The “old town” (historic centre) of Tallin, capital of Estonia, in a 1975 picture. At that time the population of the city was 399 000 and the country was part of the Soviet Union. Seen from the small park behind the St. Nicholas’ Church (Niguliste Kirik), you can see the crossing between the streets called Niguliste, Harju, Kuninge and Kulassepa (Street View). On the background stands out the …
Tbilisi, 1975
Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, in a 1975 picture. A young woman poses on the panoramic plaza in front of the Church of Assumption (end of XIII century), in the historic neighborhood of Metekhi located on the elevated cliff that overlooks the Kura river. Behind her you see the equestrian statue ok king Vakhtang I “Gorgasali” (wolf head), who is considered to have been the founder of the city in 5th century. On the …
Triumphal Arch of Chișinău in 1975
Chișinău, capital of Moldova, when the country was part of the Soviet Union. At that time the population of the city was 452 000 (source: Novosti). In this 1975 picture one can see the Triumphal Arc (Arcul de Triunf), built in 1840 by design of architect I. Zauschevic to commemorate the victory of the Russian Empire over the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War (1828–29). Behind it, there …
Karakumstroi building, Ashgabat 1975
Soviet–era building “Karakumstroi” in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, in a 1975 picture. At that time, the population of the city was 289 000 (source: Novosti). This office and administration building has been built between 1964 and 1969 by design of architects Abdullah Akhmedov, Fikrat Aliyev, Arif Zeynalov and Etya Krichevskaya in the “soviet modernism” style. (photo: © 1975 Novosti news agency, Moscow – personal collection)
Kazakistan, fountain in Alma-Atà (Almaty), 1975
Alma-Atà (now called Almaty, Алматы), former capital of the Kazakhstan, in 1975. Back then the country was part of the Soviet Union and the population of the city was 837 000 (source: Novosti). Fountains are a distinctive trait of the city: more than hundred have been built since 1948 in order to watering green spaces and creating a more tolerable climate during the hot and dry season. There is also a …
Victory Circus, Minsk (Belarus) in 1975
“Victory Circus” (belarusian: Пло́шча Перамо́гі) in Minsk, capital of Belarus, in 1975. It is considered one of the most central places of the city. The obelisk was built in 1954 to commemorate Red Army soldiers and Belarusian partisans. The red letters on the two hemicycle-shaped buildings built in 1958 read «Heroic deed of the people is immortal». At that time the Byelorussian …
Kiev, Chreščatyk in 1975
Ukraine, 1975. The Khreshchatyk (Ukrainian: Хрещатик) is the main avenue of Kiev. At that time the population of the city was 1 947 000 (source: Novosti). In this photo, taken near Bessarabs’ka Square looking North, one can see any soviet era vehicles (e.g. a RAF/ErAZ 977 minibus and some Moskvich 403/407 bottom right). Nowaday Chreščatyk is a traditional place for concerts, festivals, and also street music (Street View). (photo: © …