Today we went for a spontaneous walk and visited two gardens with fountains. First, we decided to go to the garden of the Mariinsky Palace. This small garden has been closed to the public for a long time. There are not too many places in the city that I have never seen before, although I wanted to. This is one of those places.
The Mariinsky Palace was built for the Grand Duchess Maria, daughter of Emperor Nicholas I. The architect Andrei Shtakenshneider worked on the project. The palace is located in the center of the city, opposite the St. Isaac's Cathedral. At the end of XIX century the palace was bought by the treasury and became the residence of the State Council. All the turmoil of the 20th century did not change the function of the building. The name changed, but the essence remained the same: the work of the city's political committees took place inside the palace.
The garden has been closed for ordinary people all these years - 178 years. At first it was used for walks by the princess and her family, then government officials rested in the garden. Deaf wooden gates completely blocked the possibility not only to enter, but at least to look into the garden. So I was very happy when I saw the news about the opening of the garden in the city newspaper.
The garden left a pleasant impression. It is small, but cozy. The garden is separated by a wall from the noisy avenue and seems to be an oasis of peace and quiet. In the center of the garden the fountain works, around the fountain there are benches, on which you can rest from the bustle of the city.
From this almost unknown garden we went to the most famous garden of our city - the Summer Garden. This is the oldest garden of St. Petersburg. This garden was laid by order of the founder of St. Petersburg, Emperor Peter the Great in 1704. In the garden were arranged fountains. To decorate the garden were brought marble sculptures from Venice.
Marble sculptures adorned the garden throughout its existence, but the fountains were less fortunate. During one of the devastating floods, the water system was destroyed and it was not restored.
The restoration of the garden, based on archival and archaeological research, was carried out a few years ago. It was a very large-scale work, which affected the plantings, structures and hydraulic engineering structures. The garden has been transformed beyond recognition.
We have been used to the different look of the garden's alleys and greenhouses since childhood, and not everyone likes the innovations. Disputes about the appropriateness of the work carried out do not cease. But the fountains, it seems to me, are beyond any criticism - they are beautiful.
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| Smartphone | Google Pixel 3a |
| Location | Saint Petersburg, Russia |