Petersburg - Attractions

1. The world-famous Hermitage museum
The State Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings situated along the embankment of the River Neva, right in the heart of St Petersburg. The famous Winter Palace plays a leading role in this unique architectural ensemble. Put together throughout two centuries and a half, the Hermitage collections of works of art include more than 3,000,000 items.

2. The Russian museum
The State Russian Museum is the world’s largest museum of Russian art. It is located in the very centre of St. Petersburg near the Nevsky Prospekt.

3. St. Isaac’s Cathedral
The dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral dominates the skyline of St. Petersburg and its gilded cupola can be seen glistening from all over the city. Climb up the 300 or so steps to the observation walkway at the base of the cathedral’s dome and enjoy the breathtaking views over the city.

4. The Peter & Paul Fortress
When Peter the Great re-conquered the lands along the Neva River in 1703, he decided to build a fort to protect the area from possible attack by the Swedish army and navy. The fortress was founded on a small island in the Neva delta on May 27, 1703 (May 16, according to the old calendar) and that day became the birthday of the city of St Petersburg.

5. The Church of the Saviour on the Spilled blood
This marvellous Russian-style church was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in March 1881. The church was built in 1883-1907 and was officially called the Resurrection of Christ Church. Both inside and outside, the church is decorated with unique mosaics, designed by the most prominent Russian artists of the time.

6. Vasilievsky Island
The Vasilievsky Island is the largest island of the Neva delta. The spit of Vasilievsky used to be the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. In the early 19th century, one of the most elegant architectural ensembles of St. Petersburg emerged on the eastern edge (Strelka) of the island. On the Eastern edge of Vasilievsky Island, you will find St. Petersburg State University, the Academy of Arts and a number of museums, including the Navy museum, located in the building of the former Stock Exchange.

7. The Palace Square
The Palace Square is one of the world’s most accomplished architectural achievements. On one side, it is restricted by the Southern facade of the Winter Palace, on the other side by gigantic semicircle of the Headquarters’ building. From the Palace Square opens a fine view to the Admiralty building, Alexandrovsky garden and beginning of Nevsky prospect.

8. The Mariinsky theatre
The opera and ballet companies (also know as the Kirov Opera & Ballet) are famous the world over. The repertoire includes such classics as Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” and “Swan Lake” and works by Mozart, Verdi and Rossini.

9. The Nevsky prospect
The Nevsky Prospect is St. Petersburg’s main avenue and one of the best-known streets in Russia. Cutting through the historical centre of the city, it runs from the Admiralty to the Moscow Railway Station and further on to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery.

10. The Summer Garden
It is always a great pleasure to take a stroll down the alleys of the Summer Garden, passing by the Summer Palace, the marvellous marble statues and the pond. It was Peter the Great who built a small palace in this park. The palace had no heating and was intended for the summer time, hence the name.