Saint-Petersburg
St.Petersburg
was founded on the 16th of May 1703. That day the six-
bastion fortress was ceremonially laid on the Zayachy Island in
the broadest part of the Neva estuary. The laying of the
Fortress became a culmination in the succession of events that
lasted several centuries. The Finnish Gulf, the Ladoga Lake, the
Onega Lake and the surrounding region became the arena of fight
between Novgorod, and later the centralized Russian State and
the neighboring states, especially Sweden.
In 1240 Duke Alexander Nevsky who headed the troops of
Novgorod defeated the Swede at the place where the Izhora River
fell into the Neva River. However, in 1617 during the reign of
Michael III when the Times of Troubles had just been over,
Russia was forced to conclude a peace treaty with Sweden giving
up the Izhora grounds. The vast country was deprived of the
natural outlet to the Baltic Sea.
In 1699 during the reign of Peter the Great Russia
started its preparation for the war with Sweden. In 1700 the
Northern War of Russia with Sweden broke out. It lasted 21 year
and resolved finally the controversy of centuries. In the fall
of 1702 Russian troops seized Noteburg. Peter the Great called
this fortress Schluesselburg (Key Town), which marked that the
route to Neva was cleared. In May 1703 Peter and Paul fortress
was laid in the Zayachy Island with the church in name of Saints
Peter and Paul in the middle. The house of wooden logs known as
"the House of Peter the Great"was constructed on the Right Bank
of the Neva River not far from the Peter and Paul fortress. May
16, 1703 is deemed to be the date of St.Petersburg foundation.
In May 1704 the construction of the first sea fortress,
Kronstadt, was completed in the Finnish Gulf. The location of
these three fortresses outlined the borders of the future
Russian Capital and its suburbs.
|
 |
 |
|
Duke Alexander Nevsky |
Peter the Great |
In 1710 the Capital of Russia
was transferred to St.Petersburg from Moscow, while in 1712 the
Tsar Family and households together with the major Governmental
Bodies moved to St.Petersburg. On the 27th of July 1714 Russia
fleet headed by Peter the Great scored the decisive victory at
Gangut cape in the Baltic Sea that made Russia an equal partner
among the European states and determined the outcome of the
Northern War.
Peter the Great
conceived the idea of a regularly planned city with well-defined
layout developed to clear designs. Domenico Tresini was
the first architect who made the General Layout of the city
center. His designs were used for construction of the Summer
Palace of Peter the Great, the Building of the Twelve Boards,
and the laying of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, that appeared
to be of the prime importance for the city development and the
ideology. It was Peter the Great's intention to move the Relics
of Saint Alexander Nevsky from Vladimir City to this monastery
to make a memorial that would always remind of the glory of
Russian troops.
Jean Batist Leblon was the architect who developed the
General Layout of St.Petersburg. During that period such
buildings as the Menshikov Palace, and the Kunstamera were
constructed; the outstanding sculptor and architect
B.F.Rastrelli worked in the city. The combined efforts of these
architects lead to the specific style of St.Petersburg baroque.
A tragic pause in the city development followed the death of
Peter the Great (January 28, 1725). The opponents of Peter the
Great's reforms brought the Capital back to Moscow and the City
of Peter began to decay. In 1730 Empress Ann ascended the
throne and the status of Russian Capital came back to
St.Petersburg again. The Empress tried to be seen as the
follower of Peter's ideas. During her reign the city was
carefully divided into five parts, the center being moved to the
Admiralty Island. Three thoroughfares that stemmed from the
Admiralty were completed - Nevsky Prospect, Median Prospect (now
Gorokhovaya street), and Voznesensky Prospect.
