The central city square of St-Petersburg which got its name from the Winter Palace that's located on the northern side of the square.
The semicircular building on the other side was designed by architect Carlo Rossi in the 1820s. One of the wings used to be occupied by two Ministries (of Finance and Foreign Affairs) but then it was given to the Hermitage for its department of Applied Art. The other wing to the right is occupied by the Headquarters of the Army. The two wings are linked by the Triumphal Arch commemorating the victory over Napoleon. On top of it there is a sculpture depicting Goddess Nike driving a Chariot of Glory drawn by six horses.
In the centre of the square is the Alexander Column designed by Auguste de Montferrand. It bears the name of Alexander the First (Russian tsar during the time of the war against Napoleon). The column is 48 metres high, its base is a solid piece of granite, it weighs 600 tons and not fixed to the pedestal, it stands by its own weight carefully balanced. A statue of an angel holding a cross crowns the column.
The Palace Square joins the Nevsky Prospect (main street of the city) to the Palace Bridge leading to Vasilievsky Island.
If you visit the square for the first time, we strongly recommend you to enter the area through the Triumphal Arch from the Nevsky prospect, and then the huge open space of the Palace Square will impress you deeply and leave very memorable impressions!
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