ST. PETERSBURG GUIDE. by Yuriy Nezhinskiy.

Transcription

1 ST. PETERSBURG GUIDE by Yuriy Nezhinskiy

2 USER S MANUAL 1. Arrive to St. Petersburg 2. Find and come to a convenient waypoint indicated on the map. Recommended start is Nevski avenue (prospect) near Nevski prospect metro station. But you can also begin from any other waypoint. 3. Read info about waypoint. Find and observe the main curiosities from the list under waypoint info. 4. Read info about these curiosities. If you are interested in details, links to the corresponding Wiki articles are at your disposal. 5. Move to the next waypoint Good luck!

3 INDEX Academy of Fine Arts Admiralty Alexander Column Angleterre Hotel Annunciation Bridge Application: public map Armory (Zeughaus) Blue Bridge Boat House Bronze Horseman Chamber of Curiosities (Kunstkammer) Chapel of Our Lady Chapel on place of the Trinity Church Church of the Savior on Blood Commandant s House Engineers House Eternal Flame Field of Mars General Staff Building Grand Hotel Europe Grand Philharmonic Hall Griboedov Canal Guard House (Hauptwache) Hermitage Theater Hotel Astoria House of Books John Bridge Kazan Cathedral Major Attractions Mariinsky Palace Menshikov Palace Michael Castle Mikhailovsky Theatre Monument of Alexander Pushkin Monument of Fieldmarshal Suvorov Monument to Nicolas I Monument to Peter the Great Neva Nevsky Avenue Old Hermitage Old Stock Exchange Palace Bridge Palaces of the Grand Dukes Palace Square Peter and Paul Cathedral Peter and Paul Fortress Walls Prison of the Peter and Paul Fortress Rostral columns Russian Museum Saint Isaac Cathedral Saint Isaac s Square Saint Petersburg Mint Saint Petersburg State University Senate and Synod Building Senate Square Small Hermitage Spit of Vasilyevsky Island Square of Arts Stables Office building Stables Square Storming of the Winter Palace St. Petersburg Mosque Summer Garden The Peter and Paul Fortress A The Peter and Paul Fortress В Trinity Bridge Trinity Square University Embankment Winter Palace Zoological Museum

4 PREFACE After years of work as guide I realized that a good guide-book can replace me. It is such a book I was eager to make. Sincerely yours, Yuri Nezhinskij (PhD in history)

5 MAP OF PETERSBURG METRO

6 NEVSKY AVENUE Value: the main street of Saint-Petersburg Name Origin: the avenue runs from the Admiralty building and ends near the Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky are located. Alexander Nevsky defeated the Swedes on the banks of the Neva River in Originally Prospect was called The road to the Nevsky monastery, but later this name was shortened. Quote: There is nothing better than the Nevsky Prospekt, at least not in St. Petersburg; for this city it represents everything (N.Gogol). Legend: Nevsky Avenue isn t straight: it has a kink roughly half way along, in the Vosstaniya Square. The road was built from two ends: the Russian monks were working from the side of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, and the Swedish prisoners of war were advancing towards them from the opposite side. When they met, it turned out that there was a mistake in the calculations, so a slight bend turned out. Peter the Great immediately ordered to punish the monks, as he was sure that the captured Swedes were Europeans, so they could not allow such a gross blunder.

7 MAJOR ATTRACTIONS Kazan Cathedral The main Russian Orthodox Church in St. Petersburg The Book House If you don t visit the House of Books, you re just smoking the sky (St. Petersburg s proverb) Church of the Savior on Blood The most cheerful church in the city that is built on the place of a murder Griboedov Canal The name of A. S. Griboedov would be very surprised

8 KAZAN CATHEDRAL Place: Nevsky Prospekt Construction time: Architect: Andrey Voronikhin Style: Empire, Late Classicism Remarkable features: The building was designed to become an Orthodox analogue of the main Catholic church, St. Peter s Basilica in Vatican, and the colonnade was built as an analogue of the famous Bernini s Colonnade. The emperor Paul I decided to oppose Petersburg to Vatican after the refusal of the Pope to recognize him as a Grand Master of the Order of Malta. The Pope referred to the fact that the Order was not only chivalric, but also monastic, but Paul I was married twice and had ten children.

9 Inside: Miraculous Icon Our Lady of Kazan (the most revered copy from the icon lost in our days; the original icon was found in Kazan in 1579; Minin and Pozharsky had this icon during the liberation of Moscow from the Poles) Grave of Mikhail Kutuzov Interesting facts: The construction of the cathedral was finished in The next year the war against Napoleon broke out. When Napoleon was defeated, captured enemy banners were put in the newly built cathedral, and Mikhail Kutuzov, the famous Russian Field Marshal who beat Napoleon, was buried inside the church. After the war, the monuments of Russian Field Marshals and heroes of the war of 1812, Mikhail Kutuzov and Michael Barclay de Tolly, were placed before the cathedral. Quote: Barclay de Tolly and Kutuzov Were freezing the French in winter. And for this reason the Russians glorified them And placed them in cold without hats (Comic verses born after the installation of the monuments)

10 Mystery: On the main facade of the cathedral, you can notice the All Seeing Eye, which can also be seen on dollar bills. Researchers confirm that the Masons use this sign as a symbol of the Creator God. On the other hand, the sign with this meaning appeared in Renaissance, two centuries before the formation of the first Masonic organizations. It is worth saying that Mikhail Golenishchev-Kutuzov held a high position among the domestic Masons. Cathedral open to the public. In the cathedral it is forbidden to take photos, men should remove headdress, ladies put it on. If necessary, scarf can be bought directly in the cathedral. Details on wikipedia

11 HOUSE OF BOOKS Place: Nevsky Prospekt Construction time: Architect: Pavel Suzor Style: Art Nouveau Remarkable features: Here, for the first time in Russia, a metal frame, elevators, automatic cleaning system of the roof and other innovations were used in the construction of the building. Value: The main bookstore in the city, a brilliant example of Art Nouveau architecture. Interesting fact: In the top floor of the building, there are the headquarters of the largest Russian social network VKontakte

12 Initial function: The building was constructed for the Singer Manufacturing Company. Legends: In Imperial Petersburg, it was forbidden to build anything higher than the Winter Palace. The exceptions were the domes of churches and the spires of old buildings. However, the glass dome of the Book House is definitely higher than the imperial residence. It is believed that the question was decided by huge bribe to the governor (the reason why he lost his post). Details on wikipedia

13 CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR ON BLOOD Place: Griboyedov Canal Construction time: Architects: Alfred Parland, archimandrite Ignaty (Malishev) Style: Pseudo-Russian Remarkable features: In keeping with the instructions of Alexander III, the church was designed on the model of old Russian Orthodox churches in Moscow and Yaroslavl, constructed of XVI-XVII centuries. Therefore, the similarity with St. Basil s Cathedral on Red Square is not accidental. Symbolic meaning: The church is a memorial to Alexander II. The emperor, who abolished the serfdom, was wounded mortally in this place on March 1, 1881 because of the eighth assassination attempt on him. At the bottom of the church, there are the granite plaques with the main events of his reign. On the bell tower, you can see the emblems of the Russian cities and provinces the symbols of national grief for the murdered emperor.

14 The pavement, where the emperor fell after the fatal explosion, was preserved inside the church. The cathedral is decorated inside and outside with more than 7000 square meters of mosaics. Interesting facts: In Soviet time, the Bolsheviks wanted to blow up the church, and only the beginning of the Great Patriotic War ( ) broke down their plans. Before the War, a vegetable warehouse took place inside the church, during the War there was a morgue and after the place for scenery of Small Theater of Opera and Ballet. Cathedral reopened to the public only in About Museum: The cathedral functions as a museum. Working hours: 11:00 a.m.-18:00 p.m. (in summertime a.m. 22:30p.m.). Day off: Wednesday. Tickets: adults 250 rubles, students with ISIC 150 rubles. Attention, from 18:00 prices double, no discounts. Details on wikipedia

15 GRIBOEDOV CANAL Place: Originates in the Moika River and flows into the Fontanka River. Name: The canal was arranged, deepened and made navigable by the order of Catherine the Great, and thus named The Catherine s Canal. But in the Soviet time this naming reminded of the emperors, so the canal was renamed in the honor of the author of the comedy Woe from Wit Alexander Griboedov, who really rented an apartment for a while in one of the houses on this canal. Interesting facts: a considerable part of Feodor Dostoevsky s heroes lived along the banks of the Griboedov Canal. For example, Sonia Marmeladova and the old moneylender. Raskolnikov himself lived near the Canal, which the author of Crime and Punishment grimly calls the ditch. Details on wikipedia

16 PALACE SQUARE Value: the main square of the city. Name: here is the Winter Palace, the main residence of the Russian emperors. Legend: after the signal from the cruiser Aurora, the revolutionaries rushed to the Square and stormed the Winter Palace... READ MORE MAJOR ATTRACTIONS: Alexander Column the column, weighing more than 600 tonnes, hewn from a single piece of granite.