Empress Elizabeth
ascended the throne in 1741. She brought Russia back to the
Peter's custom of doing things by means of Russian people. The
reign of Empress Elizabeth was the period when the society
gathered strength for the coming glorious epoch of conquests and
transformations. During that period the Russian Baroque style
of St.Petersburg was embodied in such creations as the Winter
Palace, and Smolny Monastery (B.Rastrelli), and St.Nicolay
Church (S.Chevakinsky).
|
 |
 |
|
Empress Elizabeth |
Empress Catherine II |
Empress Catherine II
(1762—1796) was known as the continuer of Peter the Great's
affairs for home reforms and significant conquests. After the
series of wars Russia acquired Crimea and the Northern shores of
the Black Sea, took back Russian regions of Poland, and joined
Kurlandia. Brilliant education and philosophy ideals of the
Empress seriously influenced Russian legislation, policy and the
fine arts of that time. A new style - classicism - was
established. Such buildings as the Academy of Fine Arts (Felten),
the Gostinny Dvor (Valen - de la Moth), the Marble Palace (Rinaldi),
the Old Hermitage (Felten), the Taurida Palace (Starov), the
Yusupov Palace at the Fontanka River, the Smolny Institute, the
Narva Triumph Gates (Quarenghi), the Main Admiralty Building (Zakharov),
the Stock Exchange House (Toma de Tomon), and the Kazansky
Cathedral (Voronikhin) were constructed during that period.
Emperor Pavel I
(1796—1801) proceeded with rearrangement of the city center and
its suburbs. In 1797-1800 the architects V.Brenna and V.Bazhenov
built the Mikhaylovsky Palace. This is a square shaped building
with an inner yard surrounded by rivers and moats on all sides
like a medieval castle. Emperor Pavel I was always in terror of
a plot, therefore to make his life safer he ordered the palace
with many passages, levels, and rooms. On November 1, 1800 the
Palace became the official residence of the Emperor's family,
however after his assassination by the plotters the Emperor's
family came back to the Winter Palace.
|
 |
 |
|
Emperor Pavel I |
Emperor Alexander I |
In 1801 Emperor Alexander I (1801—1825) ascended the
throne, and in 1805 the war with Napoleon broke out. Moscow,
along with St.Petersburg was under threat of invasion of the
French troops. There are oodles of legends about the history of
St.Petersburg, and one of them is related to that time when the
city decided to erect the monument of Peter the Great. A peasant
from Lakhta Village, Semen Vishnyakov, came to the city
authorities to say: "There is a big stone in the bog near my
village. Its name is the Thunder Stone. Just come and take it.
It will be the pedestal for Peter's monument since Peter himself
used to climb it to watch the sea". The stone was inspected. It
was huge indeed, of ash-gray quartz and feldspar. Its weight was
100 thousand poods (one pood is 16.38 kg). The Baltic sailors
headed by Captain Mordvinov lifted it with winches and levers,
pushed it through the slope on the platform on copper balls and
rolled to St.Petersburg. In took them two years to complete the
job. This Thunder Stone is a pedestal for the most world famous
monument of Peter the Great, that is also known and The Copper
Horseman. It is located in the city center near the Senate
building. In 1812 Napoleon threatened to invade St.Petersburg.
There were some individuals who wanted to dismantle this
monument, but the people ready to fight against the French
troops created a new legend that said: "In the night the clop of
hoofs of the Copper Horseman could be heard". It was Peters the
Great, the great-great grandfather of Alexander I. He appeared
in front of his great-great grandson and said: "Mind that while
I am on my rock the city will never be defeated". Than he turned
back and the clop of hoofs could be heard again as he came back
to his rock.
The victorious parry of Napoleon's invasion in 1812 and
the raid of liberation of Russian troops to Europe were
reflected in a new rise of the city development in the Capital
of mighty Russia. The ensemble of the Mikhaylovsky Palace, the
ensemble of the Alexandrinsky Theater, the buildings of the top
governmental bodies of Russia (The Senate and The Synod), the
building of the Headquarters with the Triumph Arch and the House
of Ministries in the Palace Square (Rossi) were constructed
during this period. The complex of the Palace Square was
completed with the Alexander Column, and the biggest cathedral
in Russia, the St.Isaac Cathedral was erected in the Isaac
Square (Montferrand).
|
 |
 |
|
Emperor Nicolay I |
Emperor Alexander II |
The death of Alexander I and the accession of Nicolay I
(1825—1855) to the throne were complicated by dramatic political
events. On December 14, 1825, the day when Nicolay I was taking
the oath, the Guards' regiments headed by plotters refused to
swear to Nicolay I. Their intentions were to seize the Winter
Palace, and Peter and Paul Fortress, to encircle the Senate and
make Senators issue the Manifest to the Russians, where they
would declare the autocracy toppled, introduction of democracy,
abolition of serfdom and summon of the Constituent Assembly.
