Ostrovsky Square is one of the historical squares in the center of St. Petersburg.
The square is a public space with a garden, surrounded by architectural monuments: the palace, the theater, the national library and other significant buildings.
Ostrovsky Square is located near Anichkov Bridge, near Nevsky Prospekt-one of the most visited and beautiful streets of the city; where there are Malaya Sadovaya Street, Zodchego Rossi Street and Krylov Lane.
The history of the square dates back to the mid-18th century, when the land of the Anichkov Palace was listed on this site - the palace garden with pavilions, greenhouses, a pond and auxiliary buildings.
The formation of a full-fledged square began with the construction of the nearby Alexandrinsky Theater (1832) - when part of the land of the palace (the western part of the garden) was allocated as a separate unit for the arrangement of the territory in front of the theater.
One of the best architects of that time, Karl Ivanovich Rossi, was invited to arrange the square, according to whose project the created square was built up as a single architectural ensemble. On Rossi Square, he also erected the building of the Alexandrinsky Theater, the building of the main building of the Russian National Library. In addition, Rossi designed the streets that extend from the square. So, one of the streets bears his name - the street of the Architect Rossi.
Rossi was subsequently suspended from the project. The ensemble of the square was completed according to the projects of the garden master Yakov Fedorov, architect Adrian Rosen, artist Mikhail Osipovich Mikeshin, etc.
During the history of the square was updated, the square in the center was redeveloped, and the buildings were restored.
Today, Ostrovsky Square is an architectural complex that remains one of the highest achievements of Russian urban planning art. The square is included in the World Heritage List.
Name of the square
In 1829, the square was known as Anichkovskaya Square-after the name of the Anichkov Palace.
On August 13 (25 in the new style), 1832, the square was given the name "Alexandrinskaya" - after the Alexandrinsky Theater located on it. Together with this name, in 1851-1858, the name "Theater Square" was also used, and on the plan of 1899, a toponym appears that includes both names:"square of the Alexandrinsky Theater".
From October 1923 until 1929, it was named "Writer Ostrovsky Square" - in honor of the Russian playwright Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky. In parallel, in 1925, the name "Ostrovsky Square" appeared, which the square is still called today. Despite the fact that Ostrovsky did not live in St. Petersburg, he was closely connected with the cultural life of the city: since 1859, most of the playwright's plays were published in Sovremennik and Otechestvennye Zapiski, and many of his plays were staged at the Alexandrinsky Theater.
Attractions and objects on Ostrovsky Square
Catherine's Garden with a monument to Catherine II
From Nevsky Prospekt, the center of Ostrovsky Square opens to the Catherine Garden.
During the history of the garden changed its name and was reconstructed.
Today, the Catherine Garden is a historical park and is recognized as one of the most striking examples of landscape art of the 18th and 20th centuries.
The garden has a historical layout of 1878 and is an area with paths and alleys, as well as flower beds and places for recreation.
The center of the garden is decorated with a monumental monument to the Empress Catherine II, the creation of which was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Catherine's ascension to the throne.
The monument was laid on November 24, 1869, in the presence of Alexander II and members of the imperial family. The monument was opened in 1873.
The Empress is depicted in a standing position on a high pedestal. The upper part of the monument's pedestal is surrounded by bronze silhouettes of Catherine's subjects - 9 famous nobles and prominent figures.
Address of the Catherine Garden: Ostrovsky Square, 1. Learn more about the garden and the monument to Catherine II…
Anichkov Palace
Anichkov Palace with an adjacent garden is located on the east side of Ostrovsky Square.
Adjacent to Ostrovsky Square is the garden of the Anichkov Palace, which houses two pavilions built by K. I. Rossi in 1817-1818.
The Anichkov Palace itself, which consists of several buildings, is located behind the garden.
Anichkov Palace - one of the former imperial palaces-now a monument of Russian architecture of the 17th and 19th centuries. The palace was erected starting in 1741 by the decree of the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.
Now within the walls of the palace are: the theater and concert complex "Carnival", the St. Petersburg City Palace of Youth Creativity, the library and the Anichkov Lyceum.
Sightseeing tours are held in the palace. Concerts, evenings and holidays are also held.
Address of the Anichkov Palace: Nevsky Prospekt, 39. Learn more about the palace and garden…
Russian National Library
On the opposite side from the Anichkov Palace, Ostrovsky Square is decorated with the main complex of the Russian National Library.
