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St. Petersburg Maps & Attractions Guide
St. Petersburg maps & Attractions - Things to do
in St. Petersburg
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St. Petersburg
Attractions - Things to do
1. The Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum
Dvortsovaya Square
www.hermitagemuseum.org |
What is it? The magnificent green, white and gold Winter
Palace is superbly situated on the banks of the Neva River, a 656
ft-long (200m) Russian Baroque building that is the biggest and
most lavishly decorated palace in the city. The palace was the
official residence of the tsars, and Catherine the Great later
added the Small and Large Hermitages onto the palace as a sanctuary
for herself and her private art collection. The Hermitage Museum
comprises a stately complex of buildings strung along the
embankment, with the Winter Palace at its heart. The Hermitage
Museum is one of the world's greatest art museums that has grown
from a small collection of paintings started by Catherine the Great
in 1764, to a massive display of over three million exhibits,
housed within the sumptuous splendour of one of the most luxurious
palaces worldwide. The three floors cover a full range of world art
from ancient times, to Russian works and 20th century Europe, and a
fabulous collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist
paintings, set against the rich interior of white marble
staircases, golden ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and elaborate
mosaics. Of the highlights, the lavish State Rooms, the Golden
Rooms, containing a spectacular collection of royal jewels, gold
and silver, and the modern European art section are the most
popular.
Hours of Operation: Daily except Mondays from 10.30am to
6pm
Phone:(812) 710 9625 |
2. Palace Square
Dvortsovaya Ploshchad (Palace Square)
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What is it? The main square of St Petersburg and one of
the world's most magnificent plazas, Palace Square contains the
picturesque Baroque buildings of the Winter Palace and Hermitage
Museum on one side and the Classical yellow and white former
General Staff buildings of the Russian army on the other. The focal
point of the square is the Alexander Column, a tall monolith of red
granite topped by the statue of an angel and a cross, dedicated to
Russian military victory in the Napoleonic wars. Palace Square has
been the site of numerous political protests, most notably the
demonstrations of Bloody Sunday in 1905 that started the first
Russian Revolution. Today the square, with its beautiful views of
the Admiralty's golden spire and the dome of St Isaac's Cathedral
from across the vast stone paving, is filled with markets, outdoor
cafes and the sound of horse-drawn
carriages.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
3. Nevsky Prospekt
www.nevsky-prospekt.com |
What is it? Almost three miles (five km) long, Nevsky
Prospekt is one of the best-known streets in Russia and is the main
thoroughfare of St Petersburg, starting at the Admiralty whose
gilded spire is a famous city landmark, to the Moscow Railway
Station and then to the Alexandr Nevsky Monastery where some of the
country's most celebrated artistic figures are buried. It has been
the hub of the city for centuries, cutting through the most
historical part, and home to the most important sights in the city.
Intersected by rivers and canals, the most beautiful part of the
avenue surrounds the Griboedova Canal. Here the impressive
colonnade of the grand Kazan Cathedral catches the eye, curving
around a small grassy square, and opposite the view along the canal
towards the multi-coloured onion domes of the Church of Our Saviour
on the Spilled Blood (officially called the Resurrection of Christ
Church) is breathtaking. Modelled on St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow
and adorned with exquisite mosaic panels the church is one of St
Petersburg's most striking landmarks, built on the site of the
assassination of Emperor Alexander II in 1881. As well as many
churches the street boasts St Petersburg's finest shops and
restaurants, old manors and impressive buildings, and a beautiful
mixture of architectural styles from the different periods of its
history.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
4. St Isaac's Cathedral
Isaakievskaya Ploshchad 1
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What is it? The golden dome of St Isaac's Cathedral
dominates the skyline of St Petersburg, the colonnade around the
cupola offering superb panoramic views over the city. It was
commissioned by Tsar Alexander I to be a magnificent imperial
cathedral, and the ensuing masterpiece was of grandiose proportions
that took over 40 years to build and was decorated in the most
extravagant manner. The Russian Classic style exterior encloses a
splendid interior adorned with red granite columns, exquisite
mosaics, painted ceilings, sculptures, frescoes, and a beautiful
stained glass window, incorporating many different kinds of stone
and marble work into the massive structure. The cathedral can
accommodate 14,000 worshippers, but today services are only held
here on special occasions. It is worth noting that no photgraphy or
filming is allowed in either the Cathedrak or the
Colonnade.
Hours of Operation: Open daily except Wednesdays from 11am to 7pm. The
colonnade is open until 6pm
Phone:(812) 315 9732 |
5. Peter and Paul Fortress
Petropavlovskaya Krepost
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What is it? Situated on a small island on the Neva Delta
across the river from The Hermitage, the Peter and Paul Fortress is
the oldest building in St Petersburg. Planned by Peter the Great as
a defence against possible attacks from the Swedes, the fortress
never served its original purpose as they were defeated before its
completion, and the six bastions at its corners were turned into
high security political prison cells. The notorious dungeons held
many famous people, including Alexei, the son of Peter the Great,
Trotsky and Gorky, and it is now a museum. Other buildings in the
fortress house the City History Museum and the Mint. The midday gun
is fired every day from the roof, echoing around the city from
across the water. Also enclosed within the imposing walls is the
Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, its distinctive golden
needle-like spire visible throughout the city. The first church in
the city to be built from stone, it has a richly decorated interior
containing the tombs of every Russian Emperor since Peter the
Great.
Hours of Operation: The fortress is open 24 hours daily. The cathedral
and museums are open daily except Wednesdays and the last Tuesday
of the month, from 11am to 6pm
Phone:(812) 238 4550 |
St. Petersburg Holidays guide
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Transport -Locals in St Petersburg make good use of
their public transport, which is extensive if not efficient and
reliable.
More information at the |
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