Historical Background
One of St. Petersburg's best-known squares was laid out in the early 19th century to a design by the brilliant Carlo Rossi. The Russian architect of Italian descent managed to link the square visually with the city's main thoroughfare, Nevsky Prospekt. And thanks to the theater next to it, the place became one of the city's postcard views.
The history of the square and its name is closely tied to the neighboring buildings. On the original plan of 1829 it is called Anichkovskaya Square, after the nearby palace. Later it went by various official and unofficial names, such as Alexandrinskaya and Teatralnaya (Theater) Square, after the theater beside it.
Why Ostrovsky?
In the end, the place where Nevsky Prospekt, Zodchego Rossi Street, and Malaya Sadovaya Street meet was named first Writer Ostrovsky Square and then simply Ostrovsky Square. The famous Russian playwright never lived in St. Petersburg, but most of his celebrated plays were successfully staged at the Alexandrinsky Theater.
The Monument to Catherine
Today the monument to Catherine in the center of Ostrovsky Square closely resembles, in style and design, the Millennium of Russia monument in Veliky Novgorod. That's no coincidence: Mikhail Mikeshin, the author of the famous Novgorod monument, was involved in creating the St. Petersburg one.
Originally there was no monument to Catherine II on the square. It was erected and consecrated in 1873. Here it's worth recalling the many nicknames the people of St. Petersburg have given to monuments and buildings. For example, locals often call the monument to Catherine the Great “Katka,” the library “Publichka,” the theater “Alexandrinka,” Apollo's quadriga atop the theater “the Coachman from the Alexandrinka,” and the garden on the square “Katka's Garden.”
The Alexandrinsky Theater
A key building on the square is the Alexandrinsky Theater, built in 1828–1832 to a design by Carlo Rossi. The theater is named after the wife of Emperor Nicholas I. Its main facade, which stands out strikingly against the yellow walls with its six columns, faces Nevsky Prospekt. It is one of the most recognizable buildings in St. Petersburg.
The theater is richly decorated. The facade has a loggia with 6 columns, and statues of the Muses, patrons of the arts, stand in niches on either side. The top of the facade is crowned with the chariot of Apollo, god of beauty and patron of the arts. It was hammered out of sheet copper after a model by the sculptor S. S. Pimenov.
The building houses the Pushkin Russian State Academic Drama Theater, Russia's oldest national theater. It was founded in 1756 and moved into the new building in 1832. Almost all the premieres of Russian dramatic classics were staged at the Alexandrinsky Theater.
Nearby
The National Library of Russia
Right nearby stands the building of that very library nicknamed “Publichka.” It was once home to the Imperial Public Library. The impressive building was erected on the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and Sadovaya Street in 1796–1801. The idea of an open library in the city goes back to Catherine II. In effect, she launched the idea toward the end of her life, but the building was completed later.
The first book collection was assembled here; for example, the books Voltaire sent to the enlightened empress are kept here. Today this is a vast collection of almost 40 million items: prose, poetry, manuscripts, archives, scientific papers, and sound recordings. For example, this is where the Laurentian Codex is kept, which contains the oldest surviving copy of “The Tale of Bygone Years.”
18 points
7 km
1.5 hours
