14. St. Petersburg Bridges - The Anichkov Bridge
St. Petersburg is sometimes referred to as "the Venice of the North" due to the great number of rivers and canals flowing through the city. As such, there are several dozen islands that need to be connected for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. According to one count, there are 342 bridges in the city limits, but elsewhere on the internet I found the much higher count of 580. Not sure which is closer to the truth, but either way there are bridges everywhere, and most bridges are in sight of at least one or two others.
About 60-70 bridges in central St. Petersburg seem to be noteworthy for one reason or another. Many of the bridges are historic, dating to the 18th or 19th centuries. Of course, they've all been renovated or rebuilt many times due to the heavy use and changing needs over the years. Some of the bridges are quite beautiful. I've been walking a lot as I explore the city, so I've already used and admired perhaps 20 or 25 bridges. Some I use on a daily basis, so a good theme for a series of posts will be some of the more interesting spans.
First up is the Anichkov Bridge - just a couple blocks north of my apartment. It crosses the Fontanka River and forms part of Nevsky Prospekt, the main avenue in the city center. It was originally constructed in the 1840s. In a previous incarnation built about a decade after the city's founding, it was the first bridge across the Fontanka.
The huge sculptures at each of the four corners of the bridge are known as "The Horse Tamers" by Russian sculptor, Pyotr Klodt von Jurgensburg. Starting at the southeast corner and moving in a counter-clockwise direction, the statues show a man and horse interacting as the horse progresses from wild to tame. These survived the Siege of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War because they were de-installed and buried in the grounds of the nearby Anichkov Palace. However, the northwest granite column sustained damage from artillery shells, and the numerous gouges have been preserved (that's what the plaque in the pictures below is describing).
The intricate railing on either side features horses, mermaids, and fish. Every time I've walked across it (once or twice a day for the last month), the sidewalks on both sides are crammed full of pedestrians. My frequent crossings and the impressive sculptures will undoubtedly make this my favorite bridge in St. Petersburg.
About 60-70 bridges in central St. Petersburg seem to be noteworthy for one reason or another. Many of the bridges are historic, dating to the 18th or 19th centuries. Of course, they've all been renovated or rebuilt many times due to the heavy use and changing needs over the years. Some of the bridges are quite beautiful. I've been walking a lot as I explore the city, so I've already used and admired perhaps 20 or 25 bridges. Some I use on a daily basis, so a good theme for a series of posts will be some of the more interesting spans.
First up is the Anichkov Bridge - just a couple blocks north of my apartment. It crosses the Fontanka River and forms part of Nevsky Prospekt, the main avenue in the city center. It was originally constructed in the 1840s. In a previous incarnation built about a decade after the city's founding, it was the first bridge across the Fontanka.
The huge sculptures at each of the four corners of the bridge are known as "The Horse Tamers" by Russian sculptor, Pyotr Klodt von Jurgensburg. Starting at the southeast corner and moving in a counter-clockwise direction, the statues show a man and horse interacting as the horse progresses from wild to tame. These survived the Siege of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War because they were de-installed and buried in the grounds of the nearby Anichkov Palace. However, the northwest granite column sustained damage from artillery shells, and the numerous gouges have been preserved (that's what the plaque in the pictures below is describing).
The intricate railing on either side features horses, mermaids, and fish. Every time I've walked across it (once or twice a day for the last month), the sidewalks on both sides are crammed full of pedestrians. My frequent crossings and the impressive sculptures will undoubtedly make this my favorite bridge in St. Petersburg.
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