17 Winter Palace the main building in Russia for more than 150 years. General Staff Building one of the finest examples the Classicism architecture in St. Petersburg, facade length is over 600 m. Saint Isaac s Cathedral the fourth largest domed cathedral in the world. Admiralty

18 ALEXANDER COLUMN Location: Palace Square Construction time: Architect: A. Monferrand Style: Empire Remarkable features: 25,6 m in height, 600 tons in weight column was carved from one solid piece of granite and installed within 1 hour 45 minutes only. Angel on the top has a face of Russian emperor Alexander I who ruled during the war against Napoleon. Hence the name Alexander column. Symbolism: monument to victory over Napoleon in Patriotic war of Interesting facts: after the column has been erected, countess Tolstaya banned her coachmen to drive across Palace square. Countess was afraid of column could fall because it didn t have any additional support and stood under its own weight only. In Soviet time this story was told to emphasize ignorance of Russian aristocracy. But author of the monument A. Monferrand was a bad engineer indeed. Columns of St. Isaak cathedral, his main architectural work, needed several repairings to strengthen them within century and a half passed after the end of construction works. Fortunately, Alexander column doesn t need such interventions. But countess Tolstaya was perfectly right to be worried Details on wikipedia

19 WINTER PALACE Place: Palace Square Construction time: Architect: Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli Style: Russian Baroque Remarkable features: The building is decorated with abundant moldings, columns and pilasters with ornamental purposes only. Numerous images of human faces and animal snouts have no symbolic meaning, as well as the sculptures on the roof of the building. The Italian architect decided to place that sculptures to hide protruding chimneys that were making him angry. Inside the Winter Palace, there are more than 1,000 rooms, but only a few hundred of them are open to the public.

20 Value: The main residence of the Russian emperors from Catherine II to Nicholas II. Our days: The main building of the State Hermitage Museum, the largest museum in Russia and the fourth largest museum in the world (after the British Museum, the Louvre in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum in New York). Highlights of Hermitage: Ceremonial halls of the Russian emperors, famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael (the only place in Russia where you can see their works); the single sculpture by Michelangelo in Russia and Peacock Clock; the largest collection of Rembrandt, including the famous Danae which was damaged by the man. He splashed an acid on it in 1985 and its restoration took 10 years. Interesting fact: There are more than 3 million items in the Hermitage collection. To look at each of them for just one minute, you need to spend about 8 years without rest or sleep. Wrong belief: The State Hermitage Museum complex includes five buildings connected by passages. The building of the Winter Palace is only one of them. Therefore, it s incorrect to tell that the Winter Palace and the Hermitage are the same building. Opening hours: Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun: 10:30am-6pm, Wed, Fri: 10:30am pm, Mon: closed. Tickets: 600 rubles, students and kids- free of charge.

21 Guide recommendations: You should never combine the visiting of Hermitage with a sightseeing tour this entertainment is not for the faint of the heart! It is a usual thing, to spend several hours standing in line to the Hermitage Museum. Therefore, it is better to decide earlier what you want to see in the Hermitage. Otherwise, you will aimlessly wander the museum for half an hour, and then, tired, you will go to drink a cup of coffee. Maybe it is better to drink a cup of coffee without waiting for a few hours and continue walking around the city? However, to be serious, it is better not to spend more than 3 hours in the Hermitage and to go there with a good guide or guidebook. Details on wikipedia

22 GENERAL STAFF BUILDING Place: Palace Square Construction time: Architect: Carlo Rossi Style: Empire Remarkable features: Facade length is about 600 m; there is a bronze chariot of Glory on the top of the arch. In the old days: There were the General Headquarters of the Russian Army (the General Staff) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this building. Nowadays: The headquarters of the Leningrad Military District. The left part of the building is used for the expositions of the State Hermitage museum. Interesting fact: The rooms of the Headquarters are closed to the public. Only a few people know that you can see the main ceremonial hall in the film James Bond 007: GoldenEye. The shooting was allowed by the personal approval of Anatoly Sobchak, the first and the only mayor of St. Petersburg. Details on wikipedia

23 STORMING OF THE WINTER PALACE It is well known that the storming of the Winter Palace was the culmination point of the Great October Socialist Revolution. Most of our representations about the Storming are based on this scene, which looks for us like documentary nowadays. Not surprisingly, you can see it in each telecast or documentary film about the Russian Revolution. However, this scene from the film October is nothing more than Sergei Eisenstein s creative fantasy. In fact, on October 25, after the signal from the cruiser Aurora at 09:40 p.m., the revolutionaries broke into the Palace Square, but were met by shots of the Women s Battalion of Death (units formed by the Provisional Government to raise the patriotic spirit in the army and to shame the male soldiers, who refuse to fight). Revolutionaries retreated under the arch of the General Staff and began the negotiations. As a result, women and cadets (cadets of military schools) abandoned their positions. Revolutionary soldiers and sailors freely entered the Winter Palace through the open doors, but the famous gates remained locked. The Provisional Government was arrested only at 2:40 a.m. on October 26, Details on wikipedia

24 SAINT ISAAC CATHEDRAL Place: Senate Square, St Isaac s Square Construction time: Architect: Auguste de Montferrand Style: Empire Name Origin: The church is dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, Byzantine saint. Peter the Great was born in the day of this saint (30 May, 1672), that is why St. Isaac has always been considered one of the patrons of Saint-Petersburg. Remarkable features: The height of the cathedral is more than 100 m that makes it the fourth largest domed cathedral in the world. The weight of each of the columns, supporting the portico entrance, is 114 tons. They were carved from a single piece of granite and were installed before the construction of bearing walls otherwise they would not have been raised because of their great weight. The dome was gilded with using of mercury, which caused the death of fifty workers. However, the quality of the gilding was so high that over the past 150 years there was no need for any restoration of the dome. At the time of siege of Leningrad, the dome was covered with protective green paint.

25 Interesting facts: For 50 years, after its construction and until the Revolution, St. Isaac s Cathedral was the Cathedral of St. Petersburg and the main church of the Russian Empire. Mystery: When the architect of the cathedral Au. Montferrand was a young man, a gypsy woman allegedly predicted him: You ll die as soon as the main business of your life will be over. That is why Au. Montferrand prolonged the construction, which took as many as four decades. Indeed, the architect died one month after the end of the consecration. About Museum: The cathedral functions as a museum. Working hours: 10:30am-06:00 pm (summertime: 11:00am-10:30pm). Day off: Wed. Tickets: adults 250 rubles, students with ISIC 150 rubles. Guided tour included in the ticket price. To get on the colonnade of the cathedral, located at a height of 43 meters, the individual ticket is required, the price 150 rubles. Attention, please, double price from 18:00, no discounts! Details on wikipedia

26 ADMIRALTY Place: Alexander Garden Construction time: Architect: Andreyan Zakharov Style: Classicism Purpose: Originally, it housed the Naval Ministry of the Russian Empire and the main shipyard of the country. Although for the last century and a half ships are not built here anymore, since 2012 Naval Staff is again here. You can find St. Andrew banner that is similar to the flag of Scotland over the building. St. Andrew flag is official symbol of Russian navy. Remarkable features: On the spire of the building, a weathervane ship is set, consisting a symbol of the city. It is believed that it represents the first Russian frigate Eagle, built in the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great. Legend: Under the weathervane shaped as a ship there is a golden ball. It is said to be filled with golden coins from different times. Details on wikipedia

27 SAINT ISAAC S SQUARE Value: one of the most remarkable architectural ensembles of St. Petersburg. Name: here is the largest cathedral of St. Petersburg, St. Isaac s Cathedral. MAJOR ATTRACTIONS: Saint Isaac s Cathedral the fourth largest domed cathedral in the world Monument of Nicholas I it was believed to be unique, but in reality, it is not

28 Mariinsky Palace the building of the city s parliament Blue Bridge (spans the Moika River) this bridge is wider than the rest 300 bridges of St. Petersburg Astoria Hotel the hotel where Adolf Hitler dreamed to stay Angleterre Hotel Here, the famous Russian poet Sergei Yesenin hanged himself.

