✨ Ciniselli Circus

наб. Фонтанки, 3

Russia's first stone circus — book tickets in advance

The circus opened on 26 December 1877 and became the first permanent stone circus in the Russian Empire.
Its dome, with a span of 49.7 m, was the first in the world built without supporting columns inside the hall.
They say Gaetano Ciniselli's pretty daughter helped him get a plot near the imperial residence.
The boxes and stalls held 1,500 people, and with the gallery the hall could seat up to 5,000 spectators.
In 1919 the circus was nationalised, and the last of the Cinisellis emigrated to Paris.
The historic name "Ciniselli Circus" was returned to the building in 2015, for the founder's 200th anniversary.

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