Yes! The idea was: you arrive from Bolshaya Morskaya (former Gerzena Uliza, Herzen Street), look around the corner through the Thriumph arc and have a beautiful view of the Winter Palace a very impressive panorama of the imperial city!
Palace Square is between the famous baroque Winter Palace and the classical General stab building, which is rounded like half a circle with a façade about 500 m, one of the longest at the time of construction. These two parts of the General stab building are connected by the Thriumph arc.
These buildings for the Foreign and Finance Ministeries are build from 1819-1829 by the architect Carlo Rossi, who is very famous for his architecture in St.Petersburg (for example Rossi Street ).
When the arc was constructed, people feared, it will break down. The architect Rossi demonstrated its really good and stabil construction as he climbed up the arc and stand on top.
But nothing crashed! He was the winner.
On top of the arc, there is a copper thriumph car with six horses and the goodes of fame. They and the other warrier sculptures represent the victory on France against Napoleon in the war of 1812, called the Great Fatherland War.
And as 1830-1834 the Alexandercolumn was erected, (Architect A.Montferrand), you will see the column in front of the Winter Palace, giving the Palace Square a very center. The column is 47,5 m high (and higher than the Trajans column in Rome!). She is also a symbol of the victory against Napoleon. The column is as architecture masterpiece, because it is only one monolith, one stone of granit, not different pieces. This granitstone was brought from a place in the north, naturally not from St.Petersburg itself (there are no stones!). They build a special ship for transportation.
The workers needed only (!) 100 Minutes to get the 700 tonnes of the column standing. But is must have been a very difficult work! Now the column stands without any other help, only by it ´s own heavy material. No fixing!
And on top the angel with a crux is demonstrating the glory of the victory to our days. Its one of the symbols of St.Petersburg.
The very big sized square was the place where mostly in the 19th century parades took place and people looked at the colourful uniforms of the soldiers and their horses.
But things turned at the beginning of 20th century: The revolution of 1905 and the octoberrevolution of 1917 also found this square a place to run. People demonstrated for a better life and against the repressions of the old regime and the Tsar.
Later the famous regisseur Eisenstein made a film "October" or "Ten Days That Shook the World", dealing with the 1917 revolutions, Lenin and the Bolsheviks.
But things turned again: Now this square is for masses of tourists, non military horses, young people running and skating, fotographers, parties with loud music and dancing young people, peaceful demonstrations of beercompanies and political parties - all mixed together.
Yes: This Palace Square has become a real melting pot in St.Petersburg - but a big one!
It's a must to see!
Each stone has a great history!
And you have to visit it during the white nights of course when the sun only for few moments is not to see, but the light is overwhelming!
You are welcome!
Regina