29 SAINT ISAAC CATHEDRAL Place: Senate Square, St Isaac s Square Construction time: Architect: Auguste de Montferrand Style: Empire Name Origin: The church is dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, Byzantine saint. Peter the Great was born in the day of this saint (30 May, 1672), that is why St. Isaac has always been considered one of the patrons of Saint-Petersburg. Remarkable features: The height of the cathedral is more than 100 m that makes it the fourth largest domed cathedral in the world. The weight of each of the columns, supporting the portico entrance, is 114 tons. They were carved from a single piece of granite and were installed before the construction of bearing walls otherwise they would not have been raised because of their great weight. The dome was gilded with using of mercury, which caused the death of fifty workers. However, the quality of the gilding was so high that over the past 150 years there was no need for any restoration of the dome. At the time of siege of Leningrad, the dome was covered with protective green paint.

30 Interesting facts: For 50 years, after its construction and until the Revolution, St. Isaac s Cathedral was the Cathedral of St. Petersburg and the main church of the Russian Empire. Mystery: When the architect of the cathedral Au. Montferrand was a young man, a gypsy woman allegedly predicted him: You ll die as soon as the main business of your life will be over. That is why Au. Montferrand prolonged the construction, which took as many as four decades. Indeed, the architect died one month after the end of the consecration. About Museum: The cathedral functions as a museum. Working hours: 10:30am-06:00 pm (summertime: 11:00am-10:30pm). Day off: Wed. Tickets: adults 250 rubles, students with ISIC 150 rubles. Guided tour included in the ticket price. To get on the colonnade of the cathedral, located at a height of 43 meters, the individual ticket is required, the price 150 rubles. Attention, please, double price from 18:00, no discounts! Details on wikipedia

31 MONUMENT TO NICOLAS I Place: St Isaac s Square Construction time: Sculptor: Peter Klodt Remarkable features: Nicholas I the Emperor, wearing the Household Cavalry uniform sits on a rearing horse. Four bas placed on a pedestal, dedicated to the main events of the Emperor s reign: accession to the throne (1825); taming cholera riot (1831); rewarding Mikhail Speransky for drafting of the Laws of the Russian Empire (1832); opening of the railway Petersburg-Moscow (1851). On the four corners the plinth are allegorical female figures that represent the Strength, the Wisdom, the Justice and the Faith. These figures have the faces of Alexandra Theodorovna, emperor s wife, and their daughters: Mary, Alexandra and Olga.

32 Interesting facts: in Soviet times, monument, like other images of old rulers meant to be destroyed. However, the art critics and historians of the city declared that the monument is the world s only equestrian statue with only two support points. Only as a symbol of an engineering thought and as a technical wonder statue was preserved. In fact, the monument is not unique in its kind, although such equestrian statues really are just a few in a world (for example, the statue of President E. Jackson at the White House in Washington). Legend: You can t catch me! this inscription appeared on the monument in the first night after installation. This was an allusion to the Bronze Horseman, a monument to Peter I on the other side of St. Isaac s Cathedral. Nicholas I always admired the great ancestor, however, according to Alexander Pushkin, there was a lot of ensign in him, and a bit of Peter the Great. Details on wikipedia

33 MARIINSKY PALACE Place: St Isaac s Square Construction time: Architect: Andrei Stackensneider Style: Neoclassicism Name Origin: Building was constructed for the great princess Maria Nikolaevna, the eldest daughter of Emperor Nicholas I, because of her marriage to Duke Maximilian of Leuchtenberg. Despite the sonorous name, ducal estate was very small, so the couple stayed in St. Petersburg. Our days: Here is the city s parliament, the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg. Remarkable features: On the facade of the building you can see the emblem of Saint- Petersburg. Two crossed anchors, sea and river, represent the power of the city over the seas and rivers; scepter capital functions of the city.

34 Legends: It is believed that Maria Nikolaevna didn t like the palace because of the monument of Nicholas I. «I do not want to go out every morning on the balcony and to see the back of this horse, on which my dead father was riding, she said. A similar story is told about Mathilde Kschessinskaya, famous ballerina of the XX century and the girlfriend of three Romanovs. They say that despite the tempting offer to move into this palace, she refused it and noted about this: two emperors had already turned away from the building, so it wouldn t be a surprise when the third emperor will turn away from it too. Ballerina meant the monuments of Peter the Great and Nicholas I, as well as her ex-lover Emperor Nicholas II. Details on wikipedia

35 BLUE BRIDGE Place: St Isaac s Square Construction time: Architects: E. Adam, A. Gotman, I. Zavadovsky Name Origin: Metallic part of the bridge painted blue. Remarkable features: It is the widest bridge of St. Petersburg. Its width is 97.3 m, i.e. nearly the same as the height of St. Isaac s Cathedral. Near the bridge there is a granite pillar dipstick decorated with trident of Neptune. There are highwater marks on the dipstick from the water levels of the largest floods: 1824, 1903, 1924, 1955 and Interesting facts: In the epoch of Catherine the Great here was situated the slave market. The bridge deck was made of wood, but the parts were already painted blue. Details on wikipedia

36 HOTEL ASTORIA Place: St Isaac s Square Construction time: Architect: Fyodor Lidval Style: Art Nouveau Name Origin: Named after a network of luxurious hotels in the U.S. owned by the millionaire brothers Astors. Interesting facts: The hotel is considered to be the most prestigious historic hotel in Saint- Petersburg. Herbert Wells, Alain Delon, Maya Plisetskaya, George H.W. Bush, Margaret Thatcher, Garry Kasparov stayed there. A world famous singer Madonna declared that she would perform in St.Petersburg only if she would stay in the Astoria Hotel Legends: Legend tells Adolf Hitler planned to hold a victory banquet in the hotel. The Nazi even printed banquet tickets for the victory celebration. But the city withstood a 900-day siege, the enemy never stepped onto this land, so the tickets remained unused. Details on wikipedia

37 ANGLETERRE HOTEL Place: St Isaac s Square Construction time: The beginning of the XIX century, dismantled and rebuilt again with preservation of external appearance in Architect: Unknown Style: Eclectic Name: In imperial St. Petersburg were usually called the hotels by the names of foreign countries and cities. Angleterre means England in French. Interesting facts: Here ended his days Sergei Yesenin. According to the official version, it was a suicide, according to unofficial chekists helped him hang himself. It is in the room of this hotel by blood were written this poem: Goodbye, my friend, goodbye. My dear, you are in my heart. Predestined separation Promises a future meeting. Goodbye, my friend, without handshake and words, Do not grieve and sadden your brow,- In this life there s nothing new in dying, But nor, of course, is living any newer. Details on wikipedia

38 SENATE SQUARE Value: here the first attempt to commit the Russian revolution failed in December 14, Name: here is the Senate and Synod building. Wrong belief: At first sight, the Decembrist revolt looked pretty strange. One frosty morning soldiers, officers and civilian rebels came to the Senate Square and stood there for several hours, until they were shot at point-blank by artillery of Emperor Nicholas I. Since such actions (or rather idleness) of Decembrists seem surprising, in the popular historical literature sometimes one can read that the revolt was a political demonstration and the heroes were on their way because they just wanted to die for the idea. In fact, it was well-planned, but badly implemented military coup. The purpose of this coup was to establish a constitutional monarchy or republic form of government in Russia. However, the inaction of the rebels during the revolt was a result of leaders betrayal. The Leaders did not come to the Square and that is why the soldiers and officers simply did not know what they had to do.

39 MAJOR ATTRACTIONS Bronze Horseman the most famous monument of St. Petersburg. Senate and Synod building it makes Petersburg second capital of Russia. Saint Isaac s Cathedral the largest cathedral in St. Petersburg, it was being constructed during 40 years. Admiralty the Navy Staff of Russia.

