St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg) is the second largest metropolis in the Russian Federation after Moscow. From 1712 to 1918 it was the capital of Russia. In this article, we will consider the most famous monuments of St. Petersburg. The city has a rich cultural heritage.
Monuments in St. Petersburg
The historical architectural sights of St. Petersburg can be divided into several parts. This is especially convenient for those who study the history of the city, as well as for guides and people who independently get acquainted with the Northern capital.
Religious buildings. These include:
- Orthodox cathedrals
- churches,
- monasteries.
The most famous places of worship:
- Alexander Nevsky Lavra;
- Smolny monastery;
- Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood;
- Kazan Cathedral;
- Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
- Cathedral of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called;
- Basilica of St. Catherine of Alexandria.
Gardens and parks:
- Summer garden,
- cottage of I. G. Chernyshev "Alexandrino",
- Botanical Garden,
- Mikhailovsky Garden,
- park named after Grandma
- Moscow Victory Park.
Palaces and houses:
- Marble Palace
- the estate "Sosnovka" (Cottage Chernova),
- Vorontsov-Dashkov's dacha ("Shuvalovsky Palace"),
- The griffin tower.
Architectural ensembles :
- Palace Square,
- St. Isaac's Square,
- Peter-Pavel's Fortress,
- Arts Square,
- Ostrovsky Square,
- Senate square,
- Hay Square ,
- Suvorov Square
- Spit of Vasilyevsky Island,
- University Embankment.
Architectural ensembles of the suburbs of St. Petersburg:
- Gatchina,
- Oranienbaum
- Pavlovsk,
- Peterhof
- Strelna
- Tsarskoye Selo.
In this article we will dwell in more detail on several famous sculptures and architectural structures of the Northern capital of the Russian Federation. Further, we will talk about several monuments that reflected the great achievements of the Russian people.
Moscow Triumphal Gate
In the place where the monument is now located, there was previously an outpost. The attraction got its name, since the road leading to the Russian state began here. The Arc de Triomphe was erected in honor of the victory of the Russian army over Persian and Turkish soldiers.
Narva Gate
In St. Petersburg there are many monuments that are dedicated to victories over the enemies of the valiant Russian army. The most beautiful of them is the Narva Gate. They are made and installed in honor of the defeat of the French army in 1812. The troops returned to Russia after the complete defeat of Napoleon's army. Winners had to go through this arch.
An architectural monument was erected in just a month. The materials from which the gate was made were the most primitive: wood and alabaster. Initially, the Narva Gate was a wide arch, in which a chariot was installed at the top. On the pylons of the monument were inscribed the names of all the guards regiments that took part in the hostilities.
After 10 years, the monument completely dilapidated and began to collapse. The city authorities decided to demolish the gates, and build new ones according to the same project, but in a slightly different place. The monument was installed near the bridge over the Tarakanovka river. The new Narva Gate has become larger. Decor elements have changed.
In St. Petersburg there are a huge number of monuments to the great figures of Russia.
Monuments to Pushkin in St. Petersburg
Around the world, they love and revere the work of A.S. Pushkin. It would be strange if there were no monuments to him in St. Petersburg. The poet’s young years passed here: studying at the Lyceum, first creative impulses, first love, initiation into adulthood and recognition of his genius.
Monument in the courtyard of the house-museum
The death of the famous poet also occurred in St. Petersburg. Her silent witness was the first floor of the Volkonsky house on Moika 12. Now a museum is organized in memory of the poet. A monument was erected next to it in 1952.
The house contains relics:
- posthumous mask of Alexander Sergeyevich;
- locket with a lock of hair;
- personal items.
A majestic statue is poured out of bronze. The size of the monument is about three meters in height.
The best monument to Pushkin in the square of Arts
The opening of the monument was dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the city of Leningrad. The statue is in front of the State Russian Museum. The monument looks magnificent and is a real masterpiece. Petersburgers believe that this is the best gift to the city for all the years of its existence.
Monument on the street of the same name
This is the first monument to the poet in the city. It was erected in 1884. Excerpts from The Bronze Horseman and the Monument are written on the sides of the pedestal. The date of birth and death of the poet is also immortalized here.
Anna Akhmatova in her memoirs mentioned this cultural heritage of the Northern capital. In Soviet times, leaders decided to demolish the monument. A crane drove up to the statue, which was not allowed on by children playing on the street. They just started screaming and crying. The foreman did not know what to do. He called the director, and he answered that he would have to leave the monument to the kids.
Monument to Pushkin in Tsarskoye Selo
The inhabitants of Tsarskoye Selo really wanted a monument to the great poet in their area. A competition was opened, and the mission to determine the winner lay on the shoulders of Nicholas II.
Monument to Peter in St. Petersburg
On the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress is a monument to Peter I. The sculpture is located to the left of the central alley. It was installed in 1991. His prototype was a wax figure made by the Italian Rastrelli immediately after the death of the emperor.
A cast of the head of the lord was made during his lifetime, and the proportions of the body were measured after his death. The wax figure became an exact copy of the autocrat. She is still in the museum “Winter Palace of Peter I”. The author of the sculpture M. Shemyakin repeated exactly the facial features, the shape of the skull and the size of Peter's head. The emperor’s body was increased by 1.5 times. Because of this, the sculpture seems a little strange.
Production of monuments in St. Petersburg
Manufacturing of monuments in St. Petersburg is a fairly developed industry. Such architectural structures are ordered in memory of the deceased or to perpetuate the event. Monuments are made of different materials:
- metal,
- natural material
- stone chips
- polymer granites.
- concrete.
Metal sculptures
Monuments from bronze look worthy and expensive. Over time, their appearance only gets better, since the sculpture takes on a touch of antiquity. Bronze is not subject to corrosion, which is considered its main advantage. The manufacturing technology of bronze monuments is quite complicated, so the work is expensive.
Structures of any configuration and complexity can be made of metal. Metal is easily painted in any color. The main problem of the material is that it is susceptible to corrosion, but modern processing methods can avoid trouble. Sculptures made of metal using modern technology will please the eye for many decades.
Workshops of monuments of St. Petersburg also use natural materials:
- Granite. Stone sculptures are aesthetic and durable. Granite is not afraid of precipitation and mechanical stress. The main disadvantages of this material are its high price and manufacturing complexity.
- Marble. Elite expensive stuff. Differs in special plasticity. Works from it look gorgeous.
- Wood. Products from it after processing by professionals look modern and aesthetically pleasing. A huge minus is the fragility.
Monuments in St. Petersburg are made of stone chips, concrete or polymer granite:
Concrete. To make sculptures from this material, the concrete mixture is poured into special forms. In some cases, the masters use reinforcement of structures.
Polymer granite - a mixture of granite chips and polymers. This is the waste that remains in the manufacture of granite sculptures. Monuments from it are not so beautiful, but durable. A huge plus is the low cost of products.
Stone crumb. The manufacturing method completely repeats the above. Instead of polymer granite, the main filler is waste from the production of stone products.
Where to go for the manufacture of a monument in St. Petersburg?
To order a sculpture or monument, you can contact the following addresses:
- Workshop for the manufacture of monuments "Grandmaster", Bolshoy Sampsonievsky Prospect, 95, Russia, St. Petersburg.
- Workshop "Monuments", ave. Stachek, 73, letter A, pom. 12H, St. Petersburg.
- Workshop of monuments of Alexei Danilkin, Warsaw street, 16, Russia, St. Petersburg.