Nesterova St., 10, Gatchina, Leningrad Region, Russia, 188307
One of the most interesting park structures is the Amphitheater. Circular in plan, it reaches sixty-five meters in diameter, and the height of the earthen rampart is more than three and a half meters.
The Amphitheater was created at the end of the 18th century according to the design of architect Lvov and was used for holding “carousels” — theatrical performances in which participants, clad in the armor of medieval knights, demonstrated their skill in handling weapons and riding horses. The construction remained unfinished. The Amphitheater (Fortress structure or Earthen fortress) is a park structure in the Palace Park of the city of Gatchina, Leningrad Region. It was built in the 1790s according to the project of N. A. Lvov simultaneously with the “Naumachia” pool. The Amphitheater is located deep within the Palace Park, in the Orangery Garden, on flat ground approximately midway between the Grand Palace and Sylvia. It represents a ring-shaped earthen turf-covered rampart about 3.5 meters high and about 65 meters in diameter, inside of which is a circular arena. The width of the rampart related to the overall diameter of the structure as 1:6, and this ratio gave the entire composition impressiveness and monumentality. For this reason, the Amphitheater is called the Fortress structure or Earthen fortress.
The walls of the rampart are pierced by four symmetrical passages, or more precisely, driveways, the retaining walls of which are laid out of Pudost stone; in these passages, the hinges of gates have been preserved. Two opposite driveways were intended for riders’ passage and had metal gates. The other two served as entrances for spectators. Eight steep stone staircases lead to the top of the rampart, with steps made from Chernytsky slabs. A path runs along the top of the rampart, and several pedestals for statues are installed around its perimeter.
The amphitheater project was not fully completed. It was planned to cover the top of the earthen rampart with turf and plant shrubs, and to place statues on pedestals made of Pudost stone in the openings. The staircases were supposed to be decorated with eight gilded vases, and the arena — with flat incense burner bowls. Also, the planned wrought iron gates with gilded spears and the monograms of Paul I were never installed at the passages, as evidenced by the metal sockets embedded in the walls of the passages.
According to the architect’s design, the arena was intended for “carousels” — theatrical spectacles where participants on horseback were to perform a series of complex exercises. In the 1820s, the Amphitheater was called the Cockfighting Arena; it is possible that cockfights were held there, but no reliable information about this has been preserved.
Restoration work on the monument was carried out in 1847–1849, but after that, no restoration work was done, and the monument has been deteriorating year by year.
Sources:
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Амфитеатр_(Гатчина)
https://gatchinapalace.ru/park/attractions/amfiteat.php
