It is for this reason that in ancient times, it was customary to resolve all controversial issues that arose between residents of the Russian capital near the tower. Both the plaintiff and the defendant here swore that they were right, kissed the cross, calling on the holy image of Nicholas to become their witness. The author of the Nikolskaya Tower project is Antonio Solari, a famous 15th-century Italian architect. However, it should be noted that its original appearance was slightly different from what we see now. The fact is that thanks to the architect Osip Ivanovich Bove, the structure of the tower was supplemented by an iron tent on the frame and four white-stone branch towers.

In 1812, French soldiers, during their retreat under the onslaught of Russian troops, tried to blow up the Nikolskaya Tower. The explosion did sound then, but the tower withstood — as soon as the tent collapsed and the passage gate was slightly damaged. To everyone's amazement, the rest of the building, including the gate icon depicting St. Nicholas, was practically not damaged.