40 BRONZE HORSEMAN Place: Senate Square Construction time: Sculptors: Étienne Maurice Falconet, Marie-Anne Collot Remarkable features: Peter the Great is represented seated on the horseback, trampling a snake. The snake symbolizes Peter s defeated enemies and a pedestal in waveform the sovereign victory over nature. The monument is made of bronze, but Alexander Pushkin in his eponymous poem called it copper («The Cooper Horseman» рус. «Медный Всадник»). The inscription on the pedestal ( to Peter the First (Primo), Catherine Second (Secunda) ) has a political significance. Catherine II was a pureblood German, and her right to rule was based only on the fact that she was a direct continuer of the ideas of Peter I. In this sense, Peter is the first, and she is the second.

41 Citation: «He s awful in the nightly dark! In what a thought his brow s sunk! What a great might in it lies, hidden! And what a fire s in this steed! O, proud horse, where do you speed! Where will you down your bronze hoofs, flittin? Interesting facts: The base of the monument is a solid granite monolith. Its weight is about 1,500 tones. The lump was found in the outskirts of St. Petersburg, 8.5 km from the coast of the Gulf of Finland. For its transportation, a rolling wooden platform with thirty copper balls was built. During the transportation, a few dozen stonecutters were working right on the rock, giving it a waveform. A special dock was also built on the shore, from which the boulder was loaded onto a specially constructed barge and transported to the Senate Square. This is great boldness say the inscription on the commemorative medal minted in honor of the successful delivery of the monolith. Mystery: This story took place ten years before the installation of the monument. During the walk the future Emperor Paul I met a stranger wrapped in a cloak on the Senate Square. Poor Paul, the stranger said. I m the one who takes part in you. I wish you would not particularly tie to this world, because you will not remain here too long. With these words, the stranger took off his hat and revealed his face it was Peter the Great himself! So Paul I really had ruled only 4 years, 4 months and 4 days, and then was killed.

42 In the poem The Bronze Horseman by Alexander Pushkin, the statue of Peter I jumped down from the podium while the floods had begun, and rushed throughout the city for the main character Eugene. In the novel Petersburg by Andrei Bely, one of the characters goes mad, kills his friend and sits on a corpse in a pose of Peter the Great with an instrument of crime scissors in hand. In this position the police find him the next morning. Daniel Andreev, the famous mystic writer of the 20th century, in one of his vision saw the infernal analogue of Petersburg, where sun never rises. In that city, Peter the Great sat on the snake, not on the horse. Details on wikipedia

43 SENATE AND SYNOD BUILDING Place: Senate Square Construction time: Architect: Carlo Rossi Style: Empire Name Origin: The building was constructed for the highest state institutions of the Russian Empire, the Governing Senate and the supreme management body of the Orthodox Church the Holy Synod. Interesting facts: Since 2008, the Russian Constitutional Court is situated in the left wing of this building; this fact makes Petersburg the second official capital of Russia. In the right wing, Memorial Library of Boris Yeltsin is located. Quote: The Senate and Synod live under the arches (one wordplay takes place here: under (pod) and the arches (arkami) in Russian sounds like with gifts, podarkami) (Petersburg proverb of imperial epoch is an allusion to the bribery of senators and a huge arch of the building).

44 SAINT ISAAC CATHEDRAL Place: Senate Square, St Isaac s Square Construction time: Architect: Auguste de Montferrand Style: Empire Name Origin: The church is dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, Byzantine saint. Peter the Great was born in the day of this saint (30 May, 1672), that is why St. Isaac has always been considered one of the patrons of Saint-Petersburg. Remarkable features: The height of the cathedral is more than 100 m that makes it the fourth largest domed cathedral in the world. The weight of each of the columns, supporting the portico entrance, is 114 tons. They were carved from a single piece of granite and were installed before the construction of bearing walls otherwise they would not have been raised because of their great weight. The dome was gilded with using of mercury, which caused the death of fifty workers. However, the quality of the gilding was so high that over the past 150 years there was no need for any restoration of the dome. At the time of siege of Leningrad, the dome was covered with protective green paint.

45 Interesting facts: For 50 years, after its construction and until the Revolution, St. Isaac s Cathedral was the Cathedral of St. Petersburg and the main church of the Russian Empire. Mystery: When the architect of the cathedral Au. Montferrand was a young man, a gypsy woman allegedly predicted him: You ll die as soon as the main business of your life will be over. That is why Au. Montferrand prolonged the construction, which took as many as four decades. Indeed, the architect died one month after the end of the consecration. About Museum: The cathedral functions as a museum. Working hours: 10:30am-06:00 pm (summertime: 11:00am-10:30pm). Day off: Wed. Tickets: adults 250 rubles, students with ISIC 150 rubles. Guided tour included in the ticket price. To get on the colonnade of the cathedral, located at a height of 43 meters, the individual ticket is required, the price 150 rubles. Attention, please, double price from 18:00, no discounts! Details on wikipedia

46 ADMIRALTY Place: Alexander Garden Construction time: Architect: Andreyan Zakharov Style: Classicism Purpose: Originally, it housed the Naval Ministry of the Russian Empire and the main shipyard of the country. Although for the last century and a half ships are not built here anymore, since 2012 Naval Staff is again here. You can find St. Andrew banner that is similar to the flag of Scotland over the building. St. Andrew flag is official symbol of Russian navy. Remarkable features: On the spire of the building, a weathervane ship is set, consisting a symbol of the city. It is believed that it represents the first Russian frigate Eagle, built in the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great. Legend: Under the weathervane shaped as a ship there is a golden ball. It is said to be filled with golden coins from different times. Details on wikipedia

47 UNIVERSITY EMBANKMENT Name Origin: the buildings of the St. Petersburg State University are located there. Interesting facts: Universitetskaya Embankment is situated on the Vasilyevsky Island, which is the largest of the 42 islands of modern St. Petersburg. At the night time when the bridges are drawn, the Vasilyevsky Island becomes the only part of the city which is completely isolated. The island s name is associated with a man named Basil. Until recent times, it was believed that it was a Korchmin Basil, a fellow of Peter the Great, who had an artillery battery on the island. A monument was established In his honor near to the metro station Vasileostrovskaya. However, it soon became clear: the monument was established wrong. Indeed, the Name of the island was introduced in Novgorod scribe in 1500, before the birth of Basil Korchmin remained at least for several centuries. MAJOR ATTRACTIONS Neva the main waterway of Petersburg

48 Annonciation Bridge the first permanent bridge across the Neva, created one century and a half after the appearance of the city Academy of Art a rare example of a building in St. Petersburg, which retains its function for over two centuries Menshikov Palace the largest building of the Petrine Petersburg exceeded in size the palace of Peter the Great St. Petersburg State University the oldest university in Russia from which D.A. Medvedev, V.V. Putin and even V.I. Lenin had graduated

49 Kunstkamera the first museum in Russia. Its name can be translated as The House of curiosities Zoological Museum mostly known for its several mammoths, brought here from Siberia Rostral columns lighthouses that can be found on the 50-ruble banknote Palace Bridge a symbol of the St. Petersburg at night

50 NEVA Time of appearance: About 3.5 thousand years ago Name Origin: There are many versions, but none of them is supported by sufficient evidence. Floods: For more than 300 years of St.Petersburg history, there were more than 300 floods in the city. Today floods is the question of the technical fixation. Reducing the destructive power of floods is a result of the construction of a dam across the Gulf of Finland and Kronstadt. In the Imperial epoch, floods were a very real threat. During the highest flood in the history of the city, which took place in 1824, the river rose more than 4 m, and it took away hundreds of lives.

