Ostrovsky Square, St. Petersburg
Situated at the heart of a grand architectural ensemble – linking Nevsky Prospekt to the Fontanka Embankment and embracing the Catherine Gardens, the Alexandrinsky Theatre, Architect Rossi Street (Russian: Ulitsa Zodchego Rossi) and Lomonosov Square (Ploshchad Lomonosova) – is Ostrovsky Square (Ploshchad Ostrovskogo), a beautiful creation by Italian architect Carlo Rossi. Although the elaborate plan of Rossi to produce a large urban district between Anichkov Palace and the Imperial Public Library (now the Russian National Library) was never fully realized, the area still turned out to be remarkably interesting, architecture-wise.
Originally, the square was named after the Alexandrinskiy Theater, whose neoclassical building, completed in 1832 with the Alexandrinsky Garden laid out in front, is its focal point. In 1923, the square was renamed Ploshchad Ostrovskogo in honor of the 19th-century Russian playwright Alexander Ostrovsky.
Another local landmark is the magnificent monument of Catherine the Great, unveiled in 1873, surrounded on both sides with the statues of her confidants and prominent public figures of her reign, such as Alexander Suvorov, Gavrila Derzhavin, Yekaterina Dashkova, Peter Rumyantsev, Ivan Betsky, Alexei Orlov, and Grigory Potemkin.
Also worth the mention is Architect Rossi Street, famous for its "golden ratio" proportions: 220 meters in length, and 22 meters in both width and height. It is the only street in St. Petersburg where only two buildings are located. One of them now houses the Theatre Museum and the famous Vaganova Ballet School.
A rare treat is to see Ostrovsky Square’s lights and decorations at night during New Year’s Eve. The annual 25-day Christmas Market, where vendors from around the world offer their wares and cuisine, is also a unique and recommended experience.
Originally, the square was named after the Alexandrinskiy Theater, whose neoclassical building, completed in 1832 with the Alexandrinsky Garden laid out in front, is its focal point. In 1923, the square was renamed Ploshchad Ostrovskogo in honor of the 19th-century Russian playwright Alexander Ostrovsky.
Another local landmark is the magnificent monument of Catherine the Great, unveiled in 1873, surrounded on both sides with the statues of her confidants and prominent public figures of her reign, such as Alexander Suvorov, Gavrila Derzhavin, Yekaterina Dashkova, Peter Rumyantsev, Ivan Betsky, Alexei Orlov, and Grigory Potemkin.
Also worth the mention is Architect Rossi Street, famous for its "golden ratio" proportions: 220 meters in length, and 22 meters in both width and height. It is the only street in St. Petersburg where only two buildings are located. One of them now houses the Theatre Museum and the famous Vaganova Ballet School.
A rare treat is to see Ostrovsky Square’s lights and decorations at night during New Year’s Eve. The annual 25-day Christmas Market, where vendors from around the world offer their wares and cuisine, is also a unique and recommended experience.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in St. Petersburg. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Ostrovsky Square on Map
Sight Name: Ostrovsky Square
Sight Location: St. Petersburg, Russia (See walking tours in St. Petersburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: St. Petersburg, Russia (See walking tours in St. Petersburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in St. Petersburg, Russia
Create Your Own Walk in St. Petersburg
Creating your own self-guided walk in St. Petersburg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Nevsky Prospekt Walking Tour
Nevsky Prospekt (Avenue) is the main artery of Saint Petersburg, named after the Alexander Nevsky Lavra (monastery) found at the eastern end of it. The monastery commemorates a prominent warlord and legendary figure in the Russian history, Prince Saint Alexander Nevsky (1221–1263).
Upon his founding of the city in 1703, Tsar Peter the Great planned the course of the street as the outset of... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Upon his founding of the city in 1703, Tsar Peter the Great planned the course of the street as the outset of... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Vasilyevsky Island Walking Tour
Situated just across the river from the Winter Palace, Vasilyevsky Island constitutes a large part of Saint Petersburg's historic center.
There are various versions of the origin of the island's name suggesting either Vasily-related etymology or perhaps just a corruption of the previous Swedish or Finnish name, e.g. Vasikkasaari (“Calf Island”). Legend has it, however, that some... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
There are various versions of the origin of the island's name suggesting either Vasily-related etymology or perhaps just a corruption of the previous Swedish or Finnish name, e.g. Vasikkasaari (“Calf Island”). Legend has it, however, that some... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Bolshevik Revolution Walking Tour
When thinking of the events that changed the course of history in the 20th century, one of the first places that comes to mind is St. Petersburg. The “cradle of three revolutions” waged against the Tsarist autocracy saw the country's most important revolutionary events unravel, sending shock waves across the entire globe. What started in February 1917, reached its climax in October when... view more
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 9.8 Km or 6.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 9.8 Km or 6.1 Miles
St. Petersburg Introduction Walking Tour
Russia's northern capital, Saint Petersburg is the country's second largest city where nearly every stone breathes history. It is named after apostle Saint Peter and traditionally dubbed by the Russians as “the Window to Europe” “opened” by Peter the Great on 27 May 1703 on the site of a captured Swedish fortress amid the swamp and the Neva River.
The city is integral with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles
The city is integral with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles
Russian Literary Heritage Walking Tour
If you're an ardent fan of Russian literature, St. Petersburg is undoubtedly your dream destination. Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Gogol, Nabokov and many other Russia's literary greats have blessed this city with their presence – born, lived, worked, or set their characters here. To a great extent, St. Petersburg is a huge stone book, whose pages have been created by prominent Russian... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
16 Unique Russian Things to Seek in St. Petersburg
The "cradle of two revolutions", St. Petersburg bears cultural and historic significance for Russia that is hard to overestimate. Perhaps, nearly every stone in the downtown part of the city breathes history and can qualify as a memorable souvenir, although picking up them for such purpose...