For many tourists coming to St. Petersburg, the Fontanka circus is one of those places that you should definitely visit.
Circus performances have been interesting to people since ancient times. At first, nomad circus troupes gave performances, later (starting from the 18th century) similar entertainments, turning into real festivities, began to be arranged in riding arenas, and from the 19th century they began to build circus buildings. However, such buildings did not differ in amenities.
The idea to build a circus on the Fontanka came up with the Italian artist, who was then a trainer, and artist, and the head of a large circus family. This building was supposed to be different from the ones built earlier.
They planned to build a circus on the Fontanka, relying on advanced engineering ideas, with a dome of almost 50 meters in flight, and without supporting internal columns, which created a special spatial effect. The new decision of the dome was to resemble a huge overturned bowl covering the auditorium. By the way, a similar solution was subsequently used in the construction of structures of this kind. The hall was decorated with luxury: velvet, gold, mirrors. The total number of seats is 5,000, of which only 1,5 in the stalls.
The first visitors to the circus on the Fontanka received in 1877 (December 26). The building is still considered one of the most beautiful circus buildings in the world. In 1919, it passed into the jurisdiction of the state, was redone many times, having lost a number of aesthetic and architectural nuances in the interior and exterior. In 1959, a major reconstruction began, which lasted until 1962. As a result, the decor of the facades (both front and side) was destroyed. The leadership has also changed. In 1919, Scipione Ciniselli (the last owner) left Russia, and the circus workers themselves took over the leadership. Later, the first Soviet director of the Leningrad Circus, Williams Truzzi, an outstanding artist and director, was appointed. His scripts were used in the production of a number of pantomimes.
In the Soviet pre-war period, the Leningrad Circus received not only domestic artists, but also stars of European scale: trainers Togare and Karl Cossmi, the illusionist Kefalo, the athlete Sandwin, the musical clowns of Barraset and many others.
In 1941, the circus interrupted its work, completing the 63rd season. The opening of the new season took place only in the second half of 1944. It was here that a new generation of artists appeared. Such celebrities as the illusionist Kio, Yuri Nikulin, Yuri Kuklachev, Oleg Popov were closely associated with the St. Petersburg circus.
Today's circus on the Fontanka delights its guests with vivid shows with fantastic lighting design. Circus performers are true professionals, breaking a storm of enthusiastic applause.
Circus on the Fontanka, how to get to it? Regardless of the location, start the path from Nevsky Prospect, as this landmark is the easiest. If the path starts from the east side of St. Petersburg, you need to go to Zanevsky Avenue, then go west (along the avenue). If you will be traveling from the eastern side, you need to get to the intersection of Fontanka Embankment and Nevsky Prospekt, from there turn right, then go to Engineering, from where the circus building will be visible. From the western direction, follow the same Nevsky Prospekt, then across Sadovaya or Karavannaya onto Engineering, along it east, to the circus building.
If you plan to travel by public transport, use the metro. Your stop is the Gostiny Dvor station. Then take bus No. 212 or No. 49 (you need to go one stop towards Engineering Street), then walk to the embankment, from there it is very close to the circus.