Hundreds of monuments to historical figures, writers, poets are erected in the Northern capital. The city is like a big encyclopedia of arts, revealing its pages to those who want to know the history of the Russian State.
One of the most exciting “pages” is the Arts Square, laid down in the nineteenth century. Her designer was Karl Rossi, a world famous architect. This square today is part of the World Heritage Site. It has several theaters, hotels, museums. There is also a monument to Pushkin, erected in the park in 1957. Its authors were architect Petrov and sculptor Anikushin.
Of the five monuments adorning St. Petersburg, this is the most popular and recognized by the townspeople.
The Pushkin Monument in the Square of Arts has an interesting history. The decision to create it was made back in 1936. They announced an All-Union competition for the best project, found a place on Birzhevaya Square (later it was named after the great poet), and prepared a site. However, the construction was unsuccessful: none of the participants in the competition could convey the essence of the poet, no one was able to offer a worthy project. The monument, solemnly laid in 1936, has not turned into a monument.
After the war, in 1947, the competition was re-announced. This time the project was created, and the winner of the competition was the young graduate of the Anikushin Art Academy. He worked on the sculpture project for several years. Only in 1957 a monument was erected. The Arts Square was decorated with a great creation by a Soviet architect who managed to solve a difficult problem: organically fit a monument into the historically formed architectural ensemble of a favorite place of Leningrad residents. Today it seems that the monument has been there since the end of the 19th century, the time when the square was just being laid.
Today, the Square of Arts has completely preserved its historical appearance.
Its main architectural object is the Mikhailovsky Palace, the construction of which took amazingly (at that time) little time. The magnificent royal building was built only six years, from 1819 to 1825.
In the west, Art Square is decorated with two historic buildings dedicated to Melpomene. These are theaters: opera and ballet (formerly Mikhailovsky) and Maly.
A little further away is the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. About it is worth saying a little more. Located in the old building of the Noble Assembly, the Philharmonic has always been one of St. Petersburg's favorite places. Even during the years of World War II, the Philharmonic Society supported the spirit of the blockade by the incessant
concerts. It was here that Shostakovich’s famous “blockade” symphony sounded for the first time.
Arts Square is proud of not only these architectural gems and historic buildings. Here is the apartment of I.I. Brodsky, a Soviet painter who is considered the founder of a movement called socialist realism.
Not far from the artist’s apartment, the Grand Hotel Europe hospitably welcomes guests - the best hotel in the city, also organically integrated into the architectural and historical ensemble.