Saint Petersburg Sights

Saint Petersburg sights attract crowds of tourists all year round. Such famous attractions as Palace Square and the Winter Palace, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Admiralty, Bronze Horseman, Summer Garden and a lot of others help Saint Petersburg stay one of the most beautiful European cities, famous all over the world for its unique beauty and charm.

The Admiralty The Admiralty situated on the left bank of the Neva River and surrounded with picturesque Aleksandrovsky Garden is one of the most famous architecture monuments of early Russian Classicism in Saint Petersburg. The Admiralty shipyards had been founded in autumn of 1704 and built upon the project of Peter the Great.

Bronze Horseman The monument to Peter I located at Senatskaya Square figures in the history of Russia and Saint Petersburg as the Bronze Horseman. The idea of creating such a monument belongs to Empress Catherine II who desired greatly to underline in every possible way the connection and semblance of her ruling with that of Peter the Great.

St. Isaac's Cathedral St. Isaac's Cathedral is one of most famous Saint Petersburg's sights. Its predecessor was a small wooden church founded in 1710 near the Admiralty. The church was built by order of Peter the Great and sanctified in honor of Isaac Dalmatian, Peter's saint patron. Here in February of 1712 the first Russian Emperor wed Ekaterina Alexeevna, future Empress Catherine I.

Kazan Cathedral The monument to Peter I located at Senatskaya Square figures in the history of Russia and Saint Petersburg as the Bronze Horseman. The idea of creating such a monument belongs to Empress Catherine II who desired greatly to underline in every possible way the connection and semblance of her ruling with that of Peter the Great.

Alexander Nevsky Lavra Alexander Nevsky Laura is one of oldest architectural ensembles of Saint Petersburg. The Laura's history began in 1710 when the monastery was founded on the Neva's bank, at the same place, where, according to the legend, Russian prince Alexander Nevsky defeated Swedish troops. Its first architect was D. Trezini.

Winter Palace The Winter Palace, one of the most famous buildings of Saint Petersburg, is an essential part of the world-known Hermitage State Museum. The predecessor of this grandiose architecture monument was a small wooden palace, the winter residence of Tsar Peter I. Just before the wedding of Peter and Catherine I the wooden building was replaced by stone one.

Mikhailovsky Castle The Mikhailovsky Castle is located close to the southern border of Summer Garden, at the same place where the wooden palace of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna stood before. The castle was erected according to the wish of Russian Emperor Paul I who being Crown Prince dreamed secretly about a new royal residence.

Mosque The Saint Petersburg Mosque located not far from Peter and Paul Fortress is not the only Moslem functioning temple in the city, but also a religious and cultural center of numerous Moslem communities. A turquoise-blue dome accompanied by two minarets creates a bright exotic spot in a typical for Saint Petersburg view of Petrogradskaya Side.

Peter and Paul Fortress The Peter and Paul Fortress occupies the special place in the history of Saint Petersburg. The exact date of the fortress foundation at Zayachiy Island - 16 (27) May of 1703 - is considered to be the city's birthday. The construction of the Peter and Paul Fortress began by order of Peter the Great, who worked out the fortress' design.

Savior-on-the-Blood The Church of Resurrection more often called the Savior-on-the-Blood is one of the most picturesque and unusual architecture monuments of Saint Petersburg. Construction of this temple is connected with one of the tragic events of the Russian history. On March, 1 in 1881 terrorists of "Narodnaya wolya" (Nation's will) attempted to kill Emperor Alexander II.

Smolny Cathedral The white and blue Smolny Cathedral represents a major part of one of the best architecture monuments in Russian baroque style - the Smolny ensemble. This ensemble located on the left bank of the Neva River includes several constructions built at various time: the Smolny Cathedral, the Smolny monastery, the Smolny Institute and the propylaeum of Smolny.

Summer Garden Summer Garden is one of most picturesque and surely most famous parks of Saint Petersburg. Peter the Great took part in projecting the future garden, and in 1704 first flowers, trees and bushes were planted, marble sculptures brought to Saint Petersburg from all Europe set in their places. Summer Garden was planned as a regular park.