The Kissing Bridge is one of the most iconic bridges in St. Petersburg, which has gained popularity and has become legendary due to its name.
The Kissing Bridge is sometimes called the Kissing Bridge.
The Kissing Bridge is located in the city center and spans the Moika River. The bridge connects the Kazan and the 2nd Admiralty islands.
The bridge received the name "Kisses" in the late 1780s from the "Kiss" tavern, located nearby - on the left bank of the Moika River. A popular drinking establishment at that time was located in the house of the merchant Nikifor Potseluev, who, in turn, owes his name to the old word "tselovalnik" - an official who collects taxes from pubs.
This is a small bridge that has a total length of 35.8 meters,and a width of 23.5 meters.
The Kissing Bridge has kept its architectural appearance almost unchanged since 1816.
The kissing bridge is a single-span arch, the span of which is made in the form of a steel double-hinged arch. The abutments of the bridge are massive stone structures, on a pile base, lined with granite. There are four granite obelisks on the abutments of the bridge.
The railing of the bridge is cast iron, repeating the pattern of the Moika River fence.
The bridge is designed for traffic and pedestrians.
The roadway of the bridge includes 4 lanes for motor vehicles. The pavement of the roadway is asphalt concrete, sidewalks are granite slabs (on postcards) and cast asphalt in the center of the bridge. The sidewalks are separated from the roadway by high granite parapets.
View of the Kissing bridge, the Moika River; behind the bridge - Krasnoflotsky and Matveev bridges, also visible Kryukov Canal
Legends related to the bridge
It was said that in the 18th century, when the border of the city reached only to the Moika River, the bridge served as a place of farewells and meetings, where those who had to leave the city and those who came to the city said goodbye and met with their loved ones and dear people. Meetings were held with kisses and hugs, and, for this reason, the bridge is called "Kisses".
According to another version, the bridge is called "Kisses" because it leads to the gate of the Guards Naval crew and on the bridge the sailors said goodbye to their lovers.
It was also believed that the prisoners were saying goodbye to their relatives on the bridge (there was a prison nearby), hence the many kisses, as well as the name.
According to another legend, the name of the bridge is explained by the fact that in the old days this bridge served as a meeting place for young lovers who for some reason were forced to hide their feelings.
Couples in love had a custom: to kiss when crossing the bridge, so as never to part. By the way, this custom is very common today.
There is another ancient custom-to kiss people passing through the bridge every time, regardless of the degree of closeness and kinship.
The story of the Kissing Bridge
Since 1738, there was a wooden pedestrian bridge with a drawbridge of a lifting type for passing masted vessels at this place. Then the bridge was called "Colored", because it was painted in different colors.
In 1768, the bridge became a roadway and pedestrian, as a result of its reconstruction into a three-span wooden beam system on stone supports.
In 1808-1816, the bridge was rebuilt into a single-span cast-iron arch, according to the standard project of cast-iron bridges over the Moika River, developed by engineer V. I. Geste.
Subsequently, the bridge was reconstructed and repaired, but in general it did not lose its historical appearance.
Practical information
Coordinates of the Kiss Bridge: 59°55'42.0"N 30°17'42.0"E (59.928333, 30.295000).
Nearest metro stations: "Sennaya Ploshchad", "Sadovaya", "Spasskaya" and "Admiralteiskaya".
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