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Peter the Great statue Review

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Peter the Great statue

Fodor's Review:

The enormous statue of the tsar stands atop a base made in the form of a miniature ship. He's holding the steering wheel of a ship, symbolizing his role as the founder of the Russian naval force in the 1700s. The statue, measuring 90 feet high, has been a source of controversy since construction started on it in 1996. Most Muscovites agree that the statue, made by Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's favorite sculptor, Zurab Tsereteli, is not only an eyesore but also has no place in Moscow since Peter the Great was the one who moved the capital of Russia from Moscow to St. Petersburg. After citizens complained, a board of art experts was formed to decide if the statue would stay. They decided to keep it. The decision was made mostly in light of the fact that erecting the statue cost $20 million and dismantling it would cost half that amount. There's now a city ordinance that statues and public monuments must be approved by a board of experts before construction starts, although this tends to get ignored if the city really wants to put up something. When you finally set eyes on the statue you'll probably understand why common nicknames for it are "Cyclops" and "Gulliver." The colossal statue is so tall that a red light had to be put on its head to warn planes.

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