The sculpture "Chizhik-Pyzhik" is one of the most popular attractions in St. Petersburg. Despite its small size, this famous figure draws crowds of curious tourists throughout the year
How to Get There
"Chizhik-Pyzhik" is located near popular tourist spots such as the Summer Garden, Mikhailovsky Garden, the Engineer’s Castle, and the Russian Museum. The nearest metro stations are "Gostiny Dvor" and "Nevsky Prospekt," which are about a kilometer away from the sculpture.
A Bit of History
The monument was installed on November 19, 1994. It was created by architect Vyacheslav Bukhaev and renowned Georgian screenwriter Rezo Gabriadze, who also wrote the scripts for the films "Mimino" and "Kin-dza-dza!".
There is a local legend in St. Petersburg suggesting that the idea for the sculpture dates back to the 1830s. At that time, the Imperial School of Jurisprudence was located at 6 Fontanka Embankment. Its students wore a distinctive uniform: green jackets with yellow epaulets on the sleeves and collar. They were nicknamed "Chizhik-Pyzhik," a term that also inspired a popular humorous song:
"Chizhik-Pyzhik, where have you been?
Drinking vodka on the Fontanka.
Drank one shot, drank two —
Got dizzy in the head."
There are many variations of this song, including children's adaptations. Note that the story about the students is just a legend, and there are other versions of how "Chizhik-Pyzhik" entered local folklore.
The Imperial School of Jurisprudence was attended by the famous composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The school operated until 1918, after which the building at 6 Fontanka Embankment housed the Agricultural Institute. Between 1920 and 1922, Anna Akhmatova worked there as a clerk. Since 2003, the building has housed the Leningrad Regional Court.
Returning to "Chizhik-Pyzhik," another legend associated with the statue is a ritual for good luck: make a wish and throw a coin onto the pedestal of "Chizhik." The coin should remain on the statue and not fall into the water. Due to the statue's small size, this is quite challenging, but many people are eager to test this local superstition.
"Chizhik" is made of bronze, weighs about 5 kilograms, and stands only 11 centimeters tall, making it one of the smallest monuments in the world. The sculpture also holds a unique record for being stolen seven times. Sometimes "Chizhik" was recovered, but at times it was replaced with an exact replica.
We are sure that "Chizhik-Pyzhik" will interest all enthusiasts of unique urban stories. Nearby, you can find notable attractions like Mars Field, Mikhailovsky Garden, and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.
In summary:
- An interesting and unusual attraction;
- Some sightseeing boats pass by "Chizhik" — a unique opportunity to see the statue from the Fontanka;
- Bring some change — hitting the statue with a coin is not easy.
