In 1894, under the Red Square, sewers were laid for the upper tier of the city, for which it was necessary to build a tunnel. During the work near the Historical Museum found a hiding place.
Its device, some scholars tend to attribute to the Italian architect Aleviz Nova. At the same time, the newspaper “Moscow Vedomosti” published an article in which archaeologist N. S. Shcherbatov (photo) gives a description of the dungeon: “The course opened on the right side of the tunnel in its upper part. In the study, it turned out that it has a brick vault and the same walls; its height is about 2.5 yards, and the width of one yard 4 tips. The floor is covered with earth. The course goes to the Kremlin wall and passes near the chapel of Alexander Nevsky, located on the right side of the Nikolskaya tower.
Further investigation showed that the move stretches on 14 yards completely straight, and then from it begins a staircase with brick steps, which rises gradually up to 9 yards and ends with a platform expanding on both sides, at the very end of the staircase so much ground is piled up that it is now difficult to tell whether it continues further or turns to the side. This can only be determined after cleaning the land. Then, in a straight course from the tunnel on its right side, three small arches with niches slightly higher than 2 yards and a width of one yard of 12 tops were found. The niches go inwards by about 6 tops. In the middle niche, the outlines of some walled arches are noticeable.”
The desire to inspect the underground passage was expressed by the Governor-General of Moscow, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. For this reason, 16 m of underground passage was urgently cleared of the ground. It turned out that from the Kremlin, the underground passage descends stairs under the Alevizov ditch to a depth of 10.67 m. Directly under the moat in front of the Historical Museum, a white-stone chamber was discovered with a walled entrance and windows, also facing the underground passage.
From under the ditch, a staircase in the underground gallery led to the Historical Museum. There, the move continued towards Chinatown, but was filled with fossilized clay. Archaeologist Shcherbatov cleared the walled white stone chamber. It turned out to be a fairly large room with a collapsed vault. As for the underground passage, Shcherbatov believed that it was going to the Kremlin, where it intersects with the inner-wall passage that connected the Nikolsk and Corner Arsenal Towers.
Here’s what they wrote about it in the “Moscow News”: Directly at the upper step of the stairs, the course is cut off – the vault, walls and floor are broken. It can be seen, however, that at this point the vault moved in a horizontal direction.”
Archaeologists decided to lead a wooden mine gallery in the direction of the destroyed vault to the Kremlin wall. Having traveled the remaining distance to the Kremlin wall, the researchers found themselves below its foundations. Unfortunately, further excavations had to be stopped due to the death of Emperor Alexander III. However, the wooden gallery underground, which was built by N. S. Shcherbatov near the Nikolskaya tower, was filled up only in 1903.
Shcherbatov believed that the secret passage of Aleviz took place next to the chapel of Alexander Nevsky, which was on the right side of the Nikolskaya tower on the outside of the Kremlin wall. These assumptions were proved when in 1911 in the chapel of Alexander Nevsky floor failed, finding an underground passage, passing at a depth of 5.2 m. It led to the provincial government building and the Corner Arsenal Tower. There was practically no doubt that the move was a continuation of Alevizov's hiding place.
According to S. P. Bartenev, the underground passage of Aleviz began from the Trinity Tower of the Kremlin and the course led to Nikolskaya Street, and I. Y. Stelletsky believed that this move was unfinished.
Another scientist - Alexandrov - believed that the underground gallery once connected the Kremlin and the State Monetary Court, which was located here in the XVII century. Now this building, heavily rebuilt, is known as the home of the provincial government.