This sunny and hospitable southern city is located on the banks of the mighty Don. Many interesting monuments of history, culture and architecture are carefully preserved here, which illustrate the difficult history of the city. It is impossible to recognize in one or two days. Perhaps the week is not enough to get acquainted with all the city sights. But today we will visit only one of them - Theater Square in Rostov.
Some historical facts
Back in the 19th century, on the very spot where today the most beautiful square of the city is located, there was an abandoned wasteland. Rostov-on-Don was located on one side of it, and Nakhichevan-on-Don on the other. In 1913, an interesting Art Nouveau building appeared on the wasteland - the Office of the Vladikavkaz Railway.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s the square bore a different name - Revolution. Today, the preserved park reminds of this, which today is also called the Revolution Park. It was defeated in 1927 by agronomist G.N. Zamnius. The park has occupied a vast territory of 21 hectares.
The theater building was built in the lowlands of the Revolution Park, in a constructivist style, which was widespread in architecture in the 20s. After the construction of the theater was completed, the appearance of the square began to take shape. Previously, in the northwestern part of the building there were buildings of the Nikolaev Hospital, which was built on the voluntary donations of citizens. Her project was developed by the Rostov architect N. M. Sokolov.
On the south side of Theater Square in Rostov there was a residential five-story house of railway workers. During the war, the theater building was badly damaged. A competition was announced almost immediately after winning the war to restore it in the city. After the city was completely liberated from the Nazis (1943), a city rally was held on Theater Square in Rostov. Its participants decided to erect a monument to the fallen liberators here.
In 1981, the Atomkotlomash high-rise building was erected on the square. At about the same time, the new building of the medical institute (now a medical university) was built on the western side of the square and the construction of the Theater Descent began, consisting of a cascade of multi-story residential buildings that descend to the Don.
During the years of perestroika, a residential building was built on the southwestern border of the square using the latest technologies and architectural achievements. All buildings located on the square have architectural features characteristic of their time.
Theater Square in Rostov today
On the square are the Office of the North Caucasian Railway, the Drama Theater . Gorky, offices of well-known companies. The decoration of the square was the Memorial dedicated to the soldiers-liberators.
Memorial
The history of the creation of the memorial, which is located on Theater Square in Rostov-on-Don and which is the hallmark of the city, began in 1953. The Union of City Architects has announced a competition to create a monument dedicated to the victorious soldiers. A convincing victory was won by the work of the Rostov sculptor R. Sheker and architect N. Sokolov. They proposed building a stele with a red star framed by a laurel wreath at the top and a colonnade behind the stele.
Unfortunately, the city authorities did not find money for the construction of this facility. The project was said to be temporarily mothballed, but, to the surprise of the authors, another competition was announced in 1959, this time at the all-Union level. Four very strong creative teams took part in it, including Moscow ones. And again the Rostovites won - the sculptor R. G. Sheker, architects A. R. Pyupke and N. P. Sokolova. They proposed a 37-meter figure of a Red Army soldier who salutes from a machine gun. A green square was planned near the monument.
There was no talk of creating the Eternal Flame at that time, since this element was used later, when gasification spread widely throughout the country. And again, no funds were found for the project. At that time, the drama theater had not yet been restored, and all the money went to this construction site.
And only in 1983 the monument, which was dreamed of after the war, took its place of honor in Rostov on Theater Square (photo you can see below). It is a stele 72 meters high, with a gilded sculpture of the Greek goddess Nika, who is dressed in a raincoat. The memorial was inaugurated on Rostov Theater Square on the eve of 1983 Victory Day.
Fountains
Near the drama theater on the Theater Square in Rostov is a complex of fountains. The young sculptor, a graduate of the Rostov Art College, Evgeny Vuchetich, became the author of the main one. The composition is represented by four atlantes holding a dome. A square pool, located in the center on a pedestal with a sculptural group of Atlanteans who hold a flat bowl with jets of water beating upwards - this is what the Vuchetich fountain looks like.
According to urban legend, carrying out this project, the young sculptor settled accounts with city officials, giving the faces of amphibians at the feet of the Atlanteans their facial features.
Rostov, Theater Square: how to get there?
This is the main square of the city, so finding it is not difficult. Buses No. 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 22, as well as fixed-route taxis, go to the Theater Square in Rostov from the Main Railway Station. From the airport you can get on the bus number 7, trolley bus number 9.