The city, founded by Peter the Great, was planned as a new capital of Russia. The most celebrated architects of those days took part in its construction. The result of their talents and efforts is a wonderful city with splendid architectural ensembles, tracery bridges, mighty cathedrals, refined churches, stately monuments and luxurious royal residence, attracting thousands of tourists all over the world.
Admiralty
The Main Admiralty building is an outstanding sample of Russian and world architecture, the major achievement of the early classical art. The Admiralty is the architectural and compositional center of Saint Petersburg. The gilded spire of the Admiralty is one of the landmarks of Saint Petersburg. The spire is topped with the weather-vane shaped as a ship, which is one of the symbols of the city.
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Arts Square
The Arts Square is one of the most impressive ensembles of Saint Petersburg. It gained its modern name in 1940: all the buildings, facing the square, are connected to arts. The center of the ensemble is the Michailovsky palace, designed by architect Rossi in 1819-1825 for the grand duke Mikhail Pavlovich. The ensemble of the square is harmonically complete with the monument to Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.
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Bronze Horseman
The first monument to Peter the Great was put up on the Senate Square, which was later renamed the Decembrists Square. It was designed by French sculptor Falconet. This monument, commemorated by Alexander Pushkin in his poem the Bronze Horseman, is one of the best samples of the world monumental sculpture and one of the symbols of Saint Petersburg.
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Cesme Church
On the site where the Cesme church is located, in the first half of the 18th century used to be the swamp, which Finnish people called the frog bog. A legend says that on this very place Catherine II met a messenger who brought her news about the glorious victory of Russian troops over the Turkish fleet in a battle, which took place near Cesme on the 26th of June, 1770.
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St. Isaac's Cathedral
St. Isaac's Cathedral is a remarkable monument of Russian architecture, designed by August Montferrand. Alongside with the Peter and Paul Cathedral and the Admiralty it became an important architectural landmark in the city outline. The golden dome of St. Isaac's can be seen from any part of the city, and in the clear weather - even from the suburbs.
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Kazan Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan is an outstanding example of the early 19th-century Russian architecture. It was constructed on the site of a small stone church to hold the marvelous icon of Our Lady of Kazan, and was named after the icon. The cathedral designed by Russian master Andrey Voronikhin is one of the top achievements of high classical architecture.
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Alexander Nevsky Lavra
Alexander Nevsky Lavra is one of the largest ensembles in Saint Petersburg. It is located at the end of Nevsky Prospekt, at the confluence of the Monastyrka and Neva rivers. Along with the temples and gardens Alexander Nevsky Lavra contains several cemeteries. Peter I ordered to build the Monastery of the Holy Trinity and Saint Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky in honor of the victory over the Swedes won in 1240.
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Mikhailovsky Castle
Mikhailovsky castle is one of the most mysterious buildings of Saint Petersburg. Covered with romantic spirit, it bears the stamp of individuality of its owner, Paul I, a mystic and exceptional Russian emperor, who died in the Mikhailovsky castle. The castle still impresses as a mystic construction and features some original interiors opened for the visitors.
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Summer Garden and Summer Palace of Peter I
The ensemble of the Summer Garden and the Summer palace is the earliest in Saint Petersburg. According to the project of Peter I, the Summer Garden was founded on the site chosen by the tsar. The garden was planted with flowers and trees and decorated with marble sculptures. Famous architects, such as Matveev, Zemzov, Miketti, Leblon and others participated in the Summer Garden creation.
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Cathedral of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood
The Cathedral of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood was put up in 1883-1907 on the place where Russian Emperor Alexander II was assassinated on the 1st of March, 1881. The tsar was mortally wounded by the terrorists from the People's Will. The next day it was decided to construct the cathedral to commemorate the tsar-liberator. The church was put up for money collected all over Russia.
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Spit of Vasilievsky Island
The ensemble of the Spit of Vasilievsky Island is one of the symbols of Saint Petersburg that doesn't have any analogues in Europe. Peter I intended to make the largest on the city territory Vasilievsky Island the administrative and cultural center of Saint Petersburg. He transferred the sea trading port to the Spit - the east side of the island washed by the Bolshaya and Malaya Neva.
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Smolny Ensemble
The Smolny architectural ensemble includes a number of structures put up at different times. The landmark of the Smolny ensemble is the Smolny cathedral, designed by architect Rastrelli. Nowadays the Smolny Cathedral is used as a concert and exhibition hall and the Smolny Institute and former nunnery are occupied by the State University of Saint Petersburg and city administration.
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Peter and Paul Fortress
The Peter and Paul fortress is the historical center of Saint Petersburg. It occupies the central place in the panorama of the city: located on the territory of the fortress the Peter and Paul cathedral with its long belfry is one of the main features of Petersburg. The fortress was founded in order to protect the area regained during the Northern War from possible attacks by Swedish troops.
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Palace Square
The Palace Square is the central square of Saint Petersburg. All kinds of popular manifestations, military parades, and folk festivals are held here. The Palace Square is considered to be one of the most beautiful architectural ensembles not only in Saint Petersburg, but also in the whole world. From the square one can see the Admiralty, Alexander Garden, and the beginning of Nevsky Prospect.
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Mosque
The mosque attracts people with its exotic view, unusual for the northern landscape of Saint Petersburg. The dome and two minarets of the mosque are decorated with multi-colored tiles, the walls are made of gray granite and the facade is decorated with sayings from the Koran. The mosque of Saint Petersburg is one of the largest in Europe and the "northernmost" in the world.
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