Gazing upon this unassuming tram, we’re transported back to a Saint Petersburg of yesteryear. This, my friends, is the Памятник конке, a monument to the horse-drawn trams that once plied the bustling streets of Vasilievsky Island. From 1863, horse-drawn trams, or konkas, became a common sight, their two-horsepower pulling passengers along the lines. Initially, the route of this konka followed 6th Line – Admiralteyskaya Square. This marked the starting point of this particular konka’s journey, right from the very heart of where we stand today. The Vasilievsky Island route boasted the largest number of horse-drawn trams. Konkas were a popular mode of transport for many years, carrying an average of 24 passengers each. The Памятник конке, erected in 2004, serves as a tangible link to this bygone era. This wagon is a meticulously crafted replica of a Putilov Plant tramcar, designed between 1872 and 1878. The original monument included only the wagon. Later, horses sculpted by Ziyaev and a coachman by Penteshin were added in 2009, completing the scene. The coachman is fully equipped, dressed for the weather and holding the reins. The horses, crafted based on archival photographs and sketches from Lenfilm and archives, mirror those of the original konka. Peterburg omnibuses and konkas embody the city’s vibrant transport history, forever etched in the city’s fabric. The Памятник конке stands as a testament to this evolution, a reminder of the city’s continuous adaptation and progress.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to