|
Lecture#4
|
We're driving along the principle avenue of the city - Nevsky avenue to one of the most beautiful square of Saint-Petersburg - "Arts Square".
It's called so because all the buildings which form the architectural ensemble of the square are connected with art. The building on the right is the largest art gallery, the State Russian museum. The collection of this gallery consists of more than 300,000 pieces of painting, sculpture & applied art up to the 20th century. Architect Rossi constructed this building in classical style in 1823. He made the palace for Grand Duke Michael who was the youngest son of Paul the First, hence the first name of this palace: Michailovsky palace. Next to it is the building of the Ethnography Museum (architec Svinyin, 1911). It's the only building in our city constructed for the museum specially. There you can get acquainted with the exhibitions which tell you about the life of peoples of the former USSR. Another building that I want to draw your attention to is the Maliy Opera & ballet Theatre which appeared here in 1835 (arch. Bryullov). One more theatre is the Central Hall of the State Philharmonic Society named after Schostakovich. The building itself was constructed in 1839 by Jacont & the Philharmonic Society moved here in 1921. In the centre of the square you see the monument to Pushkin (sculptor Anikushin, 1957). I'm sure, that you've heard the name of this famous Russian poet & writer. During our city tour we'll have an opportunity to see places connected with his name. The name of the hotel we're passing is "Europe". It's a four-star hotel. The building was constructed by Fontane in 1875 & restored not very long ago.
Just ahead of the coach you see again the yellow building of "The Merchant's Yard" (Vallen de la Mothe 1761-1785), the central department store. Next to it is the building of "Duma" (arch. Quarengi 1847-1852). At first it was used to send out alarms in the case of fire. The yellow cathedral on your right is the St. Catherine Catholic church (arch. Vallen de la Mothe). The next blue and white building on your right houses the Small Hall of the Philharmonic Society. It was opened here in 1949. In the corner there is one of the Metro stations called "Griboedov Canal". Ahead of the coach you can see the grey building with the tower and with the glass globe on the top.
Now it's the Central Book shop called "The House of Books" (1902-1904). Opposite it there is the Kazan Cathedral (the Cathedral of our Lady of Kazan), arch. Voronichin 1801-1811. It has become the monument of Russian glory during the war with Napoleon in 1812. Now it is a functional cathedral. It was a museum of the history of Religion. During the last years there were a few services here. In front of the Cathedral you see two monuments to fieldmarshals Kutuzov and Barklai de Tolly who were commander-in-chiefs during the war with Napoleon (sculptor Orlovsky). On your right you see the former Lutheran church made by arch.
Bryullov in 1838. Now it is under the restoration. This green building with white columns is the former church. Now it's a library named after Alexander Blok. The green with white building in the baroque style on your left is one of the first works of the outstanding arch. Rastrelly, it was built in 1752-1754 for count Stroganov. Now the building belongs to the Russian Museum. Just ahead of the coach you can see the bridge across the Moika River and on the opposite side of the river on your left you can see the building with the letters on the top. It is the cinema "Barricada". The building itself was constructed in 1861-73 for the chief of St.-Petersburg's police. On your right the yellow building with white columns is the Literary Cafe, which was visited by many famous people: Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Vagner, List. The grey building on your left is the building of the former bank, now the airterminal is located here. According to the project the bank will be opened here in a few years. It was one of the last buildings, appeared in Nevsky prospect in 1912. Now, in front of you, you can see a yellow building of the Admiralty. The first wooden building of the Admiralty was made according to the plans of Peter the Great in 1704. For the second time it was constructed by arch. Zakharov (1823). It is an unsurpassed example of Russian classicism. The Admiralty was built as the main shipyard in St-Petersburg. It was protected by walls and fortifications. It looks like a very long building but in fact the Admiralty is formed by two buildings constructed side by side. One of them was destined for offices of the Naval department. The other one was to be occupied by warehouses and workshops. The Admiralty houses a Naval Cadet School now. The Admiralty has a gilt spire 42.5 metres high. On its very top it has a ship, which became an emblem of Saint-Petersburg.
