Monuments and Memorials
Like any historic capital city, St. Petersburg has a wealth of statuary lining its streets, squares and parks. More than most, perhaps, as not only have the rulers of Russia since the founding of the city had a particular interest in establishing their identity through architecture and public art - the Romanovs as a rulers of an empire claiming parity with the great powers of Europe, the Bolsheviks as pioneers of a new world order - but also because the citizens of St. Petersburg have traditionally had a particularly intense reverence for their great men and women, whether they be poets, scientists or military leaders.
The contribution citizens of St. Petersburg have made to the worlds of culture and science are immeasurable, so it's fitting the city should commemorate them in a host of public monuments. The statues of Russian Emperors (and of Soviet leaders), meanwhile, vie to outdo each other in pomp and grandeur.
The victories and conquests that built the mighty Russian Empire began almost simultaneously with the founding of St. Petersburg, and they are commemorated in numerous columns and arches in the city. The grueling fate of the city during the Second World War, meanwhile, inspired several moving memorials.
In general, there is little quaint or quirky about St. Petersburg, a highly planned city built on the grand scale. However, alongside the majestic lions and sphinxes that decorate some of its most famous buildings, more playful and personal monuments can be found here and there.