However the insurrection went bust. It was suppressed in the
cruelest way. That was the first armed insurrection against the
autocracy and serfdom in Russia, later called the Decembrist
Rebellion.
During the reign of Nicolay I Russia waged wars with
Persia and Turkey in the East. That time could be characterized
by the stormy growth of industry that brought about the
extensive development of the Capital. St.Petersburg acquired new
features typical of capitalism epoch. The city appearance became
more complicated, multifaceted, and contradictory. Private
housing development was on the up and up filling empty plots of
land in the city center with more buildings. During this time
the squares near railroad stations were formed, the revamping of
port facilities were completed, and a lot of industrial
buildings were erected. It was the time when the architect
Stakenschneider worked in St.Petersburg. He was the one to
create the Mariinsky Palace in the Isaac Square, the Nicolaevsky
Palace, etc. The development of Petrogradskaya Storona (the
district in St.Petersburg) can be seen as an example of the
architects' concept of the city that was supposed to be a single
artistic entity.
When Alexander II (1855—1881) assumed the throne in 1855
Russia had more problems than an epileptic tight-rope walker.
Nicholas' imperialist pretensions towards Turkey left Russia
embroiled in the embarrassing Crimean War with France and
Britain, and discontent both among the upper classes and the
serfs was becoming more evident (during Nicholas' reign there
had been over five hundred peasant uprisings). A series of
reforms including the abolition of flogging in the army and some
judicial and educational reforms culminated in the abolition of
serfdom in 1861. After an assassination attempt on Alexander II
in 1866, the reform period gradually faded and Russia slid back
into conservatism.
These trends in the city development were followed during the
reign of Emperor Alexander III (1881—1894), which was a
short peaceful reprieve for Russia.
The social, economical and political contradictions of Russia
development after bourgeois reforms of 1860-1870 opened the way
for the growth of capitalism. However Russia could not get
entirely rid of feudal/serfdom survivals. Social contradictions
that had been accumulating for a long time added to the wars
that Russia was waging brought about the Bourgeois-Democratic
Revolution of 1905-1907 that was accompanies by the series of
political strikes. The most severe strikes in Russia took place
in St.Petersburg.
|
 |
 |
|
Emperor Alexander III |
Emperor Nicolay II |
During the reign of Nicolay II (1894—1917) Russia waged a
number of wars that happened to be extremely hard for the
Country. The war with Japan, lead to the defeat of Russian fleet
at Tsushima Island and to the loss of the Port Arthur (in
China). In 1914 the First World War I broke out. Under the
influence of anti-German vein St.Petersburg was renamed into
Petrograd in 1914. This war (1914-1918) appeared to be fatal
for the Russia autocracy. The October Coup inspired by the
Bolsheviks headed by Vladimir I. Lenin on November 6-7,
1917 lead to the change of the political system in Russia. The
Civil War and the mess in economy followed these events. All
private properties were nationalized. In twentieth of XX century
thousands of workers from industrial outskirts moved to central
apartments, breaking the functional structure of the central
residential houses. During these years the Bolsheviks sold out
to foreign countries a lot of national treasures, sacred objects
that belonged to church, that had been created and cherished for
many centuries.
In 1917-1923 the Mars Square in St.Petersburg was transformed
into a garden laid out to the drawing of I.Fomin. The granite
monument to the revolutionaries was erected there to the design
of L.Rudnev. V.Lenin died in 1924. The Bolsheviks renamed the
city into Leningrad "to immortalize Lenin's name". In
thirtieth and fortieth such districts as Avtovo, Moskovsky
Avenue, and Malaya Okhta were developed.
|
 |
 |
|
Vladimir I. Lenin |
Iosif V. Stalin |
Stalin,
who emerged victorious from the power struggle following Lenin's
death in 1924, despised Petersburg and its ties with both
tsarism and the old revolutionaries who overthrew it. The Great
Patriotic War with Nazi Germany became the hardest ordeal for
the whole country and in particular for St.Petersburg. According
to the plan of Hitler, Leningrad was supposed to be totally
demolished. The Blockade of Leningrad was the most tragic period
for the city during the World War II. It lasted from September
08, 1941 till January 27, 1944, about 900 days and nights.
