The most beautiful architectural monument in the Empire style is the triumphal arch of the Narva Gates in St. Petersburg. The gates were erected in 1814 in memory of the Patriotic War of 1812, to the glory of its heroes.

Initially, the arch was built of wood and alabaster in a matter of months. The first place of its location was at the Narva outpost and its purpose was to triumphantly meet the soldiers returning from Europe.
The materials that were used in the construction of the original arch quickly fell into disrepair. Emperor Nicholas I decides to rebuild the arch, turning it into stone and metal and moving it to the bank of the Tarakanovka River. The author of the project was originally Giacomo Quarenghi, the architect V.P. undertook to lead the reconstruction and transfer of the gate. Stasov. The erection of the gate lasted from 1827 to 1834.

It is difficult to describe the beauty and grandeur of the Narva Gates. At the very top above the arch is the chariot of the goddess of Glory harnessed by six magnificent horses, the work of the famous Russian sculptor P.K. Klodt. In the original version, the arch was decorated with sculptures of ancient Roman soldiers. After perestroika, ancient Roman soldiers were replaced by Old Russian ones.

The authors of the sculptures of warriors were sculptors S.S. Pimenov and V.I. Demut-Malinovsky, Goddess of Glory -. S.S. Pimenov, chariot - V.I. Demuth-Malinovsky.

Today, the Narva Gate is not only a beautiful monument, but inside there is a museum occupying a three-story building.

This amazing St. Petersburg attraction cannot be called ancient, because. it is only a little over two hundred years old, but modeled on ancient Roman arches, Narva has taken its place of honor among other historical monuments.