Teatralnaya Square in Moscow: history, legends

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Teatralnaya Square in Moscow was built in the early twenties of the 19th century. It is located in the very center of the city, to the northeast of another historical landmark - Revolution Square. What is here? The Bolshoi and Maly theaters are located on Theater Square in Moscow. This place can be called the cultural center of the capital, and of the whole country.

Backstory

In the fifteenth century, not far from the Theater Square in Moscow, shopping arcades were located. Around this time, Kitay-gorod was built. In the sixteenth century, the bastions of the famous wall were significantly expanded - the inhabitants of the city feared an enemy invasion. Fires in Moscow occurred regularly. One of them, which happened in 1736, destroyed everything in the area.

The construction of the square was first discussed in 1775. It was decided to equip the area. Or rather, to arrange several squares in the vicinity of the Kremlin and Kitai-cities. As is often the case, construction began not immediately, but after many years.

The emergence of Theater Square in Moscow

In 1812, another fire broke out in the capital, the causes of which are known even to schoolchildren thanks to the imperishable work of Lermontov. The capital was not given to the Frenchman, however, architectural historical monuments had to be paid for patriotism and stamina. Later, a special commission was convened to rebuild the city. Osip Bove worked on the project. The layout of the square under the guidance of an experienced and well-known architect by that time began in 1816.

Fountain

Once upon a time, the Mytishchi water pipeline pool was located here. Later, according to the project of I. P. Vitali, a fountain was built in its place. On Theater Square, it was perhaps the main attraction, not counting, of course, world-famous theaters. At the beginning of the 19th century, fountains were more often called "water cannons". There were few of them in Moscow then. To be more precise, the fountain on Theater Square in Moscow became the first public one. It depicts four cupids, symbolizing such trends in theatrical and literary arts as music, poetry, comedy and tragedy.

After the revolution

In Soviet times, almost all streets in Moscow and other cities were renamed. This fate did not escape the Theater Square. For more than 70 years it was called Sverdlov Square. Not only the name has changed, but the very appearance of these places. So, for some time towered on the squarea monument to the political figure Yakov Sverdlov, who has nothing to do with either the theater or the history of Moscow. The monument was removed in 1991.

The Bolshoi and Maly Theatres, the Metropol Hotel, the Central Department Store - all these publications play an important role in the appearance of the modern Theater Square in Moscow. How to get here? Of course, on the subway. At the same time, you can use not only the Zamoskvoretskaya line, on which the Teatralnaya station is located. You can also exit from Okhotny Ryad or Revolution Square. The Sokolnicheskaya, Zamoskvoretskaya and Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya lines intersect just at the point where Teatralnaya Square is located.

Legends

The Bolshoi Theater was opened in March 1776. During its existence, he has seen a lot, keeps interesting secrets and secrets. Many legends over more than two centuries have given rise to the square and the theater located on it.

Five centuries ago there was an impenetrable swamp here. According to one of the legends, he was once hit by an unfortunate doctor who used to treat Muscovites not so much as to send them to the next world. For which he paid.

About fires as the main misfortune of not only wooden, but already stone Moscow, it was said above. The Bolshoi Theater was built after one of them, one might say, on the ashes. It was named Petrovsky. It stood for only a quarter of a century, then burned down. The most terrible fire in the history of Theater Square occurred in 1805, on the day when the premiere of the opera Mermaid took place on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. rebuilt andrestored the main cultural symbol of the country many times.