76. St. Petersburg Parks #4 - Manege Square

The word "manège" means "an arena or enclosed area in which horses and riders are trained". It's etymological origins are French, but the word has fallen out of common usage since the early 1800s and I confess that I had never heard it before I looked it up. Manege Square was previously used as a space to stable horses, and at one point in time, even housed the Empress' pet elephants. Animals no longer live here, other than a healthy flock of pigeons. I've passed through this square a number of times and always enjoy the trees and fountain. Although a small park, it's a nice refuge from the busy crowds on Nevsky Prospekt just a block south. Surrounding the fountain are four sculptures of the Italian architects who designed some of the prominent buildings in St. Petersburg's early history (Carlo Rossi, Francesco Rastrelli, Antonio Rinaldi, and Giacomo Quarenghi). These were a recent gift from the city of Milan.