɔˌskaʊ/
4.
Russia
[n]
/ˈɹəʃə/
5.
bright
[adj]
/braɪt/
6.
special
[adj]
/ˈspɛʃəl/
7.
design
[n]
/dɪˈzaɪn/
8.
cathedral
[n]
/kəˈθiːdrəl/
9.
important
[adj]
/ɪmˈpɔrtənt/
10.
finish
[v]
/ˈfɪnɪʃ/
11.
Russian
[adj]
/ˈrʌʃən/
12.
leader
[n]
/ˈlidər/
13.
ask
[v]
/æsk/
14.
celebrate
[v]
/ˈsɛləˌbreɪt/
15.
win
[v]
/wɪn/
16.
war
[n]
/wɑr/
17.
tower
[n]
/ˈtaʊɚ/
18.
dome
[n]
/doʊm/
19.
shape
[v]
/ʃeɪp/
20.
onion
[n]
/ˈʌnjən/
21.
church
[n]
/ʧɝʧ/
22.
Saint
[n]
/seɪnt/
23.
painting
[n]
/ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
24.
symbol
[n]
/ˈsɪmbəl/
25.
all over the (world|globe)
[phrase]
/ˈɔːl ˌoʊvɚ ðə wˈɜːld ɔːɹ ɡlˈoʊb/
26.
UNESCO
[n]
/juˈnɛsˌkoʊ/
27.
protect
[v]
/prəˈtɛkt/
28.
culture
[n]
/ˈkʌltʃɚ/
29.
regular
[adj]
/ˈrɛɡjʊlər/
30.
church service
[n]
/tʃˈɜːtʃ sˈɜːvɪs/
31.
museum
[n]
/mjuˈziːəm/
32.
visit
[v]
/ˈvɪzɪt/
33.
official
[adj]
/əˈfɪʃəl/
34.
holy
[adj]
/ˈhoʊli/
35.
name after
[v]
/nˈeɪm ˈæftɚ/
Practice
1.
famous
[adj]
/ˈfeɪməs/
2.
building
[n]
/ˈbɪldɪŋ/
3.
moscow
[n]
/ˈmɑˌskoʊ/, /ˈmɔˌskaʊ/
4.
Russia
[n]
/ˈɹəʃə/
5.
bright
[adj]
/braɪt/
6.
special
[adj]
/ˈspɛʃəl/
7.
design
[n]
/dɪˈzaɪn/
8.
cathedral
[n]
/kəˈθiːdrəl/
9.
important
[adj]
/ɪmˈpɔrtənt/
10.
finish
[v]
/ˈfɪnɪʃ/
11.
Russian
[adj]
/ˈrʌʃən/
12.
leader
[n]
/ˈlidər/
13.
ask
[v]
/æsk/
14.
celebrate
[v]
/ˈsɛləˌbreɪt/
15.
win
[v]
/wɪn/
16.
war
[n]
/wɑr/
17.
tower
[n]
/ˈtaʊɚ/
18.
dome
[n]
/doʊm/
19.
shape
[v]
/ʃeɪp/
20.
onion
[n]
/ˈʌnjən/
21.
church
[n]
/ʧɝʧ/
22.
Saint
[n]
/seɪnt/
23.
painting
[n]
/ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
24.
symbol
[n]
/ˈsɪmbəl/
25.
all over the (world|globe)
[phrase]
/ˈɔːl ˌoʊvɚ ðə wˈɜːld ɔːɹ ɡlˈoʊb/
26.
UNESCO
[n]
/juˈnɛsˌkoʊ/
27.
protect
[v]
/prəˈtɛkt/
28.
culture
[n]
/ˈkʌltʃɚ/
29.
regular
[adj]
/ˈrɛɡjʊlər/
30.
church service
[n]
/tʃˈɜːtʃ sˈɜːvɪs/
31.
museum
[n]
/mjuˈziːəm/
32.
visit
[v]
/ˈvɪzɪt/
33.
official
[adj]
/əˈfɪʃəl/
34.
holy
[adj]
/ˈhoʊli/
35.
name after
[v]
/nˈeɪm ˈæftɚ/
1.
famous
[adj]
/ˈfeɪməs/
famoso
2.
building
[n]
/ˈbɪldɪŋ/
edificio
3.
moscow
[n]
/ˈmɑˌskoʊ/, /ˈmɔˌskaʊ/
Mosca
4.
Russia
[n]
/ˈɹəʃə/
Russia
5.
bright
[adj]
/braɪt/
chiaro
6.
special
[adj]
/ˈspɛʃəl/
speciale
7.
design
[n]
/dɪˈzaɪn/
design
8.
cathedral
[n]
/kəˈθiːdrəl/
cattedrale
9.
important
[adj]
/ɪmˈpɔrtənt/
importante
10.
finish
[v]
/ˈfɪnɪʃ/
finire
11.
Russian
[adj]
/ˈrʌʃən/
russo
12.
leader
[n]
/ˈlidər/
capo
13.
ask
[v]
/æsk/
chiedere
14.
celebrate
[v]
/ˈsɛləˌbreɪt/
celebrare
15.
win
[v]
/wɪn/
vincere
16.
war
[n]
/wɑr/
guerra
17.
tower
[n]
/ˈtaʊɚ/
torre
18.
dome
[n]
/doʊm/
cupola
19.
shape
[v]
/ʃeɪp/
formare
20.
onion
[n]
/ˈʌnjən/
cipolla
21.
church
[n]
/ʧɝʧ/
chiesa
22.
Saint
[n]
/seɪnt/
santo
23.
painting
[n]
/ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
dipinto
24.
symbol
[n]
/ˈsɪmbəl/
simbolo
25.
all over the (world|globe)
[phrase]
/ˈɔːl ˌoʊvɚ ðə wˈɜːld ɔːɹ ɡlˈoʊb/
in every part of the world
26.
UNESCO
[n]
/juˈnɛsˌkoʊ/
un'agenzia delle Nazioni Unite che promuove l'educazione
27.
protect
[v]
/prəˈtɛkt/
proteggere
28.
culture
[n]
/ˈkʌltʃɚ/
cultura
29.
regular
[adj]
/ˈrɛɡjʊlər/
regolare
30.
church service
[n]
/tʃˈɜːtʃ sˈɜːvɪs/
servizio religioso
31.
museum
[n]
/mjuˈziːəm/
museo
32.
visit
[v]
/ˈvɪzɪt/
visitare
33.
official
[adj]
/əˈfɪʃəl/
ufficiale
34.
holy
[adj]
/ˈhoʊli/
santo
35.
name after
[v]
/nˈeɪm ˈæftɚ/
dare il nome di