Fighting for Leningrad the Soviet troops managed to keep the
enemy back from the city at quite a short distance setting an
example of real heroism. Two million eight hundred and eighty
seven civilians left is the blocked city. The Military Council
of the Leningrad Front established the production of ammunition
died of hunger, while seventeen thousand more were killed by
bombs and shell splinters. The memorial ensembles were created
in sixtieth at Piskarevskoye and Seraphimovskye cemeteries, were
the victim of the Blockade had been buried. The monuments of
history and culture and the suburban palace complexes were
ruined or devastated. The restoration works started right after
the war. These works were most successfully performed in
fiftieth and sixtieth.
Leningrad
started rebuilding itself immediately after the war, a Herculean
task considering that one third of the city's buildings had been
damaged and much of its infrastructure (factories, power
stations, transportation networks, etc.) destroyed. Following
Stalin's death things here stayed reasonably calm through the
Khrushchev and Brezhnev years. Moscow was the
undisputed center of the USSR although Leningrad remained
Russia's cultural center, with many exciting innovations in art,
popular music, and literature originating here. In sixtieth -
eightieth the city was developed along the arch of the Finnish
Gulf coast, as well as to the Northwest and South. The memorial
ensemble of the Victory Square was established that time. The "Oktyabrsky"
concert hall, the "Yubileiny" Palace of Sport, the "Moskva"
hotel, the "Pulkovskaya" hotel, the "Pulkovo" airport, and the
Sport and Concert Hall are the biggest buildings that appeared
during this period. In 1979 St.Petersburg began to erect the
flood protection dam and associated facilities. Throughout its
history St.Petersburg always faced the menace of flood. The dam
starts from the Gorskaya station on the northern coast of the
Finnish Gulf, crosses the Kotlin Island, and reaches the Bronka
station on the southern coast. The dam is 25.4 kilometers long
and 8 meters high. After commissioning of the dam and associated
facilities, the floods will no more threaten the city.
The ninetieth of XX century are marked the drastic changes in
the governmental structures and economical policy. In 1991 the
name of Saint Peter was returned to the city. The high speed
St.Petersburg-Moscow railroad project was started in 1991. In
1994 St.Petersburg became the place of the Good Will Games. The
projects for revamping of the City Sea Port and the Airport have
been initiated. The growth of business, political and cultural
activity is quite obvious. Being one of the major European
centers the city has the honor to be referred to as the Northern
Capital of Russia.
Upon the decision of UNESCO St.Petersburg has been recognizes as
a Monument of the Works Culture.
March 26, 2000 Vladimir Putin elected president. The year
2003 marks the 300th anniversary of the founding of
St.Petersburg — one of the most beautiful and celebrated
cities in the world. In preparation for the celebrations more
than 130 objects in and around St.Petersburg have been scheduled
for renovation.
St.
Petersburg’s places of interest
Peter and Paul Fortress
(Petropavlovskaya Krepost') is historical core of
St.Petersburg. It is a monument of military and engineering
craft. It was laid by the order and to the plot-plan of Peter
the Great on May 16, (27) 1703 on Zayachy Island that is linked
with Petrogradsky Island by Ioanovsky and Kronverksky bridges.
|
 |
|
the PETER and PAUL FORTRESS in the night |
The Fortress forms an irregular hexagon stretched from West to
East with 6 bastions at the corners. The fortress was
constructed "in quite a haste" under supervision of Peter the
Great and his closest associates. In 1706-1740 the walls of
fortress that face the Neva River were lined with granite
blocks. For defense of the northern approaches to the Peter and
Paul Fortress the Kronverk fortifications were constructed on
the southern bank of the Petrogradsky Island. A canal was dug in
the territory of the fortress to bring construction materials
and supply the garrison with water. It was filled up with ground
in 1882. The parade Petrovsky gate is located in the Eastern
Wall of the fortress. Vasiliev gate is in the Western Wall,
Kronverk and Nicholas gates are in the Northern Wall, and Neva
gate (leading to the jetty) is in the Southern Wall. Ioannovsky
Ravelin was constructed in 1731-1740 outside the fortress on the
eastern side, while 1733-1740 Alexeyevsky Ravelin was built on
the western side.
