Rotunda of Peoples Friendship in Poltava, Cultural heritage rotunda in Poltava, Ukraine.
The Rotunda of Peoples Friendship is a circular stone structure in Poltava built in the Doric order, with eight columns arranged in a ring. The columns stand on a raised platform and frame an open interior space visible from all sides.
The rotunda was built in 1909 to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, a turning point in the Great Northern War. It was erected on the site of the former Podolsky bastion, which had served as a defensive position during that battle.
Inside the rotunda, verses by the Ukrainian poet Ivan Kotlyarevsky, who was born in Poltava, are carved into the stone. Visitors can read them directly on the walls as they walk through the open space.
The rotunda sits in a park and is freely accessible throughout the year. Walking around the outside gives a clear view of the columns, while stepping inside allows you to read the carved inscriptions on the walls.
A local story says that a blacksmith reshod the horse of Tsar Peter the Great right after the battle, and this tale became attached to the place over time. A horseshoe motif is said to appear in the architectural details of the rotunda as a nod to that story.
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