Visitors to Saint Petersburg probably can’t help but notice this attraction whether they’d like to or not! The Alexander Column is a massive cylindrical monument that stands an amazing height of over 150 feet tall, and less than a tenth of that in diameter. It is located in the Palace Square of Saint Petersburg and its dominating presence has made it a popular attraction among both locals and tourists visiting the area. It was originally erected as a monument commemorating Russia’s victory in the war against Napoleon, but has achieved its own distinction as an impressive work of architecture.
As impressive as the column itself is, on top of it stands a bronze state of an angel bearing a heavy cross. Designed by Russian sculptor Boris Orlovsky, the angel is considered a masterwork in its own right, as is the Column’s pedestal, a huge pedestal adorned with intricate carvings depicting critical scenes from the history of Russia and its central legends.