To visit the Palace Square — the main square of Saint Petersburg and the main link in the system of ensembles of the city centre.
The main building of the Palace Square is the Winter Palace built in 1754—1762 by Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Opposite to the Winter Palace stands the grand bow-shaped building of General Headquarters (built in 1819—1829 by Italian architect Carlo Rossi). On the east side of Palace Square stands the large building of the Guard corps (built in 1837—1843 by architect A. P. Bryullov). And in the centre of the square towers Alexander column (built in 1830—1834 by architect Auguste de Montferrand), the monument to the Civil War of 1812.
Alas the Palace Square also keeps sorrowful events in memory. On the 9th of January, 1905 a work-people demonstration took place here and was cruelly shot up by imperial troops. On the 25th of October at night (November, 7th) here took place the decisive combat of October armed insurrection. Later, during Soviet times, the Palace Square was the place of carrying out holiday demonstrations and parades.
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