My new story about interesting landmarks in Saint Petersburg will be dedicated to Pokrovsky Square, located in the historic Kolomna district. This place is interesting because, in the past, it was home to the now non-existent Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which once stood where the modern pedestrian zone is.
Pokrovsky Square: The Center of Kolomna
The square at the intersection of Sadovaya Street and English Prospect was created in the 1740s. Initially, the square was supposed to be named Uspenskaya, as a church dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was planned for the site, but these plans were not realized.
Later, a church was indeed built here, known as the Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This religious building was designed and constructed by architect Ivan Egorovich Starov between 1798 and 1812, and it was his last work. This architect also designed significant buildings such as the Tauride Palace and the Trinity Cathedral.
The church in Kolomna was mentioned by Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin in one of his books, as his parents lived nearby. In a book about lost architectural monuments of Saint Petersburg, it is mentioned that the church had rich decorations. In the early 20th century, the church underwent reconstruction, after which it could accommodate up to 1,000 worshippers.
In the early 1930s, the church was closed, and a few years later, the building was demolished. Today, the only reminder of the existence of this structure is a memorial plaque installed in 2000.
Even when the church was still standing, the square where it was located began to be called Pokrovskaya. On October 6, 1923, this place was renamed Turgenev Writer’s Square, and a few years later, the name was shortened to Turgenev Square.
Although Pokrovsky Square is located in the southern part of Kolomna, one source refers to it as the center of the district. This can be agreed upon, as the square occupies a rather large area, and several interesting architectural landmarks are located nearby.
How to get there
The square is quite far from the metro. The nearest stations, "Sadovaya," "Sennaya Ploshchad," and "Spasskaya," are about a 30-minute walk from the square. If you plan to visit but don’t want to walk too long, you can reach the square, for example, by tram.
Have a nice trip!
