The Marble Bridge is located near a Large pond in the landscape part of the Catherine Park, in the former Tsarskoye Selo (now the city of Pushkin in St. Petersburg).
This pedestrian bridge is also known as the Palladium Bridge or the Siberian Marble Gallery.
The model for the Marble Bridge, built according to the model of V.I. Neelov, was the bridges in the English parks of Stowe and Wilton, created on the basis of the project of A. Palladio; hence the second name of the bridge - "Palladiev".
Parts of the bridge were carved in the 1770s at the Yekaterinburg lapidary factory by Ural stone cutters under the direction of master V. Tortori, from the local bluish-gray gornoshchitsky and white Stanovsky marbles-columns, capitals, pedestals, balusters and other details. The panels for facing the abutments of the bridge were made of grayish-pink granite.
The construction of the foundations of the Marble Bridge took place in 1773. In 1774, the bridge was assembled from ready-made parts by master V. Tortori and his assistants I. Ivanov, I. Grigoriev, P. Petrovsky and F. By Shakhurin.
The bridge was placed over a narrow channel connecting a man-made Large pond with a neighboring pond, on which an archipelago of 7 islands was created, on which, in turn, small houses were placed where swans lived-thanks to which the islands were called "Swan".
The marble bridge is a magnificent monumental colonnade, set on a granite base, with wide staircases radiating on both sides.
In the center of the base of the bridge is a shallow arch, on both sides of which there are two more small arches.
In the upper (pedestrian) central part of the bridge there is a colonnade of slender Ionic columns, ending on both sides with square pavilions with arches. The spaces between the columns, as well as the stairs, are decorated with a balustrade with pedestals made of figured balusters.
The Marble Bridge offers beautiful views of the Big Pond, Turkish bath, as well as the island of the Big Pond, where the pavilion "Hall on the Island" and the Chesma Column are located.
Practical information
The Marble Bridge is located in Catherine Park, Pushkin, Saint Petersburg.
Catherine Park, together with Catherine's Palace, belong to the State Museum-Reserve "Tsarskoe Selo".
In the summer season (somewhere from the second half of April to mid-October), the entrance to the Catherine Park is paid.
In the Catherine Palace, you can visit the restored halls, and in the park - pavilions.
Visits to the Catherine Palace and the pavilions of the park are not included in the price of the entrance to the park-they are paid separately.
Tickets to the park, pavilions and halls of the palace can be purchased at the ticket offices located directly near the entrances to the park or in advance-online on the official website.
The working hours of the park, the pavilions and the palace, as well as the time of exhibitions, the conditions for visiting and the cost of tickets, we recommend that you check on the website of the State Museum-Reserve "Tsarskoe Selo": tzar.
You can visit Tsarskoye Selo with one of the excursions
In Pushkin, near the Catherine Park and the palace, you can stay
The 5-star Pevcheskaya Tower Hotel features restaurants, a bar, a rooftop observation deck, free Wi-Fi and parking.
Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
5-star luxury spa hotel "Tsar Palace Luxury Hotel & SPA", located in a historic building.
The hotelfeatures a spa area with a swimming pool, a hammam, a salt sauna, a snow fountain, steam baths and a gym; free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk, 2 restaurants, a lobby bar, private parking and meeting and conference rooms.
The rooms are equipped with climate control, a minibar, a safe and a private bathroom.
A buffet breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
3-star hotel Ekaterina, located on the territory of the Catherine Palace and Park Ensemble.
At the hotel: 24-hour front desk, cafe, free Wi-Fi and parking.
Each room here will provide you with air conditioning, a TV, a work desk and free toiletries.
Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
All accommodation facilities in St. Petersburg, including in the city center and in Pushkin, can be viewed and booked here
