Voronezh, although far from the sea, is rightly considered the cradle of the Russian fleet. It was here, on the banks of the Voronezh River, that Peter Alekseev actively engaged in building his first ship. This young man combined the roles of carpenter, caulker, and bombardier. In Voronezh, he transformed into Peter I the Great. Admiralty Square, popular among locals and tourists, reminds us of this event.

For a long time, Voronezh remained a quiet agricultural and trading town until preparations for the Azov campaign began in 1696. The construction of the military fleet became a grand event, and in the spring, the first vessel was launched. Peter the Great personally oversaw the process, visiting the city 17 times.

The Voronezh shipyards produced the first military sailing ships, such as "Principium," "Saint Matthew," and "Saint Mark." They were consecrated in the Assumption Church, which Peter I called the main cathedral of the Admiralty.

In 1996, in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Russian fleet, Admiralty Square was ceremoniously opened in Voronezh. It offers a magnificent view of the reservoir, the left bank of the city, and two long bridges. The square is located where Peter's shipyards stood at the end of the 17th century. The white arches at the entrance symbolize Russia's access to the sea as a full-fledged power, and the memorial rostral column is adorned with the bows of ships.

In 2014, a precise copy of the first domestic line ship "Goto Predestination" was launched at Admiralty Square, which quickly became a landmark of the city. This is an operational ship with real 3-pound cannons. Salvos from them were fired only once, at the ceremonial opening. Unlike the original, the ship moves not under sails but with the help of a diesel engine. You cannot take a ride on it, but you can go up on deck and explore it as part of a paid tour.