Fontan Vitali — Attraction in Tverskoy District

The Vitali Fountain, also known as the Petrovsky Fountain, is one of the oldest fountains in Moscow. It is located on Teatralnaya Square (formerly Petrovskaya Square) in front of the Bolshoi Theatre. The fountain was created in 1835 by the Italian-born Russian sculptor Giovanni (Ivan) Vitali, at the initiative of the architect Osip Bove, as part of the reconstruction of the square. Initially, the fountain served a practical purpose as a water dispenser for the Mytishchi Water Supply System, providing up to 17,000 buckets of water per day. The water from the fountain was used for drinking, household needs, and watering horses. The architectural feature of the fountain is a large bowl mounted on a pedestal, which is supported by four cast-iron cupids-putti, symbolizing poetry, tragedy, comedy, and music. The sculptures were cast by the masters of the Batashyev factories in Vychug-on-Oka. The lower part of the fountain has niches for watering horses, and the water flows through bronze lion heads. The fountain still has an inscription: "Sculpted and cast in metal by Ivan Vitali. Moscow. 1835." During the Soviet era, the fountain was not functioning, but it remained a popular meeting place. In 1995, it was reconstructed with winter LED lighting and reopened. These days, the park near the fountain has a beautiful summer reading room and a chess club. I really like the architectural and design solutions of both summer spaces. In Moscow, local libraries have organized summer reading rooms and work areas in parks, which function as outdoor verandas or equipped spaces with free access, tables, benches, power outlets, evening lighting, and rain protection. Most summer reading rooms in Moscow are free to visit. These spaces provide a comfortable environment for working, studying, and reading outdoors, which can improve well-being and productivity. Free Wi-Fi and power outlets allow users to stay connected and continue their activities without interruption. Such spaces expand the accessibility of library services, attract new audiences, and cultivate reading and education in a relaxed environment. They also contribute to the revitalization of public spaces by creating points of attraction in parks. For libraries, this is an opportunity to increase their visibility, attract visitors, and adapt their services to meet modern needs. Overall, summer reading rooms combine nature, culture, and technology, making library knowledge and resources more accessible and convenient for residents...

The oldest of the operating fountains in Moscow, located in the park on Theater Square. The fountain was completed in 1835. designed by Russian sculptor of Italian origin Giovanni Vitali. At first it was called the Petrovsky Fountain - after Petrovsky Square (the old name of the Theater), but among the people they used to call it by the name of the creator.

Initially, the Vitali fountain was conceived as a water-folding fountain: it was intended to deliver drinking water to the population. From the large bowl of the fountain, water was collected for drinking and domestic needs, and additional bowls at the bottom of the base were intended for watering horses. Urban legends say that the Vitali fountain was preserved for a reason: in the Soviet years, the entrance to the secret Metro-2 was supposedly arranged under it, which saved it from...

Vitali Fountain is a large scale monumental fountain at Revolutionary Square in Moscow. It is situated not far from the Karl Marx Monument and is worth a look-see if you intend to pass through the area.

The fountain is classical in appearance with a two small basins at the top with water spouting upward and spilling over into larger basin on the ground. The pedestal at the top is surrounded with an allegory of figures.

Overall, Vitali is a pretty fair fountain. Give it a quick look and then continue onward with intended...