Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street

Western segment of Bolshaya Nikitskaya, looking east from Embassy of Spain, with Great Ascension church in the distance

Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street (Russian: Большая Никитская улица, Nikitskaya Ulitsa) is a radial street that runs west from Mokhovaya Street to Garden Ring in Moscow, between Vozdvizhenka Street (south) and Tverskaya Street (north). Central, eastern part of the street is notable for its educational institutions (old Moscow State University and Moscow Conservatory) and theaters, western part beyond the Boulevard Ring has many Neoclassical mansions and competes with nearby Povarskaya Street for the title of Moscow's Embassy Row.

History

The street originated in the Middle Ages as a thoroughfare leading to Volokolamsk and Novgorod and was known as Volotskaya Street (eastern half) and Novgorodskaya Street (western half); a colony of Novgorod traders existed in present-day Bryusov Lane till 18th century.

In 16th century, Ivan IV of Russia established his Oprichnina Court on site of present-day University buildings. Nikitskaya name goes back to Nikitsky Convent that stood on site of present-day Subway Substation (no.7/10). The street housed various working communities serving the court, however, as soon as 17th century, it also gained popularity among nobility. In Peter I's reign, it housed Peter's statesmen like Jacob Bruce, Fyodor Romodanovsky and admiral Fyodor Apraksin. The tradition continued with later statesmen like Alexander Suvorov, and by the end of 18th century the street became an exclusive upper-class area, with one exception: the central corner block, occupied by Moscow State University building by Matvey Kazakov (1780s).

The Fire of Moscow (1812) destroyed only part of the street: the University burnt down (rebuilt in 1810s by Domenico Giliardi and Afanasy Grigoriev); the French Theater, protected by Napoleon, survived. In 1830s, the University expanded across the street south and acquired Saint Tatiana church by Yevgraph Tyurin.

The street's most notable landmark is the Greater Ascension Church. It was started in 1790s by Matvey Kazakov with funds provided by Prince Potemkin; after 1812, the church was redesigned by Joseph Bove and completed by Afanasy Grigoriev in 1840s. It has been the site of Alexander Pushkin's wedding.

In late 19th century, the central segment of Bolshaya Nikitskaya was built out with a tight pattern of 3-5 storey buildings, including Moscow Conservatory (first stage 1895-1901). Western part of the street remains a quiet area of old mansions. In 1917, Nikitsky Gates Square on Boulevard Ring has been a site of urban war between Bolsheviks and government troops. The corner block on Tverskoy Boulevard, facing the square, burnt down. New city administration preferred to keep the open area and installed the monument to Kliment Timiryazev (1923), one of the oldest extant monuments of Soviet age.

Gallery

Architectural diversity - from Neoclassicism to Art Nouveau

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  View from the roof of No.2

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  Neoclassism: No.36, Greater Ascension Church

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  Eclectics: No.50, Embassy of Spain

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  Russian Revival: No.54, Embassy of Brazil

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  Style Moderne: No.56, Jacob Reck house

Notable buildings and institutions

Within Boulevard Ring

• 1,2,3,4,6 - Moscow State University
• 5,7 - Orlov House by Matvey Kazakov
• 6 - Zoological Museum of Moscow State University (official site)
• 12 - Menshikov house by Matvey Kazakov
• 13 - Moscow Conservatory
• 14 - Jacob Bruce estate
• 18 - Lesser Ascension Church, 1584
• 19 - Mayakovsky Theater, Helikon Opera, Glebov Estate
• 28 - TASS Building

Beyong Boulevard Ring

• 36 - Greater Ascension Church by Joseph Bove and Afanasy Grigoriev
• 42 - Alexander Suvorov estate, with Embassy of Nigeria facing Malaya Nikitskaya Street
• 41 - Embassy of Myanmar
• 44, 46 - Neoclassical estates, 1820s
• 50 - Embassy of Spain
• 51 - Consulate of Cyprus
• 54 - Lopatina Building by Alexander Kaminsky (Embassy of Brazil)
• 55 - Svyatopolk estate by Pyotr Boytsov
• 56 - Art Nouveau Jacob Reck House by Gustav Helrich

Public transportation access

• Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya - east
• Pushkinskaya or Arbatskaya - center (Nikitsky Gates Square)
• Barrikadnaya, Mayakovskaya - west

References

• Russian: П.В.Сытин, "Из истории московских улиц", М, 1948, p.75-78 (Sytin)

Coordinates: 55°45′27″N 37°35′54″E / 55.7575°N 37.59833°E / 55.7575; 37.59833