Senate Square in St. Petersburg is located by the majestic Neva River and is surrounded by architectural masterpieces: the buildings of the Admiralty, the Senate, and the Synod. The golden domes of St. Isaac's Cathedral rise behind it, and in the center of the square stands the Bronze Horseman, a monument to Peter I, which has become a symbol and talisman of the city. There is a belief that as long as the bronze Peter towers over the square, nothing threatens the city.

History of the Square

Senate Square faces the river on its northern side, while St. Isaac's Cathedral limits it from the south. The Admiralty is located to the east, and to the west are the buildings of the Senate, Synod, and the Horse Guards Corps.

This is one of the oldest squares in the city, established in 1704 when the new capital was just beginning to be built. Initially, it served as the glacis of the Admiralty, the main shipyard of St. Petersburg, which acted as a fortress during the war with the Swedes. The square formed around the wooden St. Isaac's Cathedral and was called Isaac's Square. In 1712, Peter I married Catherine in this cathedral, which was soon rebuilt in stone.

The square was surrounded by water. The Admiralty Canal ran from the south, over which a floating bridge was thrown for access to the temple. In the early 19th century, the canal was partially placed in a pipe and then filled in, laying the Horse Guards Boulevard. Another canal connected the Admiralty with the Neva at the western edge of the square, but it soon disappeared as well.

All life in the building St. Petersburg revolved around the Admiralty, where the future fleet of Russia was born. In 1706, when the first sailing ship was lowered from its rafters, the whole city celebrated this event.

In the 1820s, a new building was constructed for the Admiralty according to the design of architect Andrey Zakharov, adorned with bas-reliefs on a maritime theme. The eastern side of Senate Square acquired its modern appearance.

From 1727, the Isaac Bridge was built from the square to Vasilievsky Island, which lasted until the early 20th century. The wooden bridge burned down from a spark from a tugboat's chimney, leaving only granite supports. Now, there are docks for ships on the embankment opposite the square, from where summer excursions along the rivers and canals can be taken.

Under Catherine II, the Senate moved to a mansion at the corner of Isaac Square and the embankment, and the square was renamed Senate Square. The Senate building was repeatedly rebuilt until Karl Rossi erected the Synod next to it in 1834, uniting both buildings into a single ensemble. Today, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation is located in the Senate building, and the Yeltsin Presidential Library is in the Synod building.

The Horse Guards Manege in the southwest corner of the square was built by Giacomo Quarenghi. Today, it is one of the largest exhibition halls in the city. Two Columns of Glory are installed on Horse Guards Boulevard in memory of the victories of the Horse Guards Regiment in the war with Napoleon. The columns, created by Rossi, completed the decoration of the western side of the square.

In the second half of the 18th century, it was decided to move St. Isaac's Church further from the river, but the third St. Isaac's Cathedral turned out to be absurd. In 1818, the grand construction of the fourth cathedral began under the guidance of Auguste Montferrand, which lasted 40 years. The majestic building with columns became the dominant feature of the square.

The observation deck on the cathedral's colonnade offers the best view of Senate Square from a height of 43 meters.

Part of the square is occupied by Alexander Garden with flower beds, fountains, and sculptures, stretching along the southern facade of the Admiralty to Palace Square. On a hot day, one can find shade in the alleys here.

On the Admiralty Boulevard of the garden, a favorite place for walks, incredible St. Petersburg gossip was once born, giving rise to the term "boulevard press."

The Bronze Horseman, the energy center of the square

The focal point of the square is the monument to Peter I, unveiled on August 7, 1782. Thanks to Pushkin, it is known as the Bronze Horseman, although it is actually bronze.

Alexander Sergeyevich in his works "renamed" not only this monument but also other St. Petersburg monuments. Pushkin called the figure bronze because bronze consists of 80-90% copper.

This monument is surrounded by many myths and legends. According to the author's design, Étienne Falconet, the tsar on horseback rises on a granite wave, symbolizing the exit to the sea. The horse steps on a snake, symbolizing the opponents of reforms. The stone for the monument was found near the village of Likhta and was delivered to St. Petersburg on chutes.

The model of the statue's head was created by Falconet's student Marie Collot. The caster Emelyan Khailov completed the casting of the statue, risking his life.

The monument came to life in the literary works of Pushkin, Mayakovsky, and Annenkov. According to legend, during the war with the French, Alexander I wanted to transport the monument, but after prophetic dreams of a major, he left it in place.

The Bronze Horseman became a symbol of reforms and dictatorship over the individual. It haunts the hero of Pushkin's poem, Eugene. The Old Believers called it the "Horseman of the Apocalypse." The call for freedom from representatives of the ruling class first sounded on Senate Square.

The Decembrist Uprising on Senate Square

On December 14, 1825, one of the most tragic events in Russian history occurred on Senate Square. After the death of Alexander I, several guard regiments refused to swear allegiance to Nicholas I. The leaders of the uprising planned to seize the Winter Palace, arrest the tsar, and establish a constitution. However, the Decembrists could not develop a plan of action, and the uprising was suppressed. Five Decembrists were executed, and more than a hundred were sent to hard labor or exile.

During the uprising, Decembrist Kakhovsky mortally wounded the governor-general Miloradovich. 1271 people died, including women and children.

During the Soviet era, the square was renamed Decembrists' Square, but in 2008 it was returned to its historical name.

Senate Square impresses with its clarity of lines, perfect proportions, and magnificent architectural monuments, regardless of where you view it from.