Palace Square

Flanked by the imperious Winter Palace on one side and the sweeping majesty of the General Staff Building on the other, the decadent Palace Square is one of the world's most impressive inner-city expanses. Like Red Square in Moscow, this open area has been an integral witness to a series of events which mark the historical timelines of Russia. In 1905, the square endured the ‘Bloody Sunday', when confused palace guards opened fire on peaceful demonstrators, whereas during the October Revolution, it was from here that the alleged "storming" of the Winter Palace was launched. Dominating the heart of the square is the soaring, granite-built Alexander Column, which was built to commemorate Russia’s liberation from the shackles of France. Having been instrumental in carving out the historic and revolutionary discourse of the country, the square, now, stands as a vital venue of many significant cultural events of the city.