City squares: historical significance, classical architecture and the largest sizes

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

In every city or town, most social life is concentrated in the town square. This is a place for walking and relaxing, meeting with friends. In the cafes adjacent to the squares, you can have a cup of coffee or arrange a business meeting.

What is area

A square in a simple sense is a kind of open space, which is surrounded by various architectural buildings. A fountain or a complex of fountains, decorations can be located on the square, the territory can be framed with green spaces. There are several types of space. The most common type is the city square, where public and social events are held. There are such varieties of it as: shopping, station, theatrical, pedestrian, memorial. As a rule, memorial squares can be distinguished by a characteristic wall with an indication of a memorable date.

Historical value

During the Roman Empire, city squares were of great importance in the life of the city. It was there that all public meetings were held and city decisions were decided.questions. Residential areas were formed around the squares, living near the main city square was considered the right of privileged people, as well as people with great we alth. Housing in these areas was expensive and almost unaffordable.

In the Middle Ages, the main city square of the city continued to be the place where city affairs were decided. In Medieval Europe, they were used to carry out executions. The whole city, as well as the king and the entire royal house, gathered to look at such a spectacle. People learned all the main news on special poles that were installed around the entire perimeter of the square and served to disseminate information.

Architecture of the squares

City squares are divided into several architectural types, depending on the purpose.

For example, in front of the buildings of socially significant objects, various councils or courts, squares are arranged in such a way that large masses of people can move in the right direction, contributing to filling or evacuation in a short period. For these purposes, when designing the city, conditions are created so that the main streets adjoin the squares.

Another common type is the so-called unloading areas. They are practically not intended for pedestrians, since the streets at the junction intersect at different angles. This facilitates the rapid movement of traffic, but makes it completely difficult for pedestrians.

Types of squares of the city district, for walking, are found mainly in new areas of the city. There, parents and children can move fearlessly around the world.territory without meeting cars and other high-speed transport.

The most favorite type of city squares are the areas around grandiose majestic buildings, such as a theater or a city council building. Usually such squares are decorated with obelisks or monuments, there are complexes of fountains and benches of various shapes for a short rest. Such squares are framed by green plantings, trees, flowers and lawns.

The architecture of city squares is formed according to one unspoken rule: all buildings that surround the space must be made in the same style and have almost the same height.

The main square of Russia

The main city square in Russia is undoubtedly the Red Square in Moscow. It adjoins the Kremlin from the east side.

The square was formed at the end of the fifteenth century, when a new one, made of red brick, was erected on the site of the old white-stone Kremlin. It was then that a decree was issued prohibiting any other construction within a cannon shot. The territory was cleared of wooden houses, small churches, and a market was set up here, which was called Big Bargaining.

Red Square survived a fire in 1571, and for some time was called Pozhar. Then it was renamed to Red, that is, beautiful. Historians believe that, perhaps, this also happened because haberdashery goods were sold here. Then, with a time interval of a hundred years, the Kazan Cathedral and the Triumphal Gate were erected here.

The city's central square has always been a busy center. Herebook trade was carried out, a book library functioned. Active development of the square began at the end of the 19th century. Museums and shopping arcades appeared using the latest material - reinforced concrete. In addition, the area was electrified.

Kuibyshev Square

Of course, it will sound strange, but the largest square in Russia does not belong to Moscow or St. Petersburg. It is located in Samara and impresses with its scale - 174 thousand square meters. Once the square was called the Cathedral, as there was a cathedral nearby, but it was blown up in 1935. Five years later, a monument to Kuibyshev was erected in its place. One of the sights of Samara, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, is located on the square.

Moscow Square

In the cultural capital of Russia, St. Petersburg, there is one of the largest urban areas in Europe - Moscow Square. Its scale is huge - 131 thousand square meters.

The city street and square appeared in the mid-thirties of the twentieth century, but for 30 years it had no name. Even before the Great Patriotic War, it was planned to turn this area into the center of the city, but during the war it became one of the defense centers. After the end of the war, the area continued to be equipped, the area was built up with residential buildings and squares with green islands and playgrounds. One of the first St. Petersburg metro stations appeared - "Moskovskaya". Since 2006, the architectural view has complemented the complex of magnificentfountains that add music on holidays and turn into singing fountains.

University Square

One more attraction of the capital, University Square, strikes on a huge scale. It occupies a space of 130 thousand square meters. The territory got its name in 1956 due to its proximity to the new educational complex. In the center of the square there is a magnificent fountain in the form of a lily, and along the monuments to outstanding scientists of Russia and the world, in particular, Lomonosov, Mendeleev, Herzen, Newton.

During the period of events in honor of the victory in the war, it is through University Square that heavy military equipment passes.

Lenin Square in Khabarovsk

City squares are striking in their size, not only in the capital. Walking around Khabarovsk, you can find a huge Lenin Square with a size of 25 thousand square meters.

The main attraction of this square is a magnificent complex of fountains, surrounded by many flower gardens. The largest streets of Khabarovsk start from the square. She has a rich history. It was here that the first manifesto after the overthrow of the tsar was held, many meetings were held with famous people, including Hero of the Soviet Union Yuri Gagarin.

The square was built in 1864 and changed its name several times. At the very beginning it was called Nikolaevskaya. In the middle of the 20th century, the territory was called Freedom Square. Since the mid 50syears it was renamed the Stalin Square. But, in the end, a monument to V. Lenin was erected on it and it got its name thanks to him.

The city center is a constant active participant in the social life of the townspeople. Parades, various city events are held here, a beautiful Christmas tree is set up on New Year's Eve and an ice town with children's slides for sledding is being built.

Palace Square

On the left bank of the Neva, in St. Petersburg, there is a square that is several times larger than Red Square in Moscow. This is Palace Square. Its construction was carried out for a long time, from the middle of the 18th to the beginning of the 19th century. The square is of historical importance and belongs to the UNESCO site. From the middle of the 18th century, it was called the Admir alty meadow, as it was located near the Admir alty shipyard. From the end of the 18th century until 1918, the square had a different name - Dvortsovaya, because of the immediate location of the Winter Palace behind it. From 1918 to 1944 it was called Uritsky Square, the man who organized the storming of the Winter Palace and then was killed. In the same 1944, an order was issued to restore all the historical names of the city. The name Dvortsovaya returned to the square.

In Soviet times, Palace Square was the venue for various parades and city events. In 2001, a large-scale reconstruction began, as a result of which the remains of Anna Ioannovna's wing were found. The find was studied and buried again.