The Russian National Library (RNB) is one of the first public libraries in Eastern Europe and the oldest national library in Russia, consisting of several buildings in St. Petersburg.
Initially, in 1796-1801, on the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and Sadovaya Street, the architect Yegor Sokolov designed the first special building in Russia designed to house a library.
By 1832, according to the project of Rossi, a building was added to the existing Sokolov building on the side of Ostrovsky Square, which was called "Rossi" and thus created a harmonious whole structure.
The main facade of the Rossi building, facing Ostrovsky Square, is decorated with a colonnade of the Ionic order, raised on a massive rusticated lower floor. The columns have capitals. Sculptures are placed between the columns, and a single attic completes the center of the facade.
View of the library building from Nevsky Prospekt (Rossi Building and Sokolov Building)
On the side of Ostrovsky Square, another building of the library is adjacent to the Rossi building - the Vorotilov building with a huge reading room, which was built in September 1896 according to the project of E. S. Vorotilov. Learn more about the Russian National Library…
Alexandrinsky Theater
The Alexandrinsky Theater is not only the founder of the entire Ostrovsky Square, but also its dominant one.
The theater stands in the center of the square, just behind the Catherine Garden.
The Alexandrinsky Theatre is the oldest national theatre in Russia, and the first professional state Russian drama theatre.
The theater building was built from 1828 to 1832 by the architect Karl Rossi. The theater was named in honor of the wife of Emperor Nicholas I-Alexandra Feodorovna.
The main facade of the theater, facing the Catherine Garden, is made in the form of a six-column gallery-loggia, effectively standing out against the yellow background of the walls. On the sides of the loggia, in two niches, there are statues of the Muses-patrons of the arts. Above the loggia are the winged geniuses of Glory and the laurel wreath of the lyre. The central attic of the facade is completed by a sculptural composition - the chariot of Apollo (the god of beauty and patron of the arts), which is made of sheet copper according to the model of the sculptor S. S. Pimenov.
The southern (reverse) facade of the theater faces the street of the Architect Rossi.
In the space of the third tier of the Alexandrinsky Theater is the "Museum of Russian Drama", whose exhibitions are dedicated to the history of the oldest drama troupe in Russia.
The theater has unique collections of sets, costumes,furniture, theatrical props and weapons, which are located in several halls: Boyarsky, Gogol, Golovinsky, Imperial, Soviet, Turgenev, the hall of the 18th century and the hall of the Theater travel.
Address of the Alexandrinsky Theater: 6 Ostrovsky Square. Learn more about the Alexandrinsky Theater and Museum…
Buildings of the Ministry of Public Education and the Directorate of the Imperial Theaters
The building of the Ministry of Public Education and the building of the Directorate of the Imperial Theaters are located behind the Alexandrinsky Theater - on the street of the Architect Rossi.
The southern side facades of the building overlook Ostrovsky Square, and the main ones-on the street of the Architect Rossi.
The buildings are two similar administrative buildings, built in 1828-1834 by the architect Karl Rossi. The facades of the buildings are distinguished by columns and an arched first floor.
The western building (odd side) housed the Ministry of Public Education; now it houses the Housing Committee and the Committee on Investments and Strategic Projects of the Government of St. Petersburg.
The eastern building (even side) housed the Directorate of the Imperial Theaters; now it is the St. Petersburg State Museum of Theater and Music Art, the St. Petersburg State Theater Library and the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.
The museum specializes in collecting and exhibiting materials related to the history of Russian drama and musical theaters. The museum hosts guided tours, lectures, concerts, meetings, and one-man shows.
The St. Petersburg State Theater Library was founded in 1756 as a repertory library. The library's collections include more than 700,000 items, including rare and valuable publications, personal archives of theater figures, a collection of theater programs and posters, manuscripts, sketches of scenery and costumes for performances, a collection of theater periodicals and photographs.
Website of the St. Petersburg State Museum of Theater and Musical Art: theatremuseum.
Website of the St. Petersburg State Theater Library: sptl .spb.
Website of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet: vaganovaacademy .
House of Basin
The Basin House is located on the south-western side of Ostrovsky Square, at the address: Ostrovsky Square, 5.
The Basin House is a former apartment building, which is a monument of the history and architecture of Russian architecture in St. Petersburg, as well as one of the most attractive houses in the city.
The building was built in 1878-1879 as a tenement house of the Russian academician and architect Nikolai Petrovich Basin according to his own design.
Today the house is restored, it is residential.