1

capitolo

star
St. Basil's Cathedral 
Read a short passage about a colorful church with onion-shaped domes in the center of Moscow. 
1.1
St. Basil's Cathedral is a very famous building in Moscow, Russia.  It is known for its bright colors and special design.  The cathedral is in Red Square, a very important place in Moscow. 

La Cattedrale di San Basilio è un edificio molto famoso a Mosca, in Russia. È nota per i suoi colori vivaci e il design speciale. La cattedrale si trova nella Piazza Rossa, un luogo molto importante a Mosca.

1.2
St. Basil's Cathedral was built a long time ago.  It was finished in the year 1561.  A Russian leader named Ivan the Terrible asked for the cathedral to be built.  He wanted to celebrate winning a war. 

La Cattedrale di San Basilio fu costruita molto tempo fa. Fu completata nell'anno 1561. Un leader russo di nome Ivan il Terribile chiese che la cattedrale fosse costruita. Voleva celebrare la vittoria in una guerra.

1.3
The cathedral has many tall towers.  These towers are called domes.  Each dome is shaped like an onion.  They are painted in many different colors, like red, green, blue, and yellow.  This makes the cathedral look very special and beautiful. 

La cattedrale ha molte torri alte. Queste torri sono chiamate cupole. Ogni cupola ha la forma di una cipolla. Sono dipinte in molti colori diversi, come rosso, verde, blu e giallo. Questo rende la cattedrale molto speciale e bella.

ThumbnailPhoto
1.4
Inside the cathedral, there are many small churches.  There are ten churches in total.  Each church is for a different saint or special event.  The walls inside have many colorful paintings and designs. 

All'interno della cattedrale, ci sono molte piccole chiese. Ci sono dieci chiese in totale. Ogni chiesa è dedicata a un santo diverso o a un evento speciale. Le pareti interne sono decorate con molti dipinti e disegni colorati.

1.5
St. Basil's Cathedral is an important symbol of Russia.  Many people from all over the world come to see it.  It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  This means it is protected because it is very important to the history and culture of the world. 

La Cattedrale di San Basilio è un importante simbolo della Russia. Molte persone da tutto il mondo vengono a vederla. È anche un sito del Patrimonio Mondiale dell'UNESCO. Ciò significa che è protetta perché è molto importante per la storia e la cultura del mondo.

1.6
The cathedral is not used for regular church services anymore.  It is now a museum.  People can visit it to learn about its history and see its beautiful art and design. 

La cattedrale non è più utilizzata per i regolari servizi religiosi. Ora è un museo. Le persone possono visitarla per conoscere la sua storia e vedere il suo bell'arte e design.

1.7
Fun fact: Its real name is not St. Basil's.  Its official name is "The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat."  But, it is called St. Basil's because there was a holy man named Basil who lived in the area at the same time it was built.  People thought he was very special, so they named the cathedral after him. 

Curiosità: Il suo vero nome non è San Basilio. Il suo nome ufficiale è "La Cattedrale dell'Intercessione della Santissima Theotokos sul Fossato". Ma, è chiamata San Basilio perché c'era un uomo santo di nome Basilio che viveva nella zona al momento della sua costruzione. La gente pensava che fosse molto speciale, così hanno chiamato la cattedrale in suo onore.

1. St. Basil's Cathedral

1. St. Basil's Cathedral

Religious Landmarks

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100%
QuizSkip the quiz
1.

Where is St. Basil’s Cathedral located?

A

Paris, France

B

Moscow, Russia

C

Rome, Italy

D

London, England

2.

Who ordered St. Basil’s Cathedral to be built?

A

Peter the Great

B

Napoleon

C

Ivan the Terrible

D

Catherine the Great

3.

Put these events in the correct order:

the cathedral was turned into a museum.
st. basil’s cathedral was finished.
ivan the terrible ordered the cathedral to be built.
the cathedral became a unesco world heritage site.
4.

Match each word with its meaning from the text:

Domes
Red Square
Museum
UNESCO
An organization that protects important places
A famous place in Moscow
Towers shaped like onions
A place where people learn about history
5.

Complete the sentences with the correct words (two words are extra):

St. Basil’s Cathedral was finished in

.

The domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral are shaped like

.

The cathedral is now a

where people can learn about its history.

1561
onions
museum
1200
stars
6.

Check if these statements are true or false.

StatementsTrue/False

St. Basil’s Cathedral is in Red Square.

The cathedral was built in the 1900s.

The cathedral has ten small churches inside.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is still used for church services.

True
False
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