Palace Square

The Palace Square is the central square of Saint Petersburg. All kinds of popular manifestations, military parades, public rallies and folk festivals are held here. The Palace Square is considered to be one of the most beautiful architectural ensembles not only in Saint Petersburg, but also in the whole world. From the square one can see the Admiralty, Alexander Garden, and the beginning of Nevsky Prospect.  The square owes its name to the Winter Palace, built between 1754-1762 to the design of Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the baroque style as the winter residence for the Russian Royal family. The architectural composition of the square took its final shape later, in the 20-30s of the 19th century when the General Staff building was put up to the design of architect Rossi. The building is intersected with a Triumphal Arch surmounted with a chariot of glory with winged goddess of Victory in the chariot. The sculptural composition was designed by Pimenov and Demut-Malinovsky. The idea was to commemorate the Russian victory over Napoleon in the war of 1812. For the same occasion the Alexander Column was put up in the center of the square. It's considered to be one of the highest one-piece columns in the world: its height equals 47 meters. The column was designed by architect Montferrand and put up in 1834. It is crowned by a figure of an angel, whose face resembles that of Emperor Alexander I, who ruled the country during the war with Napoleon, hence the name of the column. The angel symbolizes piece, which came to Europe after the victory over Napoleon. The high relief on the pedestal of the column is decorated with compositions symbolizing the glory and heroic deeds of Russian army.  The column weighs 600 tons and is not fastened to the pedestal. It is kept in its position entirely by its own weight. It took just 1 hour 45 minutes to put the column on its pedestal, thanks to the system of scaffolds and capstans. The column strikes with its perfect proportions and laconism of its forms and silhouette. It reminds the triumphal constructions of the times of antiquity.  The Palace Square, being the main square of the city, witnessed many important events of the history of Russia. It was here that the tragic events known as the Bloody Sunday took place. On January 9, 1905 a peaceful demonstration marched to the Winter Palace to ask the tsar for a better life and labor conditions. They came unarmed, dressed in their Sunday best clothes and carried the icons and portraits of the tsar. The marchers hoped to present a petition to the tsar or any of his ministers. But the tsar wasn't in the Palace, and the unarmed crowd was shot. About 1000 were killed, 5000 were badly wounded. The massacre called the Bloody Sunday started the first revolution in Russia.  The revolutionary atmosphere in Russia together with other circumstances made Tsar Nicolas II abdicate the throne in February, 1917. The Provisional Government was called, and in summer, 1917 the Winter Palace became the residence of the members of the Provisional government. During the October Revolution, 1917 the Winter Palace was the main object for assault by the supporters of the Bolsheviks party. On October 25 (November 7, New Style), 1917 the group consisting of the Bolsheviks party representatives went through the Triumphal Arch, crossed the Palace Square and entered the Winter Palace. The Provisional Government was arrested, and the Bolsheviks got the power. Thus a new era in Russian history started.