The Church on the Spilled Blood is both an historical monument and a work of art. It was built on the location of the tragic attempt on the life of Alexander II in 1881 who had ruled Russia for 16 years. He was killed by a bomb thrown by a member of a revolutionary group which aimed to overthrow Russia's tsarist autocracy. The site of the murder is marked by a special chapel in the western part of the church beneath the bell. Here in an area slightly below floor level can be seen part of the carriageway and railings that were stained with the blood of the Tsar at the time of his assassination. Inside the church there is not a single painting. Instead, the walls are covered almost entirely with mosaics. The construction of the church and work on the decor took 24 years from 1883 to 1907. The outside of the church is also decorated largely with mosaics, while cupolas are covered with bright enamels and the hipped roofs with coloured tiles. It is a true cultural and artistic treasure.
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