St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in Russia. It has many cultural attractions that create a special image of the city. One of these attractions is Rastrelli Square. It is known for its beautiful architectural ensemble.
History of names
Rastrelli Square changed its name several times. Its very first name is Smolnaya, because it is located next to the Smolny Cathedral. In 1864, it began to be called Mariinsky Square - in honor of Empress Maria Feodorovna. This was done because the cathedral located there and other nearby institutions were under her patronage.
At the same time, another name appeared - Catherine's. This name comes from the street of the same name. It got its name from the church of St. Catherine. Then it became part of Shpalernaya Street. This name was used more often, and after 1884 it became official.
Then in 1923 this St. Petersburg landmark was renamedthe square of the architect Rastrelli. It was named after the famous master who created many magnificent creations in St. Petersburg. And in 1929, the attraction received its modern name - Rastrelli Square.
Short biography of the architect
Francesco Rastrelli arrived in St. Petersburg in 1715 with his father. Their talent was not appreciated in Italy, so they went to France, where they worked at the court of Louis XIV. When the French king died, Francesco, like many others, was left without orders. Then he met the Russian diplomat Zotov. He was instructed to look for talented people abroad, and this turned out to be Rastrelli.
The famous architect created many beautiful architectural creations. The heyday of his work was during the reign of Elizabeth I. He performed his creations in the Baroque style, which gave the architectural appearance of the city such a luxurious look. His main creations are the palaces in Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo, as well as the Winter and Stroganov Palaces, the Smolny Cathedral, after which the square was named. She was later named after the famous architect.
History of Creation
The description of Rastrelli Square indicates that it is of interest to tourists due to its beautiful architectural ensemble. It consists of the Smolny Cathedral and the Smolny building (the city administration is located in it), which is located nearby. The cathedral was built on the site of the Smolny House - she spent her early years thereElizabeth.
This name has appeared since the time of Peter I, because at that time resin was prepared in it for the construction of ships. The construction of the cathedral began in 1748 and was completed by the architect Stasov in 1835. This building is made in the Russian Baroque style. It is blue and white with gold plating and looks majestic.
Marble was used for interior decoration, the main hall is decorated with a crystal balustrade, three beautiful iconostasis, and the pulpit is decorated with exquisite carvings. Catherine the Great opened the Smolny Institute at the cathedral, where girls from noble families were trained. In 1917, this institute had a revolutionary headquarters. In 1990, the Smolny Cathedral received the status of an exhibition and concert hall.
Features of the architectural style
Rastrelli worked in the style of Russian Baroque - this is the name of the architectural trend that was formed in the Russian Empire at the end of the 17th-18th centuries. There were several varieties of it, and F. B. Rastrelli embodied the direction of the Elizabethan Baroque.
This kind of baroque was a combination of the Petrine and Moscow currents with northern Italian notes. Since Rastrelli was its most famous and largest representative, it received a different name - "Rastrelli". Its distinctive feature was the majestic architecture, which was supposed to glorify the Russian Empire. Francesco Bartolomeo was characterized by a large scale of buildings, luxurious decoration, the use of two or three colors for painting the facade with the addition of gold.
The architectural style of Rastrelli can be described as festive major. And he influenced all Russian art in the middle of the 17th century. It was during that period that the most majestic palace complexes of St. Petersburg and other city buildings were built.
How to get there
The square is located at the intersection of Smolny, Shpalernaya and Lafonskaya streets, Tavrichesky and Quarenghi lanes. How to get to it? You need to come to St. Petersburg, from the Chernyshevsky metro station to Rastrelli Square. Shuttle taxis No. 15, 46 go from there, the stop is Smolny.
Vorontsov Palace
In addition to Rastrelli Square in St. Petersburg, the famous architect created beautiful palace ensembles. The Vorontsov Palace is located on Sadovaya Street opposite Gostiny Dvor. Its construction was from 1749 to 1757. The customer was Chancellor M. I. Vorontsov.
The palace is made in the Baroque style, and it stands out with a luxurious, majestic facade and the same magnificent and magnificent interior decoration. Inside there are a large number of halls and other rooms. The Vorontsov Palace is decorated with stucco, carvings and other decorative elements that are characteristic of the Baroque.
The construction of such a luxurious palace required a large amount of money. And in 1763, Count Vorontsov gave it to the Russian treasury. When Paul I ascended the throne, the palace was transferred to the Order of M alta. From 1810 to 1918, the Corps of Pages was stationed, and in 1955, the Suvorov Military School. Also part of the palace ensemble is the M alteseChapel.
Stroganov Palace
Another of Rastrelli's famous creations is the Stroganov Palace, which is the oldest of his buildings. Its construction took place from 1753 to 1754. Rastrelli used the structures already built earlier as a basis.
From the works of the architect in the Stroganov Palace survived:
- Great Hall.
- Front lobby.
Then the palace ensemble was reworked by other architects. The Stroganov Palace is an example of Russian baroque. Since 1988, this building has belonged to the Russian Museum, where one of its branches is located.
Rastrelli Square is one of the sights of St. Petersburg, which makes it possible to feel the greatness of the Northern capital of Russia. This is an example of a luxurious, opulent style that made the urban look more festive. You should also check out other creations of the talented architect, because many of his buildings are the main sights of St. Petersburg.
Some palace ensembles were altered by other architects because the fashion was changing. But in most of the creations, the distinctive features of the Elizabethan or Rastrelli baroque have been preserved. Guests of St. Petersburg have a great opportunity to see how the city's appearance has changed in different historical eras and admire the talent of architects.
