Saint Isaac’s Square

Saint Isaac’s Square is a major city square sprawling between the Mariinsky Palace and Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, which separates it from Senate Square. The square is graced by the equestrian Monument to Nicholas I.nThe Lobanov-Rostovsky House (1817–20) on the west side of the square was designed by Auguste de Montferrand. It may be described as an Empire style building that has an eight-column portico facing the Admiralty building. The main porch features the twin statues of Medici lions on granite pedestals; they were made famous by Pushkin in his last long poem, The Bronze Horseman. Nearby is Quarenghi’s Horse Guards’ Riding Hall (1804–07), in part inspired by the Parthenon and flanked by the marble statues of the Dioscuri, by Paolo Triscornia.