The city of Petrozavodsk
18 Mar 2015 | From Maria of Russia
OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING
Petrozavodsk is the capital city of the Republic of Karelia, Russia. Archeological discoveries in the urban area indicate the presence of a settlement as far back as seven thousand years ago, and during the Middle Ages the site of modern city was marked by several lakeside villages. Literally meaning "Peter's Factory", the city was founded in 1703 to house an iron foundry to manufacture and supply anchors for the Baltic Fleet during the Great Northern War between Russia and Sweden. The city is no longer home to the foundry, however the remnants and ruins can be seen one of the cities numerous parks.
Petrozavodsk has a blend of Russian and local Karelian culture, which is personified in the local cuisine and language. The architecure of the city is mainly neo-classical which includes the Round Square and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral., however traditional wooden buildings can be found off of the beaten track. As the capital of Karelia, it is a local hub for nightlife and shopping, with several new shopping centres opening in recent years.
One of the city's central landmarks is Lenin Square, an oval space with a large Soviet-era statue of Lenin in the center. The square is especially notable for English-speaking visitors because it is also called "round square" - a paradox in English, but not in Russian.
No comments:
Post a Comment