Circus on the Fontanka River.

Telling you about St. Petersburg and architectural monuments on the Fontanka River, I want to tell you about the famous building of the Great St. Petersburg State Circus on the Fontanka River. Recently this circus turned 140 years old. it must be said that this is the first stationary stone circus in Russia. It was opened on December 26, 1877. The Circus on the Fontanka is considered one of the most beautiful and famous circuses of Europe. The initiator of the circus in St. Petersburg was the famous Italian circus artist (rider and horse trainer) - Gaetano Ciniselli.

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The building of the circus is a unique technical building, executed on the basis of advanced for that time engineering thought. For the first time in the world, with the construction of a dome of a record span (49.7 m) supporting inner columns were not used, which created an unusual spatial effect. The decoration of the auditorium was done with luxury. In its decoration combined crimson velvet, gold, mirrors. Lodges and seats in the stalls were designed for 1500 people, and the total filling of the hall, due to a capacious gallery, reached 5000 spectators. The building of the circus, very soon became one of the main attractions of St. Petersburg and took the position of the premier entertainment company of the capital.

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In my childhood, I often went to this circus, I was always surrounded by a feeling of joy and happiness, when my parents purchased tickets for performances in this circus. I think today I would not have refused to visit the Circus on the Fontanka.

Thank you for your attention to my stories. I wish you to enjoy a small video show and look forward to seeing you on the following excursions.