Summer Garden, Historic park near Neva River, Saint Petersburg, Russia
The Summer Garden is a historic park on the banks of the Neva River in central Saint Petersburg, Russia, listed as a federal cultural heritage site. The grounds show geometrically arranged paths flanked by marble sculptures, fountains, and well-kept flowerbeds.
Peter the Great founded the grounds in 1704 as part of his plan to shape the new capital after European models. Later rulers changed the design several times, especially after floods during the 18th century.
The name recalls the summer residence of Peter the Great, whose simple palace once stood at the southeastern edge of the grounds. Visitors today see the park as one of the few places in the city where locals walk along quiet avenues and sit on benches under old trees.
The grounds lie in the central district near the Neva embankment and can be reached on foot from the Field of Mars or the Hermitage. Most paths are wide enough for wheelchairs, but some sections have gravel surfaces that are a bit harder to navigate.
The wrought iron fence along the Neva embankment was crafted between 1771 and 1784 and is considered one of the best examples of Russian ironwork from that period. The design combines simple lines with finely worked ornaments that can be seen clearly from boats on the river.
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