The triumphal gates were originally built to welcome Russian troops returning from Europe in 1814, at the Narva outpost, right at the city border near the Obvodny Canal. The structure was erected from wood and alabaster within one month, designed by Giacomo Quarenghi. The gates were adorned with a chariot drawn by six horses, driven by the goddess of Glory, and sculptures of Roman warriors. Quarenghi presented two designs for the gates: one with an architrave lintel and one with an arch. On both sides of the arch were stands for spectators and orchestras.
In 1814, Russian troops passed under the arch four times: on July 30, September 8, October 18, and October 25. However, the gates, made of wood and alabaster, quickly fell into disrepair. The Governor-General of Saint Petersburg, participant in the Patriotic War M. A. Miloradovich, advocated for the reconstruction of the structure, and at the highest level, Emperor Nicholas I decided to build new stone gates on the bank of the Tarakanovka River, a little south of the previous location. Vasily Stasov largely preserved Quarenghi’s concept, and on August 26, 1827, the anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, the first stone was laid. The distinctive feature of the new gates’ design was that the structure was made of brickwork covered with copper sheets. The theme of victory is expressed throughout the decorative ornamentation of the gates: niches contain figures of Russian bogatyrs in chainmail and helmets; the frieze features reliefs depicting banners and victory trumpets; gilded inscriptions on the attic and sides of the arch tell of battle sites; the monument is crowned by a chariot with the figure of Nike, drawn by six horses. The sculptural group was also made from copper sheets: the team of six horses (by Klodt) and the figure of Glory (by Pimenov). The sculptures of Roman warriors were replaced by copper ancient Russian knights (by Pimenov and Demut-Malinovsky). Winged female figures and bas-reliefs with geniuses of Glory were created by sculptor Ivan Leppe.
On the sides of the gates are inscriptions: "Started August 26, 1827. Opened August 17, 1834." There are also inscriptions about the locations of decisive battles and military units.
The imperial family came to see the new Triumphal Gates. A bronze medal was also issued. The initially impressive copper, however, began to corrode within a few years after the opening due to the Saint Petersburg climate. Between 1877 and 1880, the gates underwent restoration under architect Ryllo, who replaced the copper sheets with iron ones, which only worsened the corrosion.
In 1888, part of the City Duma archive was placed inside the gates. On February 28, 1917, during the February Revolution, the monument was set on fire by a crowd of workers and soldiers. The archive burned down, and the bronze decorations were also damaged.
In 1932, a significant restoration was carried out. Soldiers of the Leningrad garrison went to the front through these gates. Anti-tank fortifications were built near the gates. In 1944, troops who lifted the Siege of Leningrad passed through the arch.
During the war, the monument suffered heavy damage from artillery shelling and bombings (more than two thousand holes, sculptural and decorative details were broken off, the cornice was destroyed), which required a complete restoration in 1949–1951 (architect Benois, sculptor Gromov). From autumn 1949, surveys and measurements were conducted (led by Rozadeev); from January to autumn 1951, lost details of the copper sculptures and ornaments were recreated (using the repoussé technique, by craftsmen Krotov and others), dents were straightened, the external sheet cladding was restored; holes and bulges (caused by explosions) in the granite facing of the pedestal were leveled, steps of the porch were replaced (granite workers led by Bocharov); surfaces were cleaned and their "patina" coloring renewed (painting team led by Maurichev); the decoration and framework of the cornices, attic, and order were recreated (roofers Alekseev and others); gilded letters of commemorative inscriptions, painted over in 1932, were restored (team of Yudin and Sokolov).
Further restorations of the gates were also carried out in 1978–1980 and 2002–2003. Currently, the interior of the gates is a three-story building with a basement. In the upper hall, accessible by two spiral staircases, operates the Museum of Military Glory, organized according to the decree of the Main Directorate of Culture of Leningrad in 1978.
When the Museum of Urban Sculpture was established in 1939, the Narva Gates were included in its collection. In 1987, a branch "Narva Triumphal Gates" was organized within the structure of the State Museum of Urban Sculpture, featuring attributes of the Patriotic War of 1812 and hosting thematic exhibitions.
In 1999, a monument to Marshal of the Soviet Union Govorov, hero of the liberation of Leningrad from the blockade, was installed in the axis of the Narva Triumphal Gates, symbolizing the inseparability of history and the continuity of Russian military victories.
Sources:
https://gmgs.ru/narva_gate
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Нарвские_триумфальные_ворота
https://znanierussia.ru/articles/Нарвские_триумфальные_ворота