51 Interesting facts: Swimming in the Neva River is strictly forbidden because of pollution, very fast flowing and many whirlpools. However, the main beach of St. Petersburg is located right beneath the walls of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The Walls heated by the sun very quickly, so sunbathers can be seen even in winter. During the winter period Neva River freezes, so moving to the other side on the ice is forbidden also because of the fragility of ice. Sometimes you can see a small icebreaker, breaking the ice in the middle of the river, to prevent the possibility of switching from one bank to another. However, citizens are not only used the river as a natural crossing, but even rolling on the frozen river on skis. Details on wikipedia

52 ANNUNCIATION BRIDGE Place: Connects Vasilyevsky Island with Admiralteysky Island. Construction time: Designer: Stanisław Kierbedź Name: It was called so after the Annunciation Church building, located on the bridgehead area, demolished by the Bolsheviks in XX century. Interesting facts: Blagoveshchensky Bridge was the first permanent bridge across the Neva River, that means that a half of its history Petersburg spent without a single constant bridge! All the other city bridges were floating, and the citizen of the city had to pay for a pass. Floating bridges were installed only in summer. In winter period, Neva was crossed over the ice, by the way, nowadays it is strictly forbidden. Interesting facts: Blagoveshchensky Bridge was the first permanent bridge across the Neva River, that means that a half of its history Petersburg spent without a single constant bridge! All the other city bridges were floating, and the citizen of the city had to pay for a pass. Floating bridges were installed only in summer. In winter period, Neva was crossed over the ice, by the way, nowadays it is strictly forbidden. Details on wikipedia

53 ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS Place: Universitetskaya Embankment Construction time: Architects: Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe, Alexander Kokorinov Style: Classicism Remarkable features: On the top of the building, we can see an image of the goddess of wisdom Minerva with the face of Catherine the Great. In front of the building, you can find two Egyptian sphinxes, they are the same age as the river Neva. Name origin: The Academy of Fine Arts is situated in the building. All famous Russian artists of the XVIII-XIX centuries have graduated from the Academy. Among them Karl Briullov, Ilya Repin, Ivan Aivazovsky and many others.

54 Mystery: Legend says that Alexander Kokorinov, the architect of the building, hanged himself on the opening day of the Academy. The reason of his commiting suicide was Catherine II s dissatisfaction with the state of the contraction. Her dress became dirty during the inspection of the buildings because of the newly painted walls. Since that time Kokorinov ghost is wandering along the corridors of the Academy. Students believe that if they see the ghost before the examinations, they certainly will fail their exams! Details on wikipedia

55 MENSHIKOV PALACE Place: Universitetskaya Embankment Construction time: Architects: Giovanni Maria Fontana, Gottfried Johann Schädel Style: Petrine Baroque Remarkable features: The palace was the largest building in the Petrine Petersburg. All the main events of the Peter s reign took place in this palace. Meetings with foreign ambassadors were also organised here. Name Origin: The Palace belonged to Alexander Menshikov, close friend of Peter the Great, the first governor of the city and probably the most famous bribe taker in the Russian history. Palace of Peter the Great was smaller than the governor s house. Nowadays the building houses a museum where you can find the restored interiors of the Petrine era. Legend: Menshikov tried to dissuade Peter from building a new capital on the Neva swamp. To convince the emperor he showed him a high birch and said that during the last flood, water reached its top. Peter laughed and said: Your palace, Aleksashka, will stand on the exact place of the birch! It is believed that the Menshikov Palace really was constructed on the place specified by the emperor.

56 About the Museum: The museum is clearly undervalued. It is little known and seldom visited, although the exposition was created at a very high level. If you have already visited the Hermitage, the Yusupov Palace on the Moika, Tsarskoye Selo and Peterhof it is time to visit the Menshikov Palace. Details on wikipedia

57 SAINT PETERSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY Place: Universitetskaya Embankment Construction time: founded in 1724, reconstructed in 1819 Architects: Domenico Trezzini, I.Borchardt, I. Schumacher Style: Baroque Remarkable features: Three buildings of the State University are located on the embankment. The main red-colored building was originally built for the 12 ministries of the Russian Empire. In the XVIII century, the ministries were called colleges, so construction has been called the Twelve Colleges building. Gray building was planned as a residence of Peter II (grandson of Peter the Great) who died before the finish of the construction; nowadays, the Faculty of Philology and the Faculty of Asian and African studies are situated there. Yellow building was built as an arena for First Cadet Corps, where cadets trained to marsh; now a variety of concerts and festivals is hold there.

58 Interesting facts: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev and even Vladimir Lenin graduated from the Law Department of the State University. Vladimir Lenin passed the exam for a university course externally. Details on wikipedia

59 CHAMBER OF CURIOSITIES (KUNSTKAMMER) Place: Spit of Vasilyevsky Island Construction time: Architect: Georg Johann Mattarnovy Style: Petrine Baroque Name Origin: Kunstkamera from the German language means the House of curiosities. These kind of collections of rarities, demonstrating a variety of nature and the greatness of God s plan were widespread in Europe of the Baroque epoch in the end of the XVII and the beginning of the XVIII century. Purpose: The first museum in Russia, established by the initiative of Peter the Great, was situated in the building. Here you can see the collection of stillborn children with various developmental disabilities, the skeleton of the giant Peter s bodyguard and his mummified heart, Eskimo coat from fish skin etc. The official name of the museum is the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography named after Peter the Great (Kunstkammer). Remarkable features: On the dome of the building, you can find a scheme of the solar system planets. It represents the function of the museum as a scientific center.

60 Interesting facts: Peter the Great tried to turn the museum into a popular place, so he ordered to make the entrance free. They say that the guests of the museum were offered a cup of coffee or a glass of vodka and a cake as a gratitude for the visit. Legend: The collections of the Kunstkammer include teeth taken out personally by Peter the Great, a great lover of dental hygiene and surgery. It is believed that two teeth of the collection belonged to his son, Prince Alexei. The legend says that when his father removed the aching tooth, Alexei was too much shouting. Peter was disappointed by such behavior and removed another, a perfectly healthy tooth just to raise the character of the son. Mystery: Legend says that the headless ghost of Peter the Great s bodyguard is wandering along the corridors of the building at night. Peter hired Nicolas Bourgeois, whose height was 2 m 27 cm, at the fair in France. After the death of Bourgeois, in accordance with the contract, his skeleton and his heart were exposed in the Kunstkammer. The fire (1747) destroyed the skull, but the other bones were preserved. Another skull was found instead of the previous one. It was about appropriate size, but they say that the ghost is wandering along the corridors of the building in search of his own head. About the Museum: The museum will be interesting for the schoolchildren. Exotic costumes, rarities and monsters in jars impress and fascinate them. The parents may experience the nausea, exploring the babies preserved in alcohol. However, if the adults tell their kids about the dangers of smoking and drugs addiction, the children will think several times whether to take up a cigarette. For adults who want to tickle their nerves, the museum may be disappointing. Working hours: am 6.00 pm. Day off: Mon. and the last Tue. of every month. Details on wikipedia

61 ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM Place: Spit of Vasilyevsky Island Construction time: Architects: Ivan Luchini Style: Classicism Purpose: The edifice was built for the port store, Packhaus, as it was called in German style. Nowadays the building houses the largest zoological museum in the country, especially known by several mammoths delivered there from Siberia. About Museum: The museum may be interesting for children. As for the adults, it produces a depressing impression because of a huge amount of dusty stuffed animals and birds. Working hours: 11am-6pm, day off: Tue. and every second Wed. of the month. Tickets: adults 250 rubles, students 150 rubles. Details on wikipedia

62 ROSTRAL COLUMNS Place: Spit of Vasilyvsky Island Construction time: 1811 Designer: Jean-François Thomas de Thomon Name Origin: The columns are decorated with four pairs of bronze ship prows, so called rostra. The Romans were the first who used the prows of conquered ships to decorate their monuments. Since then the rostra considered as symbol of naval victories. Initial purpose: In Imperial period, the columns functioned as the lighthouses: oil was poured in the bowls, mounted on the top of the column. After sunset the oil lamps were lighted up to guide ships to the port. Nowadays you can see the fiery torches on the main holidays and city events. Remarkable features: There are the statues of two ladies and two elders which are situated at the base of the columns. Guides say that those are an allegory of main rivers of the European part of Russia: Neva, Volkhov, Volga and Dnieper. However, there is no evidential matter of such allegorical references. Interesting facts: The Rostral columns are represented on the 50-ruble banknote with a dubious image of the Neva River Details on wikipedia

