Today we will have a look at few bridges of the different
shapes and sizes in the Pushkin's park.
The first is The" Marble" or "Palladian"
Bridge. This bridge has purely decorative purpose it was built as an
architectural novelty.
This Bridge has a twin in
Buckinghamshire (England) by architect H. Herbert, which was built
accordingly to the architectural teachings of Andrea Palladio
(1508-1580).
This bridge has yet another name: " The Siberian Marble Gallery" The
marble for it came from Siberian Olonets region and was transformed into
the architectural perfection by Ural's famous stone masters.
Architect V. Neelov built the Marble
Bridge in 1770-1774.
The First "Hunchback
"Bridge across the Fish canal. Not far from this one can be found its
exact copy..
The second "Hunchback "Bridge
The "Deville" Bridge is
the cascade between the first and the second Lower ponds.
On the left
from the bridge is The Morey Column.
All those bridges are by V.Neelov and constructed in 1774-1775.
The Morey Column (The Small Rostral
Column by other name) is the monument for the victory of Russian fleet
at Morey Peninsula in Mediterranean Sea. Catherine I in 1771 ordered its
construction.
Most probably it designed by architect A. Rinaldy.
The plaque at its base
says:
"In 1770, February 17, two Russian ships under the Count's Fedor
Orlov command came to Morey Peninsula in Mediterranean Sea by the port
town Vitullo. The infantry troops landed there after which ships went to
Modon with the aim to help the Christian brothers there.
The Captain Barkov together with Sparta's eastern Legion took Passave,
Berdony and Sparta; then the captain Prince Dolgorukiy with Sparta's
western legion took Calamata, Leokarty and Arcadia. The brigadier
Gannibal was victorious in Navarin's fortress.
Just 6 hundred of the brave Russian soldiers took 6 thousands of Turkish
prisoners."
The brigadier Gannibal mentioned here is the granduncle of A.
Pushkin.
Not much can be said about this bridge,
only that is crossing Vittoll's canal and Orlov's (Gatchina's) Gait is
not far from it.
The same bridge.
It cold Rump's Bridge
(from the name of the alley)
Unfortunately the name of the bridge on
foreground is unknown to me, but I can tell you something about the one
behind it.
The Red (Turkish) cascade built in 1770
by V. Neelov and has a nickname
The "Tower" bridge.
Technically it is not a bridge, but the
water gait, it impossible to cross the canal by it.
This cascade as well as the next one is the important part of upper
ponds hydro system (project of an engineer I. Gerard)
The next is the Pudost's Bridge; the name
came from pudist's stone it is made of.
The name of its designer is
lost…
Yet another "Grotto" can be seen behind
the bridge.
This elaborate bridge named the "Big
Chinese" bridge is crossing the "Cross" canal between the "Golden" Gait
of Catherine Palace and Chinese village.
It designed by C. Cameron and built in
1785.
The railing is stylized as red corrals.
Originally four sculptures of chinamen holding the lamps use to
complete the composition.
Just shortly from the "China" bridge on
the same canal the "Cross" Bridge is situated.
It is not open for walking, so we'll just
look from outside.
The "Cross" Bridge was designed by V. and I. Neelov and opened in 1779.
Apparently it is one of earliest examples of concrete's use the history
of the bridge building.