The new Peter and Paul Cathedral of stone appeared in 1712-1733
in place of the old wooden church of St.Peter and St.Paul. The
cathedral became the burial-vault of Russian Emperors.
Metro: Gor'kovskaya
The
Palace Square
(Dvortsovaya Ploshchad) is the most grandiose among the
squares of the city. The focal point of its architectural
ensemble is the Winter Palace (Zimny dvorets), an
architectural masterpiece of the flamboyant Russian Baroque and
the royal residence of all the Russian Emperors but Paul. It was
built by Rastrelli at the close of the Empress Elizabeth
reign, in 1754-1762. The Empress ordered it to show off the
grandeur of her Court. Hurry as he did, Rastrelli had not
completed the Palace before Elizabeth died and she never saw her
dream to come true. To make it look truly imperial Rastrelli
resorted to all the advantages of the Russian Baroque. He
decorated the edge of the roof with huge bronze figures and
reduced the emerald wall space to the minimum disguising it by
decorative columns and golden tracery, plastic Amours, vases and
sculptures.
|
 |
|
The PALACE SQUARE |
The Palace has a dramatically eventful history. During the First
World War Nicolas II turned it into a hospital. On the eve of
the Revolution it was occupied by the Provisional Government. On
October 25, 1917 Bolsheviks occupied the Palace and called the
occasion the Social Revolution. In the course of the World War
II the Palace was damaged by Nazis' air strikes.
Several rooms of the Palace that had been used for the location
of unique objects d'art later received the designation of the
Hermitage. Then the growing collections found the new
accommodations: the buildings of the Small Hermitage,
Old Hermitage, the Hermitage Theater and New
Hermitage. Nowadays all these buildings belong to the
State Hermitage - the largest artistic, historical and
cultural museum. It exhibits the paintings of Rubens, Rembrandt,
Leonardo da Vinci, Titian and works of many other masters,
relics of the past culture of many countries of the world.
The semi-circular facade of the General Stuff of Russian
Army and Ministries Building is its southern border. The
General Stuff Building is a genius creation of the architect
K.Rossi. The portal of the Winter Palace faces the two long
buildings of the General Headquarters joint by the Triumphal
Arch and thus forming the semicircular boarder of the Palace
Square.
The colossal
Alexander Column
(Alexandrinskaya Colonna) with the bronze figure of an
angel at the top was erected in the center of the Square in 1834
to commemorate the triumphant victory of the Russians over
Napoleon in the Patriotic War 1812. It was built by architect
Monferran and was named after Emperor Alexander the First.
The bronze angel on its top resembles the Emperor Alexander
while the snake he is trampling by his cross looks much like
Napoleon. This means the victory the good over the evil. The
block of red granite was got near Vyborg and was delivered by 2
ships to St.Petersburg. The 47,5 meter high column (height of
the granite block is 25.5 metres, the lower diameter of the
column is 3.66 meters, the upper diameter is 3.16 meters) made
of the biggest in the world one-piece marble monolith rests on
the porch only by means of its own enormous weight (600 tons)
without any supporting clamps. The foundation of the monument
consists of 1250 piles each of them is 6 metres length. The
block put up by 3000 soldiers and sailors.
Today the Palace Square is the place for all the city's
festivals and official performances. Traditionally, the citizens
and tourists spend almost all the Russian public holidays here.
Metro: Nevskiy Prospect
Spit of Basil Island
The Spit
(Strelka) was St.Petersburg's main port for over one hundred
years, with the big reddish Rostral Columns serving as
lighthouses. The Spit is bordered to the west by the white
colonnaded Stock Exchange building with a great Neptune statue
on top. The area remains an intellectual center, with the
St.Petersburg State University, situated in the House of Twelve
Boards, the Academy of Science.
The cape of Basil Island (Vasilievsky Island) is
called a Spit (Strelka) (Tongue of Land) because
it sticks out into the Neva Riverin the shape of a spit and
divides it into two estuaries. The spot ranks as one of the most
prominent architectural sights in Saint- Petersburg. The two
almost a hundred feet high redbrick.
