The Great St. Petersburg State Circus - one of the oldest in Russia, and the first stone stationary circus in our country - was opened in 1877 . The initiator of its construction was the famous circus artist Italian Gaetano Ciniselli (his name is now called the circus tent) . The building of the Ciniselli circus was made using advanced technologies for that time, the circus cupola was not supported by internal columns, creating a wonderful free space for performances by artists . A the facade decoration was superb, the auditorium was luxuriously decorated . As a result of numerous alterations and reconstructions, the building lost its former splendor, but today viewers can again admire the facade reconstructed in the old sketches .

In 2007, the Circus celebrated its 130th anniversary with the International Circus show "Carnival on the Fontanka" program. In the creative arsenal of the circus performances acrobats, aerial gymnasts, equilibrists; trained animals and, of course, all favorite clowns

Practical information

Address: Embankment of the Fontanka River, 3

Working hours of ticket offices: 11: 00-19: 00 daily; +7 (812) 570-53-90, 570-54-11

Museum of circus art

At the circus since 1928 there is a museum where you can see a large collection of archival photographs, posters and programmes; newspaper clippings, costumes and props; to get acquainted with the literature about circus art. In a separate room on the second floor of the circus, the museum organizes interchangeable thematic exhibitions

Excursions around the exhibition hall of the museum are held on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for groups of no more than 15 people; ticket price: 80 rubles., Students and schoolchildren 50 rubles; Orders by phone. +7 (812) 570-54-13

Great St. Petersburg State Circus