Painted ceiling of the Great Hall of Catherine Palace in Pushkin, former Tsarskoe Selo, suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, December 17, 2005
Catherine the Great(?) statue in Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 1, 2005
Statue of Catherine the Great in Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 8, 2009
Sculpture of Russian Tsar Catherine the Great in Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 4, 2013
A statue of Catherine the Great in Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 28, 2005
Catherine the Great Monument on Ostrovskogo Square. Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 20, 2016
Statue of Catherine the Great in Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 11, 2012
Catherine the Great Monument near Nevsky Prospect. Saint Petersburg, Russia, January 2, 2017
Sculpture of Russian Tsar Catherine the Great in Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 9, 2018
Granite bath tub of Catherine the Great in Babolovsky Park. Pushkin (former Tsarsoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 25, 2014
Catherine the Great monument on Ostrovskogo Square. Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 25, 2016
Catherine the Great statue in Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, January 8, 2016
Great Pond and Hall of the Island in Catherine Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 18, 2021
Great Pond, Admiralty and Hall of the Island in Catherine Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 18, 2021
A poetic tribute "Pushkin was here" to the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin in Catherine Park. The symbols on the bench carry specific meanings related to his time at the Imperial Lyceum (located just nearby), where he studied from 1811 to 1817. The Bicorne Hat (Cocked Hat): This represents the uniform worn by the students of the Imperial Lyceum. The Open Book: A symbol of his literary genius and his constant immersion in reading and writing poetry, often done while wandering this very park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Azure blue walls and white columns of Grotto Pavilion sitting on the edge of Great Pond (Bolshoy Prud) in Catherine Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Bronze sculpture of Marcus Cocceius Nerva (reigned 96-98 AD), the first of the "Five Good Emperors" of Rome on the "Great Lawn" (Parterre) of the Landscape Park, directly in front of the Granite Terrace in Catherine Park. He is depicted seated, draped in a toga that exposes his muscular torso, holding a scroll (a symbol of law or wisdom) in his right hand. Catherine the Great and her successors viewed their own reign through the lens of Enlightened Absolutism, often drawing parallels between the Russian Empire and the Pax Romana. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Hall on the Island in Catherine Park, view from Ferry Crossing. It was originally built in the late 1740s by the architect Savva Chevakinsky in the Baroque style, with decorations based on sketches by Rastrelli. In 1794, under Catherine the Great, the architect Giacomo Quarenghi completely rebuilt it in the Classical style. He simplified the decor, giving it the restrained, elegant appearance seen today--white walls, large arched windows, and a modest green roof. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Turkish Bath, a picturesque pavilion situated on a small peninsula in the Great Pond in Catherine Park. Commissioned by Emperor Nicholas I, this was the last structure built in the imperial park, completed between 1850 and 1852. It was designed by Ippolito Monighetti, who used the appearance of a Turkish mosque as his inspiration. The building features a central gilded dome, a tall minaret crowned with a crescent, and intricate relief ornaments on the white facade. The pavilion serves as a victory monument to the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Secluded path winding through the English Landscape Park, near the Swan Islands at the southern end of the Great Pond in Catherine Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Children s Island (Ostrov Detskogo Domika) of the Great Pond concealed within the dense autumn foliage in Catherine Park. Built in 1830 by architect Alexei Gornostayev, it was a playhouse created for the children of Emperor Nicholas I. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Red Cascade or Turkish Cascade in Catherine Park. The Red Cascade is a dam that regulates the water level between the Upper Ponds and the Great Pond. The two "towers" flanking the crossing are designed in the Gothic style, featuring red brick walls with white limestone details, pointed arches, and niche windows. It was built in the 1780s by the engineer Ivan Gerard, likely based on designs by the architect Vasily Neelov. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Marble Bridge (also known as the Palladian Bridge or Siberian Marble Gallery) in Catherine Park. Built in 1772-1774 by the architect Vasily Neelov, it is modeled after the famous Palladian Bridge at Wilton House in England (designed by Inigo Jones and Roger Morris). The bridge is constructed entirely from Ural marble (hence "Siberian"). It features a covered Ionic colonnade resting on a rusticated arch base. It spans a narrow channel connecting the Great Pond with the smaller neighboring ponds (Swan Islands). Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Fall colors of Children s Island (Ostrov Detskogo Domika) of the Great Pond in Catherine Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Fall foliage of Children s Island (Ostrov Detskogo Domika) of the Great Pond concealed within the dense autumn foliage in Catherine Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Marble Bridge (also known as the Palladian Bridge) in Catherine Park, Pushkin, enveloped in the vibrant colors of a Russian autumn. Built in the 1770s, it features a graceful colonnade of Ionic columns carved from blue-grey Ural marble, resting on a sturdy granite base. The bridge spans a narrow channel connecting the Great Pond to smaller neighboring ponds and the "Swan Islands." In the foreground, several mallard ducks glide peacefully across the water. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
"Golden Autumn" of the shores of the Great Pond in Catherine Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Reddish foliage of Children s Island (Ostrov Detskogo Domika) of the Great Pond concealed within the dense autumn foliage in Catherine Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Rich tapestry of deciduous trees on the shores of the Great Pond in Catherine Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Metal bridge located near the Small Caprice (Malyi Kapriz) in Catherine Park. It spans the water channel connecting the Upper Ponds (Verkhnie Prudki) with the Longitudinal Pond (Prodolny Prud). This area is a critical junction in the park s hydraulic system, where water flows from the upper terraces down towards the Great Pond. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Monument to Alexander Lanskoy (often referred to as the Pamyatnik Lanskomu or simply the marble pedestal/urn), located on the Rose Field (Rozovoe Pole) in Catherine Park. It was erected by Catherine the Great in memory of her young favorite, Alexander Lanskoy, who died suddenly in 1784 at the age of 26. The monument is an example of Neoclassical funerary art, likely designed by Antonio Rinaldi or possibly Giacomo Quarenghi. It features a high pedestal made of grey and pink marble, adorned with bas-reliefs and inscriptions (though these are often weathered). Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Krestovy Bridge (Cross Bridge) located in Alexander Park in the town of Pushkin (formerly Tsarskoe Selo), near Saint Petersburg. It has Chinoiserie (Chinese-style) architecture, popular in the 18th century. A pavilion rests on four joined arches over the canal, creating a cross shape. It features glazed bricks (crimson, yellow, blue) and a curved "fish scale" roof. Built in 1779 by the Neyelovs for Catherine the Great, it is a key landmark of the park s "New Garden" area. Russia, October 10, 2025
Temple of Friendship in Pavlovsk Park. Built by Charles Cameron between 1780 and 1784, it was the very first building constructed in the park. It was officially dedicated to Empress Catherine the Great by her son Paul (the future Emperor) and his wife Maria Feodorovna as a gesture of thanks for gifting them the Pavlovsk lands. However, it was also a politically savvy move to rename it the "Temple of Friendship" to honor the visit of Joseph II, the Holy Roman Emperor, framing it as a symbol of enlightened European alliance. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 15, 2025
