T he Revolution square

We’ll start from the heart of the Old Town – the Revolution square (old name – Alexeyevskaya – in honor of St. Alexi). It was intended for trade and after a fire in the end of the 19^th century it has become a public place. In 1889 a monument to Alexander II was erected in the centre of the square. The emperor was presented in an overcoat. At the bottom there were 4 figures, which personified 4 historical events: a release of peasants, conquest of the Caucasus, liberation of Bulgaria from the Turkish occupation, gain of Central Asia. In 1918 a sculpture and all bronze details were removed. The square got the new name “Revolution square”. In 1927 the sculpture of Lenin was put up to the pedestal.

Leningradskaya Street

Revolution square is located at the crossroads of Kuibyshev and Ventseka streets. We’ll follow Kuibyshev Street ( old name – Dvoryanskaya) which is also called sometimes “Minor Nevsky” for its resemblance to the main street of St. Petersburg. This street, as well as Leningradskaya Street attracts the citizens with a large variety of different shops and boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Walking along it, you will see many historical buildings of all kinds of styles, from classical Russian to gothic, have a chance to visit a movie theatre and museums, take a walk in the shady Strukov Garden.

S trukov Garden

It was called so in memory of the former chief of the Salt Department Strukov. His garden was confiscated and granted to the city. By the end of the 19^th century the garden became one of the best parks on the Volga River.

The Drama theatre

A t the end of Kuibyshev Street, on the right of the Strukov Garden we can see the Drama theatre and the Monument to Chapaev. The building of the theatre was designed by the architect M. Chichagov and was constructed in 1888, on one of the best places on the bank of the Volga River. The building was built in two different styles – classicism and Moscow medieval architecture style. An interesting fact about the Monument to Chapaev (erected in 1932) is that it has a twin-brother, which you can see now in front of the military academy in ST. Petersburg.

Kuibyshev Square

K uibyshev Square, the main city square, occupies the territory of 575х325 m. Its old name is Sobornaya Square. In May 1869 the construction of a beautiful cathedral in the Byzantine style by the architect E.Zhiber was started on it. The cathedral was very large – with the capacity of more than 2500 people. The construction was finished on April 1894. However, the cathedral was destroyed in 30s of the 20^th century. Sobornaya Square was renamed into Kuibyshev Square, and in three years the monument to V.V.Kuibyshev was placed there. The temple ceded the place to the Opera and Ballet House. During the World War II the Bolshoi Theatre staged its performances here.

Samarskaya and Glory Squares

S amarskaya and Glory Squares are also very popular places. There is a Palace of Sports, the circus, the building of Samara Province Duma, the Glory Square with the eternal fire, the building of Regional Administration, and the St. George Cathedral there. People from all over the city come here to enjoy a beautiful view of the Volga River and the embankment. Samara embankment is a place worth seeing – it is the longest in Europe – more than 7 km. of beaches and green alleys for walkers, joggers and roller-bladers. Hundreds of open air cafes, bars, restaurants and amusements.