63 PALACE BRIDGE Place: Connects the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island with Admiralteysky Island Numbers: Length 260 m, width 29 m, weight of the rising spans 700 tonnes. Construction time: Designer: Andrew Pshenitsky Name Origin: The bridge is situated near the Winter Palace, the main residence of the Russian emperors Interesting facts: The bridge was built in the midst of revolutionary events. As a result, being mostly completed in the imperial era, it received a lattice with the Soviet symbols. Breeding schedule: Bridge Traffic termination Start of traffic Volodarsky 2:00 3:45 4:15 5:45 Alexander Nevsky Bridge 2:20 5:10 Bolsheokhtinsky bridge 2:00 5:00 Foundry bridge 1:40 4:45 Trinity Bridge 1:20 4:50 Palace Bridge 1:10 2:50 3:10 4:55 Annunciation bridge 1:25 2:45 3:10 5:00 Exchange Bridge 2:00 4:55 Tuchkov bridge Details on wikipedia 2:00 3:35 2:55 4:55

64 SPIT OF VASILYEVSKY ISLAND Value: the most beautiful place in the city, from which there is a wonderful view on the maximum number of attractions. Name Origin: here Neva is divided into two branches, turning the easternmost tip of Vasilyevsky island into the sagittal cape. Interesting facts: For one and a half century, the main port of St. Petersburg was situated on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. All the buildings here are somehow related to the needs of the port. However, in XIX century British skippers were swearing about the fact that it is faster to reach from London to Kronstadt than from Kronstadt to St.Petersburg. The fairway of Neva was more difficult, than earlier and no longer have been adequate for tonnage ships. Therefore, the port was moved to the Gulf of Finland, where it is located until today.

65 MAIN ATTRACTIONS Rostral Columns lighthouses that can be found on the 50-ruble banknote Old Stock Exchange vacant building, which has become a hostage of politics in the last decade Kunstkamera the first museum in Russia. Its name can be translated as The House of curiosities Zoological Museum mostly known for its several mammoths, brought here from Siberia

66 State Hermitage Museum the largest museum of Russia and the fourth largest museum in the world. The Hermitage complex consists of five connected buildings; four of them are visible from the embankment Winter Palace the main residence of the Russian emperors Small Hermitage this building gave the name Hermitage for the whole museum complex Old Hermitage among other masterpieces, it houses the only paintings by Leonardo da Vinci in Russia Hermitage Theatre private theater of Catherine the Great

67 Saint Isaac s Cathedral the largest cathedral in St. Petersburg, it was being constructed during 40 years Admiralty the Navy Staff of Russia Palace Bridge a symbol of the St. Petersburg at night

68 ROSTRAL COLUMNS Place: Spit of Vasilyvsky Island Construction time: 1811 Designer: Jean-François Thomas de Thomon Name Origin: The columns are decorated with four pairs of bronze ship prows, so called rostra. The Romans were the first who used the prows of conquered ships to decorate their monuments. Since then the rostra considered as symbol of naval victories. Initial purpose: In Imperial period, the columns functioned as the lighthouses: oil was poured in the bowls, mounted on the top of the column. After sunset the oil lamps were lighted up to guide ships to the port. Nowadays you can see the fiery torches on the main holidays and city events. Remarkable features: There are the statues of two ladies and two elders which are situated at the base of the columns. Guides say that those are an allegory of main rivers of the European part of Russia: Neva, Volkhov, Volga and Dnieper. However, there is no evidential matter of such allegorical references. Interesting facts: The Rostral columns are represented on the 50-ruble banknote with a dubious image of the Neva River Details on wikipedia

69 OLD STOCK EXCHANGE Place: Spit of Vasilyevsky Island Construction time: Architect: Jean-François Thomas de Thomon Style: Classicism Purpose: Initially the building was constructed for the stock exchange; until recently, there was the largest naval museum in the country. Today it is empty, the museum moved, the fate of the building remains uncertain. Remarkable features: On the pediment of the building, you can see a sculpture of Neptune- the God of the sea with two symbolical figures of rivers lying near him. A female figure is often associated with Neva River. Details on wikipedia

70 CHAMBER OF CURIOSITIES (KUNSTKAMMER) Place: Spit of Vasilyevsky Island Construction time: Architect: Georg Johann Mattarnovy Style: Petrine Baroque Name Origin: Kunstkamera from the German language means the House of curiosities. These kind of collections of rarities, demonstrating a variety of nature and the greatness of God s plan were widespread in Europe of the Baroque epoch in the end of the XVII and the beginning of the XVIII century. Purpose: The first museum in Russia, established by the initiative of Peter the Great, was situated in the building. Here you can see the collection of stillborn children with various developmental disabilities, the skeleton of the giant Peter s bodyguard and his mummified heart, Eskimo coat from fish skin etc. The official name of the museum is the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography named after Peter the Great (Kunstkammer). Remarkable features: On the dome of the building, you can find a scheme of the solar system planets. It represents the function of the museum as a scientific center.

71 Interesting facts: Peter the Great tried to turn the museum into a popular place, so he ordered to make the entrance free. They say that the guests of the museum were offered a cup of coffee or a glass of vodka and a cake as a gratitude for the visit. Legend: The collections of the Kunstkammer include teeth taken out personally by Peter the Great, a great lover of dental hygiene and surgery. It is believed that two teeth of the collection belonged to his son, Prince Alexei. The legend says that when his father removed the aching tooth, Alexei was too much shouting. Peter was disappointed by such behavior and removed another, a perfectly healthy tooth just to raise the character of the son. Mystery: Legend says that the headless ghost of Peter the Great s bodyguard is wandering along the corridors of the building at night. Peter hired Nicolas Bourgeois, whose height was 2 m 27 cm, at the fair in France. After the death of Bourgeois, in accordance with the contract, his skeleton and his heart were exposed in the Kunstkammer. The fire (1747) destroyed the skull, but the other bones were preserved. Another skull was found instead of the previous one. It was about appropriate size, but they say that the ghost is wandering along the corridors of the building in search of his own head. About the Museum: The museum will be interesting for the schoolchildren. Exotic costumes, rarities and monsters in jars impress and fascinate them. The parents may experience the nausea, exploring the babies preserved in alcohol. However, if the adults tell their kids about the dangers of smoking and drugs addiction, the children will think several times whether to take up a cigarette. For adults who want to tickle their nerves, the museum may be disappointing. Working hours: am 6.00 pm. Day off: Mon. and the last Tue. of every month. Details on wikipedia

72 ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM Place: Spit of Vasilyevsky Island Construction time: Architects: Ivan Luchini Style: Classicism Purpose: The edifice was built for the port store, Packhaus, as it was called in German style. Nowadays the building houses the largest zoological museum in the country, especially known by several mammoths delivered there from Siberia. About Museum: The museum may be interesting for children. As for the adults, it produces a depressing impression because of a huge amount of dusty stuffed animals and birds. Working hours: 11am-6pm, day off: Tue. and every second Wed. of the month. Tickets: adults 250 rubles, students 150 rubles. Details on wikipedia

73 WINTER PALACE Place: Palace Square Construction time: Architect: Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli Style: Russian Baroque Remarkable features: The building is decorated with abundant moldings, columns and pilasters with ornamental purposes only. Numerous images of human faces and animal snouts have no symbolic meaning, as well as the sculptures on the roof of the building. The Italian architect decided to place that sculptures to hide protruding chimneys that were making him angry. Inside the Winter Palace, there are more than 1,000 rooms, but only a few hundred of them are open to the public.

74 Value: The main residence of the Russian emperors from Catherine II to Nicholas II. Our days: The main building of the State Hermitage Museum, the largest museum in Russia and the fourth largest museum in the world (after the British Museum, the Louvre in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum in New York). Highlights of Hermitage: Ceremonial halls of the Russian emperors, famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael (the only place in Russia where you can see their works); the single sculpture by Michelangelo in Russia and Peacock Clock; the largest collection of Rembrandt, including the famous Danae which was damaged by the man. He splashed an acid on it in 1985 and its restoration took 10 years. Interesting fact: There are more than 3 million items in the Hermitage collection. To look at each of them for just one minute, you need to spend about 8 years without rest or sleep. Wrong belief: The State Hermitage Museum complex includes five buildings connected by passages. The building of the Winter Palace is only one of them. Therefore, it s incorrect to tell that the Winter Palace and the Hermitage are the same building. Opening hours: Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun: 10:30am-6pm, Wed, Fri: 10:30am pm, Mon: closed. Tickets: 600 rubles, students and kids- free of charge.

