Saint Petersburg, Russia

Peterhof Palace Complex - The Golden Hill Cascade, Saint Petersburg, Russia

In the year that the chateau was built Peter the Great commissioned Niccollo Michetti to design a cascade. The edifice was completed at the same time as the palace, in 1723. In 1731-1732 the architect Mikhail Zemtsov reconstructed the cascade. On the side walls at the bottom and on the small wall at the top he erected five figures of marble and two of gilded bronze, as well as mascarons of the Medusa. He edged the verticals of the steps with gilded bronze plates that produce an interesting interplay of light through the mirror of the cascading water. Ever since then the cascade has been called the Golden Hill. (sources)