St. Petersburg is a city built on water. "Venice of the North", as residents and guests of the city call it. There are many bridges thrown across the Neva, striking in their beauty and grandeur. Anichkov Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges in St. Petersburg. The bridge is not a hallmark of the city, but it attracts attention with the sculptural compositions of Peter Klodt. The history of Anichkov Bridge is inextricably linked with the founding of St. Petersburg
The history of the construction of the Anichkov bridge
The bridges of St. Petersburg have always attracted attention for their architectural features. The city is built on a water area, so it would be difficult to do without bridges. There are many bridges in St. Petersburg, the construction of which is associated with the history of the founding of the city. Some bridges are movable, some are not. The Anichkov Bridge, which is a unique landmark of St. Petersburg, attracts special attention of tourists. At first glance, there is nothing special about it. However, travelers consider it their own to walk on this bridge for a long time. Its highlight is the horse figures created by the outstanding sculptor Petr Klodt.
The construction of St. Petersburg began in 1703. Bridges that connected the banks of several rivers were to become an integral part of the city. The Anichkov Bridge connected the banks of the Bezymyanny Erik River. The water from the river was used to operate the fountains in the Summer Garden. The river was soon renamed Fontanka. Since constant rains increased the water level in the river, Peter the Great ordered to build a bridge on the river.
The construction of the bridge began in 1715. The construction work was supervised by Mikhail Anichkov. In honor of him, the bridge got its name. The regiment commanded by Anichkov established a wooden crossing connecting the banks of the Fontanka River. Initially, both bridge slabs were driven by lifting mechanisms so that ships could pass along the river. In the future, the increased traffic on the bridge required the expansion of the crossing.
The first major restructuring took place in 1721. The bridge was equipped with chains and linkage. In 1749 the bridge was rebuilt again. According to the project of S. Volkov, whom Peter appointed as the leading architect, the bridge acquired a completely new look and lost its drawbridge function.
Description of the Anichkov bridge
The first large structures on the bridge were watchtowers, which were a kind of checkpoint. For a long time, the passage on the bridge was paid. With the money received, the government continued to rebuild the bridge. During the reign of Peter the Great, the bridge worked on a clear schedule. Barriers were installed on each side of the bridge. Crossing the bridge at night was forbidden for everyone except the nobles. Initially, a railing was installed on the bridge with images of seahorses, mermaids and fish.
In the middle of the 19th century, the wooden beams and railings of the bridge were dismantled and replaced by stone beams that have survived to this day. The old wooden towers were dismantled and pedestals for sculptural compositions were installed in their place. Peter Claude specially for the Anichkov Bridge created two sculptural compositions - "The Horse Walking with the Boy" and "The Young Man Taking the Horse by the Bridle". The original bronze figures were installed on one side of the bridge, and their plaster copies, covered with bronze, on the other. It is the sculptures that the bridge attracts the attention of tourists. Lattices are installed between the cast-iron pillars of the bridge. In the center of the lattice is a dolphin striving into the water.
During the Great Patriotic War, the sculptural compositions of the bridge were transferred to the museum, and in 1946 they were returned to their original place. Currently, the area of the bridge has expanded significantly. There is a large carriageway and pedestrian zones.
Information for tourists
A visit to Anichkov Bridge is an obligatory part of some sightseeing tours around St. Petersburg. You can get to the bridge in several ways: by bus as part of an excursion group, by metro from the Gostiny Dvor, Mayakovsky, and Nevsky Prospekt stations.
Official address: Fontanka river embankment, 38, lit. A, the city of St. Petersburg, 191025.
Currently, the operation of the bridge is being monitored, control over the wear of supports and supporting structures has been established, and timely repair work is being carried out. The bridge is the pearl of the city and is included in the list of objects of cultural significance in Russia.
