The rearing horses of Anichkov Bridge are known far beyond the borders of St. Petersburg. It is these that tourists strive to see while strolling along Nevsky Prospect or traveling on river trams along the Fontanka. This small bridge over the river with such a gentle name has surpassed the luxurious Palace Bridge over the Neva in popularity and has become a symbol of the city alongside the Winter Palace and Peter and Paul Fortress.

This happened thanks to four sculptural groups depicting the process of taming a wild horse by a man. Just as Peter I tried to tame the unpredictable northern nature and establish a city in an area poorly suited for this purpose, prone to flooding and crisscrossed by numerous streams, over which bridges had to be built. The Fontanka was then called the Nameless Channel, and when pipes were laid through it to supply water to the fountains of the Summer Garden, Peter named it the Fountain River. In 1737, it received its official name, Fontanka. This waterway crossed the road that was to become the main highway of the city, and Nevsky Prospect ended here. Beyond began the wild outskirts with Finnish and Izhora villages. Until the 18th century, the Fontanka was the border of the city, and at the crossing over it, there was a checkpoint where a toll was charged for passage.

Initially, Anichkov Bridge was wooden and narrow. In 1716, by order of Peter I, a wooden multi-span bridge on piles was built, which was painted to resemble stone. The Fontanka was wider than it is now, and the length of the bridge was about 150 meters, but the width was only 6.5 meters. Lifting shields were provided for the passage of vessels, which were removed manually. The bridge was built by an engineering battalion under the command of Mikhail Anichkov, from which the popular name of the bridge originated, although by the emperor's decree it was supposed to be called the Nevsky Bridge. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was sometimes called Anichkin, but after a complaint from a descendant of Anichkov, the name was corrected.

In 1721, the bridge was reconstructed by Dutch engineer Herman van Bolles and Italian architect Domenico Trezzini. In 1737, the bridge was expanded to Nevsky Prospect, and in 1741 it was reinforced to withstand elephants gifted by the Persian shah. In 1749, a new wooden structure was built, which no longer opened, as the river had become shallower.

By the end of the 18th century, the city had grown, and the Fontanka began to be beautified. From 1783 to 1785, Anichkov Bridge was clad in stone. The central span remained wooden and was raised to allow vessels to pass. In the first half of the 19th century, the bridge was fenced with cast-iron railings, and the entrances were decorated with obelisks with lanterns.

By 1839, it became clear that the bridge could not handle the traffic flow. In 1840, Nicholas I approved a new project, and on November 20, 1841, a new bridge with brick arches and pink granite cladding was opened. Artist Alexander Bryullov created a cast-iron fence for it with bas-reliefs of sea horses and mermaids. However, the structure had flaws, and in 1906, reconstruction was carried out.

The uniqueness of the bridge is given by the sculptures of Peter Klodt, depicting wild stallions. Klodt, from a noble family, loved to depict horses from childhood. His first recognition came when he carved a toy horse for the son of a famous writer. Later, he created the galloping horses for the Narva Gates, which brought him worldwide fame.

The sculptures on Anichkov Bridge, inspired by antiquity, became a symbol of St. Petersburg. Initially, there were two, but later Klodt created four different compositions depicting the stages of taming a wild animal. These works brought him fame and made the bridge famous.

During the Siege of Leningrad, the bridge and sculptures were damaged but were restored. Today, the bridge withstands heavy loads, and the authorities take care of its preservation. In 2007-2008, the bridge was thoroughly repaired, and the sculptures were restored. Today they remain in their places, adorning one of the most exquisite bridges in St. Petersburg.