Saint Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great in 1703. In order for this city to be Russia’s window to the western world. In fact, this place was the capital of the Russian empire for more than two hundred years. It is currently considered the largest city in the entire country. Saint Petersburg has around 400 bridges over different canals. Also, there are palaces, museums, churches and parks that you don’t want to miss. Next, we will tell you about the 10 essential places in this beautiful place.
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Fortress of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
Without a doubt, this site is an essential icon of this city. This is where Peter the Great laid his foundation stone in 1703. The fortress is located on the island of Záyachi. In fact, a walk through it will make you travel back in time to the moment it was founded. Within this majestic place, there are different tourist attractions that you will surely love. For example, the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. A place famous for the 122-meter high golden spire. Also for being the funeral ship of the tsars.
Church of the Savior
The Church of the Savior is located on the banks of the Griboedova canal. This site is one of the most beautiful and most visited in this city. Because the building is the center of attention thanks to the striking decoration. In fact, the church features detailed and elaborate ornaments. Also with brick crosses and polychrome tiles. All these details and more are what make this site a stylish moment. On the other hand, the interior will also leave you in awe. This was decorated by the best Russian craftsmen.
Kazan Cathedral
Nevsky is one of the main avenues of Saint Petersburg. During your tour, you will come across the Kazan Cathedral. A truly impressive construction full of classic style and an emblem of the city. Without a doubt, the 92-column colonnade is what will attract your attention the most. Also, the interior is decorated with marble floors, moldings and is surrounded by medieval images.
This Cathedral is consecrated to the Virgin of Kazan. She is the patroness of the children of single mothers and of aunts. Also of nannies, soldiers, travelers, among others. However, for some years, the trades were suspended in this place. The building was even converted into a museum. Today, the establishment fulfills two functions, museum and religious.
Hermitage – Saint Petersburg
Hermitage is one of the largest antique museums in the world. Here, the collections of the Russian tsars that they composed over time are exhibited. In fact, only Catherine the Great was the one who collected more than 50 thousand pieces. Therefore, she had the largest private collection in Europe. Hermitage is made up of 6 buildings to cover all the collections. Among these, the Winter Palace stands out. Also, El Greco, Van Dyck, and Da Vinci are names that resonate in the museum’s galleries.
St. Isaac’s Cathedral
Saint Isaac’s Cathedral was built between 1818 and 1858 by Augusto Monferrand. In fact, this Cathedral will accompany you throughout your trip. Because the dome is 102 meters high. Therefore, it is possible to see it from different parts of the city. The site has amazing decorations with granite, marbles, malachite, lapis lazuli among others. Even if you try hard, you can count more than 40 different types of minerals. And, you will be able to see around 400 works of art such as mosaics, sculptures, and paintings.
Peterhof Palace
Peterhof Palace is located 29 kilometers from Saint Petersburg. A place considered as a World Heritage Site. In fact, this Palace was also born from the idea of Peter I to modernize Russia. Some elements of the interior and exterior design were idealized by Tsar. Also, he was inspired by the gardens and palaces that he met in all his travels around Europe. Another of the most impressive things are the fountains in the gardens. These capture the attention of all visitors because of how wonderful they are.
Nevsky Monastery – Saint Petersburg
The Nevsky Monastery was founded in 1710 by Peter the Great. This site housed more than 12 Orthodox churches and it was the first monastery in the city. Peter’s goal was for the place to house the relics of Alexander Nevsky. One of the most important saints within the Orthodox Church. But, in 1989, the remains were transferred to the Our Lady of Kazan museum.
Currently, inside the monastery are the cemeteries of Lázarev and Tijvin. Also, a cathedral and baroque churches. And, without a doubt, these attractions are one of the main attractions in St. Petersburg. Inside the monastery, there are objects of worship. For example, crucifixes, ancient manuscripts, stone frames, and more.
Catherine Palace
The Catherine Palace is a place of luxury and splendor that transports us to the time of the tsars. It is located in Pushkin and we assure you that the tour will be worth it. This palace was built by the Nazis during the Second World War. Inside this place, there are wooden floors, gold details, paintings, and more. Also, the Room of Light is filled with crystals and mirrors. On the other hand, the Amber Room was rebuilt after the looting of the German army.
A curious fact is that the Amber Room took more than 20 years to be rebuilt. Even expert craftsmen were required to participate. And, eight tons of amber. In fact, the cost of this work exceeds 11 million dollars. Therefore, the Amber room is one of the most expensive in the world.
Nevsky Avenue
In Saint Petersburg, Nevsky Avenue is the most important. Because in it we can find a mixture of the past and the present. This street has an extension of four kilometers. There are prominent buildings such as the Kazan Cathedral. Also, here you can find bookstores, museums, shops, restaurants and more. During the Christmas season, a Christmas market is set up here. And, during the year it is possible to find artists offering different shows.
Saint Petersburg Metro
Without a doubt, the metro is another of the places that you cannot miss during your trip. Among the reasons we have:
Engineering prodigy: The subway was built in a swampy and flooded area. Therefore, the construction was a complete challenge. In fact, four of the five lines pass under the Neva River.
Stations with unique style: The decoration of the stations are at the level of the palaces. For example, Avtovo station has columns lined with Bohemian glass. The Sportivnaya station is inspired by ancient Greece.