The building is designed in the neo-Russian style. It has turrets and bay windows, and stands out for its many architectural elements, including roosters and reproducing decorative motifs of Russian wooden carvings and embroidery. More about the house of Basin…
Building of the city credit society
The building of the St. Petersburg City Credit Society is adjacent to the Basin house and is recognized as a historical monument of architecture of the last quarter of the 19th century.
The building was built in the Neo-Renaissance style in 1876-1879 for one of the first private mortgage banks in Russia (city credit society).
Since the fall of 1880, the general meeting hall of the city credit Society has been used for concerts, literary readings, and charity evenings. After the revolution of 1917, the building housed the Petrograd Provincial Department of Public Utilities, and since the 1950s-the Department of Lenmetrostroy.
Today, the building has been restored and the Bank "Saint Petersburg" is located within its walls.
In the main facade of the building, facing Ostrovsky Square, windows of various shapes and pilasters with capitals are particularly distinguished.
Address of the building of the city credit society: Ostrovsky Square, 7. Learn more about the City Credit Society building…
The building of the Russian Musical Society
The building of the Russian Musical Society is adjacent to the building of the St. Petersburg City Credit Society and has the address: 9 Ostrovsky Square.
The building was built in 1874 by architect E. I. Winterhalter for the Imperial Russian Musical Society.
In 1876-1900, the building housed the Slavic Charitable Society.
Now it is a residential building. On the ground floor is the office of the Housing Committee of the Government of St. Petersburg.
Monument to the janitor
In front of the building of the Russian Musical Society there is a monument to the janitor, installed in honor of the workers who maintain cleanliness in the city - the janitors.
The monument is made of white marble by the sculptor Jan Neumann and was opened on March 16, 2007.
The monument is dedicated not just to the janitor, but to the janitors of the 19th century. Set on a low pedestal, it depicts a male figure with a beard, dressed in a sheepskin coat, felt boots, a fur hat and mittens. In the hands of the figure of the janitor is a large shovel.
A sign is associated with this monument: if you throw a coin and touch the janitor's shovel, you will soon " row " money with the same large shovel. More about the monument to the janitor…
Buildings on the south-eastern side of Ostrovsky Square
The south-eastern side of Ostrovsky Square is formed by a row of four buildings:
- the building under the number 2 letter A is an office building, and it houses Gazprombank.
The building was built in 2005 according to the project of architect E. L. Gerasimov, originally for a five-star hotel, but was purchased by Gazprom Export.
The building is designed in the style of an "Italian palazzo" with a finish of natural granite and light limestone;
- building number 2a is a four-story administrative building built in the 1980s;
- the building number 2 was built in 1911-1912 according to the project of A. A. Grechannikov for the management of the Moscow-Vindavo-Rybinsk railway. Now the building houses the Administration of the Oktyabrskaya Railway.
The building stands out with a dark gray granite veneer in the style of modernized neoclassical architecture and repeats the Empire style motifs in the facade decoration: lion masks, wreaths, garlands, cornucopias; and the figures of the Slav crown the monogram of the building;
- the narrow corner building at number 4 is an administrative building with a glazed upper floor and an architectural arch on the facade.
In the photo, the buildings are numbered 4, 2a and 2
Practical information
Map of Ostrovsky Square
Nearest metro stations: "Nevsky Prospekt", "Gostiny Dvor" and "Mayakovskaya".
You can stop near Ostrovsky Square
The 4-star Majestic Boutique Deluxe Hotel features a lobby bar, restaurant, fitness center, business center, concierge service, 24-hour front desk, free Wi-Fi and private parking.
The roomsare equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a tea set, a telephone and climate control. For your comfort, you will find bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries. Some rooms have a seating area for your convenience.
Breakfast can be included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
The 3-star Sapphire Hotel offers a shared lounge, free Wi-Fi and family rooms.
Each room here will provide you with a flat-screen TV, a minibar, a private bathroom and air conditioning. Some rooms have a seating area for your convenience.
Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
HTH24 Napoleon apartments offers rooms with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and heating.
The apartmentfeatures a bedroom, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, an equipped kitchenette with a microwave and a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a bathroom with a shower. Link to the apartment
ERS Nevsky Apartment features free Wi-Fi and air conditioning.
The apartmenthas 2 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a kitchen with a stove, a refrigerator, an electric kettle and other appliances, and a bathroom with a bath, a hairdryer and free toiletries. Link to the apartment
All accommodation facilities in St. Petersburg, including in the city center and near Ostrovsky Square, can be viewed and booked here
