3. Дворцовая площадь.

Palace Square has played a unique role in Russian history. Before the revolution the square was the setting for colorful military parades often led by the Czar on a horse. In January 1905 it was the scene of the massacre of “Bloody Sunday”. On 9^th of January a peaceful demonstration carried a petition to the Czar only to be met by bullets. Gathered troops fired on thousands of unarmed demonstrator. News of the massacre spread like wildfire and the 1905 Revolution broke out with strikes all over Russia. To avert further disasters Nicolas-II promised basic civil rights and an elected Duma with the right to veto legislation. However the Czar simply dissolved the Parliament whenever it displeased him. This highhanded behavior, along with the royal family’s unpopular intimate friendship with Rasputin, further damaged the Romanov’s reputation. Then on November, 7 1917 Lenin’s Bolsheviks supporters secured the Revolution by attacking the Winter Palace from the square, as well as its west side. This attack got started by the blank shot from Aurora cruiser.

Today it is still a favorite venue for political meetings and for popular entertainment such as concerts and fireworks. The resplendent square is the work of the inspired architect Carlo Rossi. Facing the Winter Palace on its southern side is Rossi’s magnificent General Staff Building built in 1819-1920. The headquarters for the Russian army. Rossi demolished an entire row of houses to make room for it. The two graceful curving wings are connected by a triumphal double arch. The arch is crowned by a lively sculpture of Victory in her Chariot, built in 1829 by Stepan Pimenov and Vasily Demut-Malinovsky. Forming the eastern side of this striking architecture ensemble is the Guards Headquarters, designed by Alexander Brullov in 1837-1843. To the west lies the Admiralty. The Alexander column in the center of the square is dedicated to the Czar Alexander-I for his role in the triumph over Napoleon. On the pedestal are inscribed the words “To Alexander-I from a grateful Russia”. The red granite pillar is balanced only by its immense 600 ton weight, making it the largest free-standing monument. The column was designed by August Montferrand in 1829. But was erected in 1834. The column is surmounted by a bronze angel holding a cross. The face of the Angel reminds the face of Alexander-I. And altogether they stand 47 meters. The beautiful building of the Winter palace was built in 1964 to the design of Rastrelli for Elizaveta Petrovna. It was built in the baroque style. One can see typical for this style combination of green and white colors. Each facade of the palace is different. And it is richly decorated with statues on the top.

4. Decembrists square

The ansamble began when Zaharov built Admerality. It jointed Palace Sguare with Decembrists square. 1763 the squqre began to be called Senat square because the senat was transferred there from the Twelve Collegiums building. By 1807 the Horse Guards monege was build and by 1830’s the senat and senod building. In 1845 at the beginning of Horse guards boulevard were erected two columns with the statues of Victory.

In 1858 the building of Saint Isaac cathedral was finished: it boarders the squire from the south. In 1872-1874 on the square and in front of the Admerality building the gardener Regel designed a big garden (Aleksandrovskiy)

The Bronze Horsman is the symbol of Saint-Peterburg. The monument was build on the order of Catherine the second by Falconet. Head was made by Falconet student Mary Ann Collot. Wax death mask was used. For this work Catherine gave order for her to be elected a member of Russian Academy of Arts. The giant granite boulder on wich the statue stands was founded in 1768 on the shore of the golf of Finland near the village Konnaya Lahta. The weght was 1600 tones. First the stone was moved by land and then to a specially build barge. The monument opened in 1782.

The name Senat Square or Decembrist’s square is connected with December 14, 1825 when the first armed uprising took place in Russia. The progressive-minded Russian nobility rose in rebellion against serfdom and autocracy. They wanted to overthrow the tzar, to abolish serfdom and establish a republic. They wanted the senate not to take the oath of allegiance to the new tzar and set up a constitution. The uprising was severely suppressed by troops of Nicolas 1. Five leaders were executed. Hundreds were exiled to Siberia. Let me explain why the uprising in the first half of 19th c. took place: Russia at the beginning of the 19th c. was still flourishing, though we had the serfdom. In 1812 Napoleon wanted to invade this country but the French army was defeated not only by the Russian army here but all over Europe (by the British army as well). Russian officers were from noble families and they were well educated. They travelled to France and had the best opportunity to get acquainted with the ideas of French Revolution of 1789. They knew the ideas of free-minded philosophies, they realised that serfdom and autocracy would never permit Russia to develop prosperously. That was the main reasons which brought them to this square in December 1825 and a century later, the square was given a title of Decembrists. The uprising was a failure because it was made for people but without people i.c. without a support. There are two similar buildings of the former Senate and Synod it was the last major work of Rossi. Works was finished in 1834. Senate was the Supreme Court of Russia. Synod was the highest ecclesiastical power. Now both buildings housed the central historical state archives. These buildings were damaged during the IIWW but all of them were restored to their original appearance later. Ark between Senat and Senod decorated with Jastice and Piety by Pimenov and Demut-Molinovsky.