The tip of Vasilievsky Island, adorned with two rostral columns, is the main viewing platform of St. Petersburg. From the base of these stone giants, a breathtaking view opens up: to the left, the sparkling spire of the Peter and Paul Fortress is visible, and to the right, the elegant silhouette of the Hermitage merges with the water's surface. Between them stretches the vast expanses of the Neva, which here is particularly wide and majestic.

The rostral columns, symbolizing the maritime might of the Russian Empire, were borrowed from Ancient Rome. They first appeared on the Roman Forum in 260 BC in honor of the victory over Carthage. The name of the columns comes from the Latin word "rostra," meaning the prows of ships that were used to ram enemy vessels and later adorned triumphal columns.

In popular culture, the rostral columns are sometimes referred to as "execution columns" in honor of the architect Rastrelli or simply "torches." When in the 18th century the seaport was moved to Vasilievsky Island, it was decided to transform its tip into an architectural ensemble that included the Exchange and the rostral columns. The project was entrusted to the French architect Jean François Thomas de Thomon, who, together with the Russian architect Andrey Zakharov, developed the final design approved on February 26, 1804. The columns, standing 32 meters tall, were unveiled in 1815.

The southern column is located closer to the Great Neva, while the northern one is closer to the Little Neva. Each column is embedded with eight ship prows, arranged symmetrically in four rows. At the base of the columns are allegorical sculptures that, according to legend, symbolize the great Russian rivers. However, initially, Thomon envisioned them as deities of the sea and trade.

Due to the high cost of work by sculptors from the Academy of Arts, the decoration of the columns was put up for auction. As a result, three statues were made according to the design of the Frenchman Thibault, and one by the Fleming Camberlen. The figures were supposed to be cast iron, but due to technological limitations, they were made from Pudost stone, which over time lost its original color.

The main credit for the creation of the columns belongs to the stonecutter's guild led by Samson Sukhanov, who became a renowned master thanks to his talent. He also worked on the colonnades of Kazan and St. Isaac's Cathedrals and the Alexander Column in Palace Square.

The rostral columns were used as giant lanterns, initially illuminated by resin torches and later by burning hemp oil. However, the hypothesis about them being lighthouses is questionable, as lighthouses were usually not placed on rivers. Most likely, the columns served as decoration for the Neva's waters and a symbol of Russia's maritime power.

After the October Revolution, the columns were not illuminated for a long time. In 1957, for the city's 250th anniversary, they were gas-lit, and the fiery columns soared above them once again. The columns have been restored multiple times, with the last major restoration taking place in 1998-1999, after which they acquired their current appearance.

The rostral columns impress at any time of the year and day, especially on holidays when they are illuminated with colorful lights and torches are lit at their tops. They become the center of attention during events such as New Year, Victory Day, and the graduate celebration "Scarlet Sails."