Attractions of St. Petersburg
The Admiralty
During the era of Peter the Great and his successors,
the Admiralty was the St. Petersburg's primary shipbuilding wharf area. Most of the buildings on
the site at that time were used for building ships, or manufacturing the parts and equipment
needed for shipbuilding.
Arts Square
St. Petersburg's culture astounds us – so it's hardly
surprising that we find Arts Square at the centre of the city. The works on display in its
museums leave us in awe, while the performances in the opera and ballet theatre inspire us – and
all the while, we hear the sounds of music soaring from the windows of the Philharmonia.
The Spit of St Basil's Island
The Spit of St Basil's Island is often called one of
the most inspiring and readily recognisable locations in St. Petersburg. It's the eastern
promontory of St Basil's Island, and divides the River Neva into two – the Great and Lesser Neva
Rivers.
Pokrovskaya Church (at the Bogoslovka Mansion)
In the vicinity of St. Petersburg at the Neva
Dendrology Park, there is today a full-scale process for setting up an ethnographic complex
called 'the Bogoslovka Mansion'. The idea is to replicate the wooden architecture of Peter the
Great's time. The highlight of the project will be the Pokrovskaya Church.
The Bronze Horseman
The Bronze Horseman is an iconic landmark of St.
Petersburg – depicting the city's founder, Tsar Peter the Great, in a horseback pose inspired by
the verse of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, as he proudly looks out to thousands of St.
Petersburg's citizens and visitors.
The Catherine Park
The Catherine Park is one of the finest monuments to
the art of landscape gardening. Its grounds are richly populated with different kinds of palace
buildings, pavilions and bridges make it the pearl of Tsarskoye Selo.
The Fontanka River
The Fontanka is a small river of the Neva Delta in St.
Petersburg. At one time, the Fontanka marked the southern city limits of St. Petersburg, where
its banks became lined with the costly mansions of the city's well-to-do. The article will give
you more detailed factual information about the Fontanka's place in the city history of St,
Petersburg, and the buildings to be seen along it.
St Isaac's Square
St Isaac's Square is St. Petersburg's main
administrative square. On its south side we find the Mariinsky Palace, which today houses the
city's legislature – while on the northern side of the Square we find Admitalty Prospekt.
Kazan Cathedral
The style of most Russian churches inspires us with
their grandeur and their striking colours. Yet Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg astounds us
instead with its magnificence. It has a huge semicircular colonnade, consisting of 56 columns
with capitals, with just one dome jutting skywards.
Kronstadt
Kronstadt is an island city that holds its own special
place in Russian history. It's not only a border point with western nations, but also naval base
surrounding in maritime glory. Every street, building and lane in Kronstadt has its own story –
and while many of these stories are inspiring or astounding, some others are also tragic.
Lake Ladoga
Ladoga is Europe's largest freshwater lake, measuring
18 square kilometres. It's an astonishing location – not only due to its amazing surroundings,
but also because of its connections to the roots of Russian nationality. The River Neva flows
out of Lake Ladoga – the river on which St. Petersburg stands.
The Moika River
Three centuries ago there was a small rivulet called
the Muya in the local dialect – which was transformed into a charming waterfare. This little
river welcomed swanky new palaces to its banks – as well as museums, banks, and government
ministries.
The River Neva
Probably any Russian schoolkid could tell you which
river St. Petersburg stands on. It's the River Neva – not only a sightseeing attraction, of
Russia's northern capital, but one of its main city components. Thousands of tourists arrive in
St. Petersburg every month, just to see the Neva – and perhaps take a trip on it.
Nevsky Prospect
The famous Russian author Gogol wrote that 'to step
onto Nevsky Prospect is to step into the atmosphere of a fairground'. He was not wrong – with
its inviting shop windows, evening illuminations and the elegant facades of its historic
buildings, there is something cheerfully engrossing about Nevsky Prospect that makes us want to
forget our daily problems.
St Nicholas's Naval Cathedral
St Nicholas's is the largest and last of Russia's
naval cathedrals. During the construction of this great monument to those who have perished at
sea, St Ioann of Kronstadt played a personal role. Today, this church is more than just a
cathedral.
Nikolo-Bogoyavlensky Cathedral
The great majesty of the Nikolo-Bogoyavlensky
cathedral makes it one of the most important sights of the city, as well as a memorial to the
victories of the Russian fleet. The naval theme is highlighted by the blue-coloured walls, which
combine harmoniously with its white columns and golden domes.
Palace Square
Palace Square is not only St. Petersburg’s main square
– it's also one of the most breathtaking ensembles of architecture anywhere in the world. It is
a location which has born witness to formative and shattering events of world history, seeing
the rise and fall of empires and epochs.
The Peter & Paul Fortress
The Peter & Paul Fortress was the first building
to be constructed in St. Petersburg, and is located on Hare Island. The date of its founding -
27th May, 1703 – is considered to be the birth date of the city itself. Today, the grounds of
the fortress are huge museum complex and one of the city's most attractive features.
The St. Petersburg Academy of Arts
Facing the legendary Egyptian sphinxes on the
embankment of St Basil's Island we see a three-storey building. This is the Academy of Arts,
whose founding dates back to the reign of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. It's an institution which
has acted as the patron of many of St. Petersburg's creative figures.
The St. Petersburg Metro
The St. Petersburg Metro system is one of the most
beautiful in the world. It is also interesting as a transport network too, as well as being one
of St. Petersburg's major tourist attractions.
The Singer Building in St. Petersburg
The building today known as 'House of Books' in St.
Petersburg – Dom Knigi - is a deserved city sightseeing attraction – but it wasn't originally
built as a bookstore. The building's astonishing architecture draws the tourists in – but
there's more to see than just the books.
The Museum of the Road Of Life
This museum complex is located on the banks of Lake
Ladoga. This was the location during the Second World War where an ice-track was laid across the
lake, the only route into or out of the city which was besieged by troops of the Third Reich,
and along with food supplies could reach the city.
Saint Isaac's Cathedral
St Isaac's Cathedral is the largest Russian-Orthodox
place of worship in St. Petersburg, along with being one of the tallest domed structures
anywhere on earth. The sheer scale of this 19th-century project astounds us, impressing us, and
captivating our view.
Cathedral of Saint Peter & Paul
The centrepiece and main building on the grounds of
the Peter & Paul Fortress – one of a small number of major architectural monuments to have
survived from the early 18th century in St. Petersburg. Its bell-tower and spire – capped with a
weathervane in the shape of an angel – are symbols of the city.
The Smolny Cathedral
The Smolny Cathedral is often called one of St.
Petersburg's most beautiful churches. It was built at the behest of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna,
one of Peter the Great's daughters and successors. The joyous and festive spirit behind the
building is clear to see.
Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo – or 'The Royal Village' – means not
only the former Imperial country residence, but also a substantial literary enclave of Russia.
It is a major tourism destination, to which hundreds of thousands of visitors come each year.
The reasons they come will be described in this article.
The Winter Canal, Swan Canal, Griboyedov Canal
The Winter Canal joins two rivers, and was put through
over 1718-1719. The idea behind the canal was so that Tsar Peter the Great could sit in a canal
boat directly from the river portal of his own house. The length of this small canal is just 228
metres.
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