View of the Circus Ciniselli on the Fontanka River, St Petersburg, Russia. The building, with a large stage, and stables for 150 horses, was opened in 1877. It is named after the Italian circus performer, Gaetano Ciniselli (1815-1881), who settled in Russia and whose family managed the circus until 1921. The building houses the first circus museum in the world, which opened in 1928.