It's called so because all the buildings which form the architectural ensemble of the square are connected with art. The building on the right is the largest art gallery, the State Russian museum. The collection of this gallery consists of more than 300,000 pieces of painting, sculpture & applied art up to the 20th century. Architect Rossi constructed this building in classical style in 1823. He made the palace for Grand Duke Michael who was the youngest son of Paul the First, hence the first name of this palace: Michailovsky palace. Next to it is the building of the Ethnography Museum (architec Svinyin, 1911). It's the only building in our city constructed for the museum specially. There you can get acquainted with the exhibitions which tell you about the life of peoples of the former USSR. Another building that I want to draw your attention to is the Maliy Opera & ballet Theatre which appeared here in 1835 (arch. Bryullov). One more theatre is the Central Hall of the State Philharmonic Society named after Schostakovich. The building itself was constructed in 1839 by Jacont & the Philharmonic Society moved here in 1921. In the centre of the square you see the monument to Pushkin (sculptor Anikushin, 1957). I'm sure, that you've heard the name of this famous Russian poet & writer. During our city tour we'll have an opportunity to see places connected with his name. The name of the hotel we're passing is "Europe". It's a four-star hotel. The building was constructed by Fontane in 1875 & restored not very long ago.Just ahead of the coach you see again the yellow building of "The Merchant's Yard" (Vallen de la Mothe 1761-1785), the central department store. Next to it is the building of "Duma" (arch. Quarengi 1847-1852). At first it was used to send out alarms in the case of fire. The yellow cathedral on your right is the St. Catherine Catholic church (arch. Vallen de la Mothe). The next blue and white building on your right houses the Small Hall of the Philharmonic Society. It was opened here in 1949. In the corner there is one of the Metro stations called "Griboedov Canal". Ahead of the coach you can see the grey building with the tower and with the glass globe on the top.
Now it's the Central Book shop called "The House of Books" (1902-1904). Opposite it there is the Kazan Cathedral (the Cathedral of our Lady of Kazan), arch. Voronichin 1801-1811. It has become the monument of Russian glory during the war with Napoleon in 1812. Now it is a functional cathedral. It was a museum of the history of Religion. During the last years there were a few services here. In front of the Cathedral you see two monuments to fieldmarshals Kutuzov and Barklai de Tolly who were commander-in-chiefs during the war with Napoleon (sculptor Orlovsky). On your right you see the former Lutheran church made by arch. Bryullov in 1838. Now it is under the restoration. This green building with white columns is the former church. Now it's a library named after Alexander Blok. The green with white building in the baroque style on your left is one of the first works of the outstanding arch. Rastrelly, it was built in 1752-1754 for count Stroganov. Now the building belongs to the Russian Museum. Just ahead of the coach you can see the bridge across the Moika River and on the opposite side of the river on your left you can see the building with the letters on the top. It is the cinema "Barricada". The building itself was constructed in 1861-73 for the chief of St.-Petersburg's police. On your right the yellow building with white columns is the Literary Cafe, which was visited by many famous people: Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Vagner, List. The grey building on your left is the building of the former bank, now the airterminal is located here. According to the project the bank will be opened here in a few years. It was one of the last buildings, appeared in Nevsky prospect in 1912. Now, in front of you, you can see a yellow building of the Admiralty. The first wooden building of the Admiralty was made according to the plans of Peter the Great in 1704. For the second time it was constructed by arch. Zakharov (1823). It is an unsurpassed example of Russian classicism. The Admiralty was built as the main shipyard in St-Petersburg. It was protected by walls and fortifications. It looks like a very long building but in fact the Admiralty is formed by two buildings constructed side by side. One of them was destined for offices of the Naval department. The other one was to be occupied by warehouses and workshops. The Admiralty houses a Naval Cadet School now. The Admiralty has a gilt spire 42.5 metres high. On its very top it has a ship, which became an emblem of Saint-Petersburg.