"The Palace Square (Russian Дворцовая площадь) is a central city square in Saint Petersburg, located on the connection between the Nevsky Prospect and the Castle Bridge leading to Vasily Island, and was the scene of several events of world-wide historical importance, including the St. Petersburg Blood Sunday. 1905) and the October Revolution (1917).
The oldest and best-known building on the square is the Baroque, white-green Winter Palace of the Russian Tsars (built 1754-1762), which gave the square its name. Although the adjoining buildings were built in the classical style, they fit perfectly into the size and rhythm of the Winter Palace.
The opposite, southern side of the square has been designed arcuately by Georg Friedrich Veldten (Russian: Юрий Матвеевич Фельтен) in the late 18th century. However, the plans did not materialize until half a century later, when Alexander I planned a place as a huge monument in memory of the Russian victory in the Patriotic War against Napoleon and Carlo Rossi was commissioned to design the arch-shaped buildings of the General Staff in the style of the Empire ( 1819-1821), in which a double triumphal arch with Roman quadriga is integrated.
In the center of the square stands the Alexander Column (1830-1834), designed by Auguste de Montferrand. The column is made of red granite and is the highest of its kind in the world at 47.5 meters. Their weight is 500 tons. "
Source: Wikipedia