Rostral Columns
raised on the Spit in 1810 and designed by an architect Tomas
de Tomon as a symbol of the naval supremacy of the Russian
Empire and in honor of the Russian fleet victories. The shafts
of the columns are decorated with the sculptural images of bows
(rostra) of enemy ships. The five metre high allegoric statues
installed at the foot of each column embody the four main
Russian northern rivers: Volga, Dnieper, Neva and Volhov. The
St.Petersburg Columns were designed as beacons or lighthouses as
well and in 1957 the natural gas was laid up to the stone
lighting cups at the top of each column, They are still fitted
with gas lamps that are lit on ceremonial occasions. They are
reminders that until the 1880s this part of Petersburg was a
thriving port.
|
 |
|
the SPIT OF BASIL ISLAND in the night |
Toma de Tomon with the participation of the architect
A.D.Zakharov designed the austere columns to highlight the
limpid Classicism of the Stock Exchange building erected
on the Spit just behind the green square bordered from the Neva
River by granite fence and a long row of trimmed trees. The
building was set up on a man-made mound protruded into the river
at 120 meters ahead from the natural coastline. The porch with
44 snow- white Doric columns leads to the sea- green facade
decorated with impressive sculptural groups of allegorical
figures of Neptune with Two Rivers and Navigation with Mercury
and Two Rivers. Nowadays the Central Naval Museum occupies the
building. And to the south of the Exchange in another
ex-warehouse is the Museum of Zoology, reputed to be one of the
biggest and best in the world, with incredibly life-like stuffed
animals from all around the world. Among the dioramas and the
tens of thousands off mounted beasties is a complete woolly
mammoth thawed out of the Siberian ice in 1902.
The Kunstkamera
(1718-34 G.I.Matternovi, N.F. Gerbel, G.Ciaveri; 1754-58
S.O.Chevakinsky) is one of the most original examples of the
baroque of the first third of the 18th century. That is
blue-and-white building with the steeple was the city's first
museum, founded in 1714 by Peter himself. This museum (Museum of
Anthropology and Ethnography) is about peoples outside the
former USSR, with campy dioramas and displays on the cultures of
Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Americas. The old anatomy theatre
is the (only) big draw, with selections from Peter's original
kunstkammer. While this translates from German to 'art chamber',
the bloodthirsty crowds are really here to see Peter's
collection of monstrosities, notably a ghoulish collection of
preserved freaks, two-headed mutant foetuses and body parts.
The main building of the
Academy of Science
(1783-89 J.Quarenghi), a perfect monument of strict classicism.
The
House of Twelve Boards
(1722-42, D.Tresini), one of the most characteristic and unique
buildings of the epoch of Peter the Great. The Principal Wing of
the University (1794, 1840-42, A.F.Shchedrin), an example of
stylization of the Peter the Great baroque. Near by there is
statue of the scientist-poet Mikhail Lomonosov is Mendeleevskaya
linia and the skinny, 400m- long Twelve Colleges building. Meant
originally for Peter's government ministries, it's now part of
the university, which stretches out behind it.
Metro: Vasiliostrovskaya
The St.Isaac Square
got its name from the magnificent St.Isaac Cathedral (Isaakievsky
sobor), located in its center, that is dominating building
linking with the Decembrist Square. It is the biggest Orthodox
Cathedral in St.Petersburg. The history of the construction
began in 1710, when the first small wooden church was put up in
honor of St.Isaac of Dalmatia, which was the patron saint of the
Romanov family. In the early 19th century a contest was arranged
for the best project of a new cathedral, in which the most
well-known architects took part. In 1818 Alexander I approved a
project submitted by Montferrand, a talented drawer who
had just arrived from Paris; however, he had had but little
experience in architecture. The building process lasted so long
that people made fun of the architect saying that Montferrand
dragged it on because a prophet had predicted him he would die
the day the Cathedral was completed.
In a way, the prediction came true.
|
 |
|
The SAINT ISAAC'S SQUARE |
It took 40 years to build the cathedral.
Three years after the construction had started it came to a halt
because of a number of mistakes made in the project and during
the building process. A special commission of notable Russian
architects was formed. In 1825 the construction works were
resumed according to the corrected project. Lots of complicated
engineering problems were to be solved for the first time in
history.