75 Guide recommendations: You should never combine the visiting of Hermitage with a sightseeing tour this entertainment is not for the faint of the heart! It is a usual thing, to spend several hours standing in line to the Hermitage Museum. Therefore, it is better to decide earlier what you want to see in the Hermitage. Otherwise, you will aimlessly wander the museum for half an hour, and then, tired, you will go to drink a cup of coffee. Maybe it is better to drink a cup of coffee without waiting for a few hours and continue walking around the city? However, to be serious, it is better not to spend more than 3 hours in the Hermitage and to go there with a good guide or guidebook. Details on wikipedia

76 SMALL HERMITAGE Place: Palace Embankment Construction time: Architects: Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe, Georg Friedrich Veldten Style: Classicism Name Origin: The word Hermitage is translated from French as the place of solitude. In the XVIII century, this name was given to the special types of the buildings. On the first floor of the pavilions, the lifting tables were situated. The guests gathered on the first floor, but the servants were prohibited to enter to avoid rumors and uneasiness. The guests put the notes with the order on their plates. After that, the table moved down and the servants prepared a peculiar dinner for each guest. Then the table moved the prepared food up. In the time of Catherine the Great, the lifting table was constructed on the exact place, where the Peacock Clock are situated now. Today, the citizens use the name Hermitage not only for this building, but also for all the Museum Complex. As for the epithet Small, it is explained by the small size of the building compared to the other structures of the State Hermitage. Details on wikipedia

77 OLD HERMITAGE Place: Palace Embankment Construction time: Architect: Georg Friedrich Veldten Style: Classicism Name Origin: Catherine the Great decided to place some samples of her art collection in the Small Hermitage. Later, the people began to associate the word hermitage with painting as a whole. That is why a new building, constructed for the Art gallery, received this name. It was called the Old Hermitage after the construction of the New Hermitage (1852). You can see the New Hermitage, the fifth building of the Hermitage Complex, only from Millionnaya Street. Interesting fact: Here you can find the only two works by Leonardo da Vinci in Russia.

78 HERMITAGE THEATER Place: Palace Embankment Construction time: Architect: Giacomo Quarenghi Style: Classicism Name Origin: Catherine the Great loved theatre very much. This building was constructed for her own plays. This theatre was built near the Hermitage Art gallery. That is why it was called the Hermitage Theatre. Interesting fact: Catherine II often wrote the plays for the Hermitage Theater by herself. Purpose: Theater retains its original function; you can purchase the tickets at the city cash desks. Details on wikipedia

79 SAINT ISAAC CATHEDRAL Place: Senate Square, St Isaac s Square Construction time: Architect: Auguste de Montferrand Style: Empire Name Origin: The church is dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, Byzantine saint. Peter the Great was born in the day of this saint (30 May, 1672), that is why St. Isaac has always been considered one of the patrons of Saint-Petersburg. Remarkable features: The height of the cathedral is more than 100 m that makes it the fourth largest domed cathedral in the world. The weight of each of the columns, supporting the portico entrance, is 114 tons. They were carved from a single piece of granite and were installed before the construction of bearing walls otherwise they would not have been raised because of their great weight. The dome was gilded with using of mercury, which caused the death of fifty workers. However, the quality of the gilding was so high that over the past 150 years there was no need for any restoration of the dome. At the time of siege of Leningrad, the dome was covered with protective green paint.

80 Interesting facts: For 50 years, after its construction and until the Revolution, St. Isaac s Cathedral was the Cathedral of St. Petersburg and the main church of the Russian Empire. Mystery: When the architect of the cathedral Au. Montferrand was a young man, a gypsy woman allegedly predicted him: You ll die as soon as the main business of your life will be over. That is why Au. Montferrand prolonged the construction, which took as many as four decades. Indeed, the architect died one month after the end of the consecration. About Museum: The cathedral functions as a museum. Working hours: 10:30am-06:00 pm (summertime: 11:00am-10:30pm). Day off: Wed. Tickets: adults 250 rubles, students with ISIC 150 rubles. Guided tour included in the ticket price. To get on the colonnade of the cathedral, located at a height of 43 meters, the individual ticket is required, the price 150 rubles. Attention, please, double price from 18:00, no discounts! Details on wikipedia

81 ADMIRALTY Place: Alexander Garden Construction time: Architect: Andreyan Zakharov Style: Classicism Purpose: Originally, it housed the Naval Ministry of the Russian Empire and the main shipyard of the country. Although for the last century and a half ships are not built here anymore, since 2012 Naval Staff is again here. You can find St. Andrew banner that is similar to the flag of Scotland over the building. St. Andrew flag is official symbol of Russian navy. Remarkable features: On the spire of the building, a weathervane ship is set, consisting a symbol of the city. It is believed that it represents the first Russian frigate Eagle, built in the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great. Legend: Under the weathervane shaped as a ship there is a golden ball. It is said to be filled with golden coins from different times. Details on wikipedia

82 PALACE BRIDGE Place: Connects the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island with Admiralteysky Island Numbers: Length 260 m, width 29 m, weight of the rising spans 700 tonnes. Construction time: Designer: Andrew Pshenitsky Name Origin: The bridge is situated near the Winter Palace, the main residence of the Russian emperors Interesting facts: The bridge was built in the midst of revolutionary events. As a result, being mostly completed in the imperial era, it received a lattice with the Soviet symbols. Breeding schedule: Bridge Traffic termination Start of traffic Volodarsky 2:00 3:45 4:15 5:45 Alexander Nevsky Bridge 2:20 5:10 Bolsheokhtinsky bridge 2:00 5:00 Foundry bridge 1:40 4:45 Trinity Bridge 1:20 4:50 Palace Bridge 1:10 2:50 3:10 4:55 Annunciation bridge 1:25 2:45 3:10 5:00 Exchange Bridge 2:00 4:55 Tuchkov bridge Details on wikipedia 2:00 3:35 2:55 4:55

83 THE PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS A (CATHEDRAL SQUARE) Name Origin: the main building of the fortress is the Cathedral, dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul. Interesting facts: The city took its name from the name originally given to this fortress. In translation, the name means Fortress of St. Peter. Celebrating the date of the foundation of Saint Petersburg, May 27, citizens actually are celebrating the day of foundation of the Peter and Paul Fortress in MAJOR ATTRACTIONS Peter and Paul Cathedral Russian emperors from Peter the Great to Nicholas II are buried here.

84 Boathouse the building constructed for the favorite boat of Peter the Great The Grandfather of the Russian fleet. Сommandant s House the building where commandants of the fortress were living and where their offices were located Saint Petersburg Mint since the times of Peter the Great to the present day coins are minted in this place; however, the banknotes are printed in the other place Prison of Peter and Paul Fortress The Peter and Paul Fortress never shot at the enemy; it was used as a political prison.

85 PETER AND PAUL CATHEDRAL Place: Peter and Paul Fortress Construction time: Architect: Domenico Trezzini Style: Petrine Baroque Remarkable features: This is the highest building in the city (122,5 m), except the television tower. The Russian emperors are buried there from Peter the Great to Nicholas II. Name Origin: The Cathedral is dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul. Legend: At the time of emperor Nicolas I, the angel on the spire of the cathedral was bent by a strong gust of wind. The emperor decided to announce a competition throughout Russia in search of the master, who would be capable to repair the angel without expensive wooden construction. The master was found it was Peter Telushkin, a man from Yaroslavl. Using just one rope, he climbed up to the top of the spire and fixed the angel. As a reward, the serf Telushkin asked for freedom and the right to free vodka in all kabaks of Russia. The emperor

86 granted the request by giving the master a medal with the national eagle. Soon Telushkin lost the medal. He came to the emperor again, and the emperor scolded him. After that, he ordered to burn the eagle on the master s neck. Now going into any kabak, master could just snap the eagle on his neck to take the vodka for free. Some people believe, that the well-known in the Russian culture gesture was born like that. About Museum: the Cathedral functions as a museum, and you can buy the tickets in the Little Boat House. Inside the cathedral, you will see white coffins with the names of the emperors and the Grand Dukes of Romanov dynasty, who are buried here. Working hours: 11am-6pm. Day off: Wed. In summertime, the museum works all week. Tickets: adult 450 rubles, students 200 rubles. Details on wikipedia

87 BOAT HOUSE Place: Peter and Paul Fortress Construction time: Architect: Alexander Whist Style: Early Classicism Name Origin: The building was constructed for the small boat of Peter the Great a small boat on which the emperor in his youth went on river Yauze. Peter the Great declared that his little boat is the Grandfather of the Russian fleet. He moved the boat in St. Petersburg and he was standing there and was looking on the marching soldiers. Today, the little boat is placed in the Central Naval Museum, but in the Little Boat House, you can see its exact copy. Legend: They say that the architect Whist received no penny for his work. He built the Small house, but he forgot bring in the boat. As a result, he had to disassemble the wall especially for this, so Catherine the Great was extremely dissatisfied. Museum: The entrance is free. Here, you can also buy the tickets for the other expositions.

