Since ancient times, people began to build fountains. Moscow is famous for many such structures that were built in estates, on the territory of palaces. But they began to decorate streets, parks, boulevards with them especially actively in the first half of the 20th century. Today in the capital there are 700 various waterworks. The season of fountains in Moscow is from early spring to autumn.
The meaning of fountains
They always played a big role in the life of indigenous Muscovites and guests of the capital. Someone remembers the first date that took place in the square at the fountain on Pushkin Square, others will never forget the wedding day at the magnificent cascade that can be seen on Poklonnaya Hill.
It is a pity that today we more often perceive this splendor as a kind of device that informs us of the change of season. Disconnected means winter is coming, turned on means summer is ahead. Concerned with our problems, we run past these magnificent buildings without appreciating their beauty. Let's stop running for a moment and look at some of the fountains that adorn our capital.
The fountain at the Bolshoi Theater
This grandiose monument is known not only to Muscovites, all residents of the former Soviet Union, but also to many citizens of foreign countries. He is a visiting card of the capital.
It was built in 1835. The author of the project is I. Vitali, a famous sculptor at that time. His creation was the first public fountain in Moscow, although such designs have been known since the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich. This he arranged in Kolomenskoye water fun using the "wonders of the overseas."
In Soviet times, it was planned to place a fountain in this place at the beginning of 1940. V. I. Dolganov worked on the creation of the project, but the war destroyed all plans of city planners. They returned to this question only after the Great Victory. In 1987, the fountain and square at the Bolshoi Theater were dismantled. The fountain was restored only ten years later. The opening was timed to the 850th anniversary of our capital. But it was another fountain developed in the workshop of the Mosproekt-2 company.
The fountain was hoisted on an impromptu podium in the center of a round square. The composition consists of three bowls in which there are two types of vases. Spectacular night lighting with multi-colored lanterns adds theatricality to this magnificent water design.
Today, many fountains work in the capital. Moscow is proud of these unique structures, but the attitude to the design at the Bolshoi Theater has been and remains special to this day. Perhaps because this place was chosen for meetings by our dear WWII veterans on the day of the Great Victory.
"Mermaid" on Myasnitskaya
The fountains of Moscow, the photos of which you see in our article, are all very different. They were built at different times, designed by different architects, but they are all infinitely dear to the residents of the capital. Like, for example, the Mermaid Fountain, located on Myasnitskaya Street. It is located in a small but cozy public garden near the Stroganov Art School.
Today there is no reliable information about who is the author and performer of the water virgin. This concrete sculpture in the center of the bowl is the body of a beautiful girl. It is beautifully curved. The fish tail and the maiden's head are painted in pink, blue and brown.
The Abduction of Europe
In the capital there are very unusual and original fountains. Moscow received as a gift from the Belgian capital, the city of Brussels, a composition called "The Abduction of Europe." It was installed in 2002 at the Kiev railway station. Its author is avant-garde sculptor Olivier Strebl.
The fountain’s composition is based on Greek mythology. In the interweaving of 18-meter pipes, the figure of a bull is visible. The figure of stolen Europe among the water jets is not easy to consider, although experts say that the girl’s image is still present in the composition. It is symbolized by skillfully curved pipes visualizing charm and femininity.
The design, made of stainless pipes, is located in the granite bowl of the dynamic dynamic fountain. Its diameter is 26 meters.
Singing Fountains in Moscow
Probably, even the native Muscovites did not see all the water structures that are in their city. As we have already said, in the capital you can see a variety of fountains. Moscow carefully treats old constructions, many of which are today historical monuments.
Nevertheless, the greatest interest is caused by water structures with special effects. Singing fountains in Moscow every evening gather not only tourists from all over the world, but also local residents. The largest such fountain is in the Tsaritsyno nature reserve, where Empress Catherine II loved to relax.
It was opened in 2007. The fountain is in a natural reservoir. Its diameter is 55 meters, the depth is 1.5 meters. The design consists of 900 jets. The computer controls the direction of pouring water, color change, music, according to a pre-designed program. It uses 2 pieces by P. I. Tchaikovsky (“March” and “Waltz of the Flowers”) and two melodies by Paul Moriah. This beautiful fountain works only in the spring-summer season. The rest of the year it is covered with a protective awning.
There is a singing fountain in Gorky Park. To see its color effects, you need to come to the park at 22.30. The performance lasts 30 minutes.
In 2005, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, a fountain “Music of Glory” was installed on the Glory Square near the Kuzminki metro station. This building was not created for entertainment, but as a monument.