In 1828, even before the walls were erected, installation of the
48 monolithic columns was started, that were to form the
porticoes, each weighing 114 tons, massive marble carved
from solid marble monoliths corresponds exactly to the dramatic
history of the Cathedral. The ideas of Betancourt, an engineer,
made it possible to raise the 67-ton granite columns to the
height of 40 m and install them around the dome drum. It was
reconstructed as many as four times, has sustained a destructive
fire, disastrous floods of the Neva River and a no less damaging
incompetence of many architects.
The majestic grandiose cathedral strikes itself riches and
luxury. The high walls inside the Cathedral are covered with
various kinds of marble and porphyry, the icons are adorned with
green malachite, azurite and guilt bronze. It was spent more
then 400 kilograms of pure gold (of which only 100 kg of
gold were used for gilding dome), 1000 tons of bronze and
many others Russian semi- precious stones. 112 massive
granite columns (made of single pieces of red granite)
surround the cathedral, 24 statues encircle the dome. They are
copies of Antique originals by J.Hermann. The Cathedral has 4
smaller bell towers, and sculptural groups of angels with
torches, which adorn each corner of the Cathedral's roof. Four
enormous porticoes are decorated with monolithic granite
columns, brought by sea from Vyborg.
St.Isaac's Cathedral
is one of the largest domed structures in the world, and
nowadays is the 4th highest cathedral in the world after
the world-known St.Peter's in Rome, St.Paul's in London and
Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. Having the area of 4000
square meters, the Cathedral can accommodate up to 14000
standing worshipers at a time. The dome is of an original
construction, practically including three domes, placed one over
other. The Cathedral astounds with its dimensions: its length
is 115,5 m; width - 97,6 m. The long spiral staircase
leading up in 562 steps to more than is 101,5 meters
height of the balustrade of the dome is open for anyone who
is able to ascend it. The walls are 5 meters thick.
Both inside and outside the cathedral is decorated with
sculptures. About 400 meters high sculptural work was created by
Vitali, Klod, Pimenov, Loganovsky. It was for the first time
that the galvanoplastics method developed by Yakoby was used for
making monumental sculptures.
The cathedral, faced with light-gray marble from Olonetsk, was
completed by 1842; however, it took 16 years more to decorate
the interior. A lot of valuable materials were used, among
them lazurite, malachite, porphyry, all kinds of marbles. The
decor of the Cathedral is extremely impressive. It is decorated
with 382 works of art: sculpture, painting, mosaic. The
walls and vaults of the cathedral bear paintings and mosaic
works made by well-known Russian artists: Briullov, Bruni,
Basin, Shebuyev and others. The mosaic has 14 sorts of marble
of contrasting colors, that is 12000 shades and colors.
The great plafond of the big dome with the area of more than 700
square meters was painted by Briullov. It shows Madonna
surrounded by saints and angels. There's a statue of Montferrand
holding a model of the cathedral and made of different colored
marbles and other minerals on the west facade. The Iconostasis
is decorated with ten malachite and two azurite columns; two
lower tiers are mosaics while the upper tier is painted. A group
of the most talented painters: Bruni, Neff, Steuben, Mussini
painted the monumental murals. Also of note are the intricately
sculpted bronze doors. The interiors dazzle the eye with mosaic
icons, paintings and columns made of malachite and lapis lazuli.
The white marble central iconostasis with its columns of
malachite and lazurite, and the huge brightly colored stained
glass window of the "The Resurrection of Christ" in Catholic
colors (Orthodoxy has Christ wearing blue). A series of
documents, plans, engravings, and models serves as an exhibition
of the building of the cathedral.
But St.Isaac's was once the main Russian Orthodox Cathedral. The
cathedral that stands out for its grandeur was sanctified in
1858 and became the main church in Saint-Petersburg. In the late
1920s the church was closed for services and used for an
exhibition of revolutionary propaganda. It was badly damaged at
the time of World War II. In the Soviet epoch the Socialist
government officials were close to demolish the dome for it
blocked up the view at the Neva out of their windows. The
enormous golden dome of the Cathedral brought about most
complicated technical problems for the builders and especially
for the painters many of who died of mercury fumes while gilding
it. Since 1970 the staff of the St.Isaac's Cathedral has managed
the church. The spiritual monument was under restoration for
over 25 years. Nowadays with scaffoldings removed, the
bell-tower dome gilded and the interiors carefully restored, the
church is in its stunning beauty and it is used for services on
Easter and Christmas. Since 1990, after a 62-year gap, services
have been held in the cathedral on major religious holidays.
