110. Moskovskaya Ploshchad
Moskovskaya Ploshchad is a large square in the southern part of St. Petersburg, just to the north of the Monument to Heroic Defenders of Leningrad. It's also the jumping-off point for many excursions outside of the city (via city bus or marshrutka minibus): to Pulkovo airport, Pushkin, Pavlosk, Gatchina, or Shlisselburg, for example (there will be more to come on all of these places in future posts). So I've been to the square every week or two for the last several months as I venture further outside of the city core for regional sightseeing excursions.
In the 1930s, this square was proposed as the location for a new city center. Basically, to move all the government and administrative buildings here to the southern part of the city, out of range of potential locations for Finnish artillery (a real concern, as the two countries were at war in the 1939-40 Winter War and the 1941-44 Continuation War - basically the northern part of the Eastern Front during the Great Patriotic War).
The broad expanse of the square includes several points of interest:
1) A large statue of Vladimir Lenin in the center of the plaza. This was erected in 1970.
2) Several impressive fountains (which apparently synchronize with classical music throughout the day, though I've never witnessed this)
3) The hulking House of the Soviets office building - the largest office building in the city, and a great example of Stalinist architecture
Most of the time this square is relatively empty, but I've also seen it filled with vendors, carnival games, and a music stage on a summer weekend.
In the 1930s, this square was proposed as the location for a new city center. Basically, to move all the government and administrative buildings here to the southern part of the city, out of range of potential locations for Finnish artillery (a real concern, as the two countries were at war in the 1939-40 Winter War and the 1941-44 Continuation War - basically the northern part of the Eastern Front during the Great Patriotic War).
The broad expanse of the square includes several points of interest:
1) A large statue of Vladimir Lenin in the center of the plaza. This was erected in 1970.
2) Several impressive fountains (which apparently synchronize with classical music throughout the day, though I've never witnessed this)
3) The hulking House of the Soviets office building - the largest office building in the city, and a great example of Stalinist architecture
Most of the time this square is relatively empty, but I've also seen it filled with vendors, carnival games, and a music stage on a summer weekend.
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