St. Petersburg attracts tourists with its fascinating history and magnificent architecture. In this city, collected a huge number of attractions, each of which is easy to replace a history book or architectural guide. Numerous museums of St. Petersburg tell about the heroic past of the city and demonstrate the real treasures of Tsarist Russia. On the stages of St. Petersburg theaters world-famous artists perform. In this article we will talk about the most interesting places, without a visit to which no city sightseeing tour can do.
Winter Palace
This palace was built in 1762 as the residence of Elizabeth Petrovna. And from then until 1917 his status remained unchanged. This building became the fourth Winter Palace, built for the imperial family of stone.
In addition to the palace, here are built the headquarters of the Guard Corps and the General Staff. And on the palace square you can see a monument dedicated to the victory over the army of Napoleon.
Palace Square
This area is central in the northern capital and is recognized as one of the most advanced in the world. It includes the Winter Palace, the Headquarters of the Guard Corps, the New and Small Hermitage.
The corps of the Headquarters is known for its arches, which constitute one of the longest buildings in Europe. The building itself was built in the style of classicism. And its main element can be called the Triumphal Arch with the chariot of Victory.
The Alexandria column with the angel figure on the top became the symbol of the square. It is one of the largest granite monoliths in the world. On the pedestal, you can see the bas-reliefs with military armor, allegories of the world, etc.
Hermitage
This museum has become the largest in St. Petersburg. His collection has about 3 million exhibits, including world-famous works of art of Russian and foreign authors.
The museum's collection consists of paintings and graphic works, sculptures, samples of applied art, numismatic materials and interesting historical finds.
The Hermitage began in 1764, when Catherine II acquired 225 paintings from the merchant Gotskovsky.
Peter-Pavel's Fortress
The fortress is considered one of the oldest architectural monuments of the city. Its construction began in 1703. From this date the history of St. Petersburg is being read. The fortress is located on the Hare island where the tomb of the Romanovs is organized in the Peter and Paul Fortress.
The shape of the fortress resembles a hexagon and completely follows the contours of the island. Until the 20th century, the main prison was located here. Today, a complex consisting of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the bastion, the prison, the Prince's Tomb, the Engineer, Botny, Church and Commandant houses is open here.
A shot is fired at noon every day from the gun of the Naryshkinsky bastion.
Cruiser Aurora"
Among the many attractions of St. Petersburg, this can be called relatively young. Our cruiser is associated with the storming of the Winter Palace and the beginning of a new historical era. But the ship itself was made back in 1900. For all the time of service, it took part in the First World War, the Russian-Japanese and the Great Patriotic War.
The museum was opened here only in 1956, and before that, for 11 years, it was the base for training cadets at the Nakhimov School. The museum has about 500 exhibits, temporary exhibitions are held. Entrance fee is 50 rubles for children and pensioners and 100 rubles for adult visitors.
Saint Isaac's Cathedral
The cathedral can be called a unique monument of architecture, a model of Russian religious art and one of the most beautiful European cathedrals. Its design is a collection of Russian painting of the mid-XIX century, among which are works by Bruni, Bryullov and Shebunov. Here, visitors can see about 300 statues, sculptures and bas-reliefs of Ivan Vitali.
No less significant are about 60 mosaics of talented Russian masters. In St. Isaac's Cathedral various significant events, exhibitions and events are held.
Vasilyevsky Island
Initially, the island was designed as the center of the city, because within its borders were placed the most significant public facilities. But it soon became clear that this was not a good idea.
On the island is the building of the Twelve Colleges, State University, Kunstkamera. Locals love to stroll slowly through its alleys and narrow streets, where the air can feel the majestic spirit of the Russian Empire.
Kunstkamera
Kunstkamera is one of the old museums of St. Petersburg. It was created by decree of Peter I to collect unusual materials created not only by nature, but also by human hands. The second name of the Kunstkamera is the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography.
The creation of such a place of Peter I was prompted by the appearance of a birch, the trunk of which grew from another tree. Looking at her, he decided to create a collection of all kinds of deformities. The opening of the Kunstkamera occurred in 1714. Among its first exhibits were living creatures (dwarfs, giants, creatures with various deformities).
Field of Mars
This square has become one of the most famous in St. Petersburg. The Field of Mars is located on the undeveloped part of the Admiralty Island. Historically, it was used for various exercises and parades.
At the end of the 18th century, monuments to prominent commanders, among them Alexander Suvorov, began to be erected here.
In the XX century, the square became a memorial, where the victims of the February revolution were buried. And until 1933, prominent political figures of the country were buried there. In 1953, the Eternal Flame was set on the Field of Mars, reminding people of those who died during the Great Patriotic War.
Admiralty
The Admiralty is a whole complex of buildings recognized as a monument of federal significance. Its construction began in 1704 with the shipyard and the Admiralty House. Later, around the perimeter of the Admiralty Island, a bastion was built to protect against the attack of the Swedes.
Admiralty in a short period of time became the center of the city. Here military exercises were held, and on holidays performances and folk festivals were held. This place became a museum only at the beginning of the last century.
Mariinsky Theatre
It was opened in 1783. Today it is the center of the cultural life of the city. And, despite the fact that on its stage you can see high-level productions, ticket prices are quite democratic. World famous stars performed here, among them: Ekaterina Kondaurova, Diana Vishneva, Uliana Lopatkina, Anna Netrebko, etc.
St. Petersburg can be called a unique city that has managed to collect a huge amount of significant historical and cultural attractions of the country.
