what is the kremlin

The Kremlin is a fortified complex located in the center of Moscow, Russia. The name "kremlin" means "fortress inside a city" and is often used metonymically to refer to the Russian government. The Moscow Kremlin is the best known of the kremlins and includes five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers. The complex is open to the public and contains a unique series of masterpieces of architecture and the plastic arts, including religious monuments of exceptional beauty such as the Church of the Annunciation, the Cathedral of the Dormition, the Church of the Archangel, and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki. The Kremlin is also the official residence of the Russian president. Every city in Russia has its own kremlin, but the Moscow Kremlin is the largest active fortress in Europe, encompassing over 90 acres of land.