Odesa guidebook: Must-see places #21 monument to Pushkin

At the very beginning of Primorsky Boulevard, in front of the City Duma, under the canopy of tall plane trees, there is a monument to Pushkin.
Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin ... A great poet, playwright, and prose writer, a classic of world literature. Probably, there is hardly a person in our time who would not know anything or, at worst, did not hear anything about him. Even children are familiar with his truly immortal poetry: his amazing poems are easily recognized and memorized without any difficulty.

The monument stands in front of Dumskaya Square. Behind him, like sentries, the white-stone columns of the Duma building were lined up in a row. There is an opinion that Pushkin turned his back to this building due to the silent protest. But this is far from the case: by the end of the 19th century, the Duma building (until 1899) was located in a semicircular building behind the monument to the famous Duke, and behind Pushkin was the Old Exchange.

And there was no need to "protest" Pushkin: the Duma not only supported the people's initiative to build the monument, but also announced and financed a competition for its best project, and later made a significant contribution to translating this idea into reality.

What is the history of the monument and why is it in Odesa?

It all started in 1880. The first monument to Pushkin in Russia was unveiled in Moscow in honor of the poet's birthday. At the celebrations organized on this occasion, the Odesa delegation announced an initiative to perpetuate the memory of Pushkin in Odesa, a city closely related to the poet's biography. One of the main initiators of the creation of the monument was the mayor of Odesa, Grigory Marazli.

From suggestions, they immediately got down to business: they installed a marble memorial plaque on Sikar's house on Italyanskaya Street, where Pushkin stayed. Yes, he has been in Odesa for 13 months - in 1823-24. That is why it was decided to erect a monument to him here.

The monument itself was originally planned to be erected on Theater Square (between the City Theater and the English Club). But on June 25, the Duma issued a decree on allocating a place for a monument-fountain on Nikolayevsky (now Primorsky) Boulevard, opposite the exchange building, and renaming Italyanskaya Street into Pushkinskaya. A special commission for the construction of the monument was created, and the fundraising was supposed to be carried out by private subscription.

Local newspapers appealed to the residents of Odesa with an appeal to contribute to the treasury of a wonderful undertaking. The money for the monument to the poet was collected, as they say, by the whole world, according to the principle "with the world on a string" - from high-ranking officials and aristocrats to ordinary people. They were representatives of different social, professional, cultural, and ethnic groups. All were united by one thing - love for the work of the genius poet.

On February 2, 1887, the solemn laying of the monument took place. It was a real holiday that helped to attract even more attention from citizens and increase donations.

Both private individuals and entire enterprises responded to the project, and donated not only money: substantial, and often gratuitous, assistance was provided with building materials, various works, and services.

In 1888, the Duma also took a share in the noble fundraising cause, which added the missing funds (about 50%) from the city budget. Now the monument received its right to life - all the obstacles were already behind.

The grand opening of the monument took place on April 16, 1889.

Monument to A.S. Pushkin is a bust of the poet cast from bronze, standing on a granite pedestal. This is one of the best monuments in terms of portrait likeness. It is the third in the history of the city and the second monument to Pushkin after the Moscow one on Tverskaya Street.

The architect of the monument was Khrisans Vasiliev, the author of the bust was Josephine Polonskaya, the ebb was made by A. Moran, as evidenced by the inscription on the semicircular roller at the base of the bust. On the fabric drapery, falling on one side of the old coat of arms of Odesa, you can see the autograph of Zh. Polonskaya.

Where can I find the monument?

Cannon is located in Odesa, on Dumskaya Square.
The exact GPS coordinates are 46.486246, 30.743505
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