Today, church services are held here only on major
ecclesiastical occasions.
St.Isaac's Cathedral is a remarkable monument of Russian
architecture. This grand structure filled up the space of the
Senate Square, and created a new square as well. Alongside with
the Peter and Paul's Cathedral and the Admiralty it became an
important architectural landmark in the city outline. The golden
dome of St.Isaac's can be seen from any part of the city, and in
clear weather - even from the suburbs.
Before Montferrand died two years after the cathedral was
completed he had conceived a monument to the iron-willed
and notoriously despotic Russian ruler Nicolay I to be
established in the middle of the St.Isaac Square in 1859, four
years after the Emperor had died. The monument to Nicholas I
accurately and powerfully depicts the determined absolutist
Russian ruler as a powerful military figure.
In fact, Nicholay I was a junior army officer at heart. He was
especially devoted to his troops and intricately involved in the
details of the military from ordering the alteration of military
uniforms to specializing in the engineering of military
fortresses. His despotic rule over Russia from 1825-1855 saw the
crushing of the liberal Decembrist revolt and the expanse of
Russian territory largely at the expense of Turkey.
Several different sculptures were used in creating the monument.
A large model of the pony which Nicholas I sits on was completed
by famous Russian classical sculpture Peter Klodt.
Ramazanov and Zaleman sculpted the model of the
monument's pedestal. Zaleman also sculpted the four allegorical
female figures, steel fixtures and ornaments on the pedestal and
bas-relief showing the historic and significant "Delivery of the
Codification of Law to Count Michael Speransky". It was largely
through the work of Speransky and his associates that the new
code was introduced during Nicholas I's reign in January 1835
marking a milestone in Russian jurisprudence.
The graceful silhouette of the equestrian rests on a grand
pedestal adorned with elaborate decoration, such as historical
scenes of the Nicolas's reign and the allegoric images of
Justice, Belief, Wisdom and Power which bears strong resemblance
with the Emperor's wife and three daughters. The statue was
casually located in a line with the Bronze Horseman, the
monument to Peter the Great on the Senat Square. The two
monuments looked as if one statue was chasing the other and only
the Isaac Cathedral got in its way. People say that several days
after the monument was established a board with inscription
"you'll never catch me up" was hung on its horse's right leg.
Klodt completed the casting of the pony statue and two
bas-reliefs in the Liteinoy artist's studio of the Academy of
Arts. A local factory completed the remaining bronze parts of
the monument.
The impressive pedestal stands on a short platform made of red
Finnish granite with three steps. The lower part of the pedestal
is made of dark gray granite and red porphyry. The middle part
is decorated with bronze bas-reliefs and hewed from red Finnish
granite. The upper part of the pedestal is made of red porphyry.
The pedestal of the pony statue is sculpted from white Italian
marble.
The monument has an especially beautiful silhouette, but at the
same time boasts a complex composition. The placement of the
monument on one of the city's most beautiful and historic
squares and the great interrelationship between the monument and
the square is especially powerful and gives the impression of a
unified and complete ensemble. Thanks to its unique construction
(the horse stands on its hinds legs) the monument to Nicholas
was spared during the various phases of Soviet de-tsarization
despite its inherent policital-incorrectness.
The cathedral sits on the northern side of St.Isaac's Square.
Opposite the cathedral is the Mariinsky Palace, home of
the St.Petersburg Duma.
Metro: Nevsky Prospekt / Gostiny Dvor
The
Decembrists' Square
(Ploshchad' Dekabristov) was given its present name in
1925 in honor of the first feeble attempt at a Russian
revolution - the Decembrists' Uprising of 14 December 1825.
Inspired by radical ideas from France during the Napoleonic
campaigns, young officers tried to depose the new Tsar Nicholas
I by drawing up troops in the square. But they allowed their
opponents to argue with them and were finally dispersed with
grapeshot. Most of the leaders ended up on the gallows or in
Siberia.
RUSSIA
BAHRAIN
