Today it is impossible to imagine the ensemble of the Spit of Vasilievsky Island without these columns. Earlier, the columns served as beacons for ships going to the once trading port. Now the lighthouses are lit only on special occasions.

During the imperial period, the columns functioned as lighthouses, oil was poured on top of the bowls, which was set on fire at night. And now in the days of the main city holidays on the tops of the columns you can see the fiery torches.

At the base of the columns there are statues depicting two ladies and two elders. The guides say that these are allegories of the main rivers of the European part of Russia: the Neva, the Volkhov, the Volga and the Dnieper. However, there is no evidence of these allegorical constructions.

Metallic images of the rostrum - nasal parts of the ships are strengthened on the trunks of the columns, hence their name. The brickwork of the Rostral columns and stone works were performed by the artel of the master SK Sukhanov. Ship growths, naiads and anchors are minted from copper by masters Shapov, Vasiliev and Korolkov.

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Rostral columns in the evening

Rostral columns