52. St. Petersburg Parks #2 - The Summer Garden
The Summer Garden is just east of the Field of Mars, north of St. Michael's Castle, west of the Fontanka River, and south of the Neva River. It was founded in 1704 during the very first years of the City, and Peter the Great himself had a hand in its design. It was flooded and otherwise damaged several times over the centuries, but all the trees surprisingly survived the Siege of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War (I would have guessed they were damaged by shelling or cut down for firewood).
A pond greets visitors at the south entrance, which was used centuries ago to breed carp for the dinner plates of Russian royalty. The intersecting pathways at the south end of the park are bordered by rows of tall, stately trees. This garden has dozens of marble sculptures featured (or hidden) throughout its many paths. I think most of them are originals, but some may be copies (that are themselves probably several hundred years old). One in particular I recognized from its twin in the St. Michael's Palace. Most of the sculptures are at the north end of the park, ringing a series of fountains or lining the promenade along the hedges. There are also several historic buildings still in use that were designed by prominent 18th century architects: a tea house, coffee house, and the modest - by the standards of his later palaces - Summer Palace of Peter the Great (currently closed for renovations).
Hundreds of people were also out for a stroll in the park on the warm, beautiful summer day in early July that marked my first visit. Although there is very little grass and no flower plantings, this is nevertheless a peaceful, shady refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. The sculptures make it worth multiple visits and this is probably my favorite park in the city center.
I started reading Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" last week and came across a germane quote two days after writing the preceding sentences: "By degrees he passed to the conviction that if the Summer Garden were extended to the field of Mars, and perhaps joined to the garden of the Mikhailovsky Palace, it would be a splendid thing and a great benefit to the town." (p.59, translation by Constance Garnett).
Does this woman (probably representing the goddess Athena) and her pet owl look familiar? --
That's because the original statue is on display in St. Michael's castle! --
A pond greets visitors at the south entrance, which was used centuries ago to breed carp for the dinner plates of Russian royalty. The intersecting pathways at the south end of the park are bordered by rows of tall, stately trees. This garden has dozens of marble sculptures featured (or hidden) throughout its many paths. I think most of them are originals, but some may be copies (that are themselves probably several hundred years old). One in particular I recognized from its twin in the St. Michael's Palace. Most of the sculptures are at the north end of the park, ringing a series of fountains or lining the promenade along the hedges. There are also several historic buildings still in use that were designed by prominent 18th century architects: a tea house, coffee house, and the modest - by the standards of his later palaces - Summer Palace of Peter the Great (currently closed for renovations).
Hundreds of people were also out for a stroll in the park on the warm, beautiful summer day in early July that marked my first visit. Although there is very little grass and no flower plantings, this is nevertheless a peaceful, shady refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. The sculptures make it worth multiple visits and this is probably my favorite park in the city center.
I started reading Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" last week and came across a germane quote two days after writing the preceding sentences: "By degrees he passed to the conviction that if the Summer Garden were extended to the field of Mars, and perhaps joined to the garden of the Mikhailovsky Palace, it would be a splendid thing and a great benefit to the town." (p.59, translation by Constance Garnett).
Does this woman (probably representing the goddess Athena) and her pet owl look familiar? --
That's because the original statue is on display in St. Michael's castle! --
Comments
Post a Comment