88 COMMANDANT S HOUSE Place: Peter and Paul Fortress Construction time: , reconstructions until 1893 Architect: H. Demarin etc. Style: Baroque Name Origin: The commandants of Peter and Paul Fortress lived and worked here. The post was honorable and very responsible. Ultimately, the commandant was responsible for all political prisoners. Museum: There is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of St. Petersburg. In our opinion, this is one of the most interesting museums in the city and it is suitable for the family visit. The exposition was created professionally, and you can visit it independently. The walking through the museum will take you at least one hour. Important advice: do not stay for a long time in the first halls, because the further exposition is more interesting. Working hours: 11am-6pm. (Tue: 11am-5pm). Day off: Wed. Tickets: adults 200 rubles, students 120 rubles.

89 SAINT PETERSBURG MINT Place: Peter and Paul Fortres Construction time: Architect: A. Porto Style: Classicism Name Origin: since the times of Peter the Great to the present day coins are minted in this place; however, the banknotes are printed in the other place. Interesting fact: You can determine the origin of any Russian coins by the special stamp under the left paw of the eagle on the reverse side. If you find there the stamp with the letters СПМД, it means that this coin was minted in St. Petersburg. Details on wikipedia

90 PRISON OF THE PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS Place: Peter and Paul Fortress Construction time: Architect: K.P. Andreev, M.A. Pasypkin Style: Classicism Interesting facts: The Peter and Paul Fortress was perhaps the most perfect fortification in the world for that times. However, she has not done a single shot at the enemy; the fortress was used as a political prison. Its famous prisoners were: Prince Alexey, son of Peter the Great. Father and son were disagreeing in the view on political system. That is why, by order of his father, Aleksey was strangled directly in a cell (wall-mounted indoors) of Fortress. Famous writers of the Catherine era: Alexander Radishchev and Nicolay Novikov. Decembrists the participants of the revolt 14 December Feodor Dostoevsky who was thrown here because he was one of the members in one of socialistic clubs of his time. Nikolay Chernyshevsky who wrote his famous novel What Is to Be Done? in this prison. Maxim Gorky, who wrote here his novel The Children of Sun. Members of the Provisional Government, who was arrested after October Revolution In 1920s political prison was closed and turned to a museum.

91 Legend: Legend tells that a famous adventuress princess Tarakanoff (she pretended to be the daughter of Empress Elizabeth) drowned in a prison cell during the flood of Museum: Unfaitly, the Peter and Paul Fortress prison is widely popular. However, none of the cameras in the casemates or the Secret House, where people smashed their heads against the wall after years of imprisonment, is preserved until our time. The Jail of Trubetskoy Bastion, existing today, was functioning only for a few decades at the sunset of the Imperial era. The prisoners had very good conditions of live, so as the prison this place is not so impressive. If you are seriously interested in the history of the revolutionary movement of the XIX-XX centuries, this museum is for you. If not you will be disappointed. Working days: 10am-6pm (Tue: 10am-5pm). Day off: Wed. Tickets: adults 200 rubles, students 120 rubles. Details on wikipedia

92 THE PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS В (THE CENTRAL ALLEY) Name Origin: the main building of the fortress is the Cathedral, dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul. Interesting facts: The city took its name from the name originally given to this fortress. In translation, the name means Fortress of St. Peter. Celebrating the date of the foundation of Saint Petersburg, May 27, citizens actually are celebrating the day of foundation of the Peter and Paul Fortress in MAIN ATTRACTIONS Monument to Peter the Great the most controversial monument in the city

93 Guardroom punished garrison soldiers were held there. Now it is the place where the administration of The History Museum is located Kommendant s House the building where commandants of fortress lived Engineers House here lived and worked the fortress engineers Armoury (Zeughaus) former Arsenal, which repaired trucks named Roads of Life

94 MONUMENT TO PETER THE GREAT Place: Peter and Paul Fortress Construction time: Sculptor: Mihail Chemiakin Style: Classicism Notable features: The monument makes a very repulsive impression. However, the sculptor was guided by authentic image of Peter the Great (a wax figure of emperor, made immediately after the death of the emperor). The sculpture Chemiakin recreated a gigantic growth of Peter (2 m and 4 cm), the facial features of the sovereign and his clothes. However, Chemiakin reduced the head of the emperor, left him bald (although it is known that the emperor was not bald), and increased the length of the fingers. Considered that Chemiakin wanted to emphasize a contradictory nature of Peter this way. On the one hand, he was a great ruler, on the other the great executioner who put a few thousands of lives in the foundation of St. Petersburg Legend: Many visitors sit on the knees of Peter the Great. Some people believe that there are only unmarried girls who can do this, because the monument helps them to find the groom.

95 GUARD HOUSE (HAUPTWACHE) Place: Peter and Paul Fortress Construction time: , Architect: V.F. Asmus Style: Classicism Name: The German word Hauptwache means chief guard. This was a military prison where the arrested officers and soldiers of the fortress garrison were kept. Our days: The administration of St. Petersburg Museum of History is located here nowadays. Funnymen notice that the director and his subordinates are in the position of constantly punished soldiers. Interesting fact: The square in front of Guardhouse is called The Dance Square. Here, in the XVIII century was the roost the pole with sharp needles around it. The soldiers, who had done something bad, were tied to this pole, and the pain them to move their feet (to dance).

96 COMMANDANT S HOUSE Place: Peter and Paul Fortress Construction time: , reconstructions until 1893 Architect: H. Demarin etc. Style: Baroque Name Origin: The commandants of Peter and Paul Fortress lived and worked here. The post was honorable and very responsible. Ultimately, the commandant was responsible for all political prisoners. Museum: There is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of St. Petersburg. In our opinion, this is one of the most interesting museums in the city and it is suitable for the family visit. The exposition was created professionally, and you can visit it independently. The walking through the museum will take you at least one hour. Important advice: do not stay for a long time in the first halls, because the further exposition is more interesting. Working hours: 11am-6pm. (Tue: 11am-5pm). Day off: Wed. Tickets: adults 200 rubles, students 120 rubles.

97 ENGINEERS HOUSE Place: Peter and Paul Fortress Construction time: Architect: N.I. Muravyov (?) Style: Petrine Baroque Name Origin: The fortress engineers lived and worked here. Their function was to maintain and to improve the fortifications. Here was located the drawing workshop and various archives. Interesting fact: This building is a rare example of preserved typical house of the first half of XVIII century. Peter the Great ordered to build residential and institutional buildings according to the certain models. Therefore, if you clone the Engineer s House in your mind, you can imagine how the Petrine St. Petersburg looked like. In our days, there is hardly anything left from that Petersburg. Museum: it houses various temporary exhibitions, usually of little interest to a regular tourist.

98 ARMORY (ZEUGHAUS) Place: Peter and Paul Fortress Construction time: Architect: Alexander Briskorn Style: Classicism Name Origin: From the German Zeughaus which means Arsenal or Armory. The German military terminology was very popular in Russia in the time of Peter the Great, because he preferred the language and the authority of Prussia in the military sphere. Interesting fact: During the siege of Leningrad, There were the trucks for the Road of Life, the only possible way to remove the dead people and to deliver food in the city. Legend: At the initial stage of the Great Patriotic War, the Germans had no good maps of Leningrad. Sometimes they used the usual tourist maps for the bombing. Argue that for this reason the Germans tried to destroy the arsenal of the fortress. However, even in the XIX century, the term did not match the reality: the weapons were no longer there. Museum: In the Armory, there is an exhibition of wax figures. This exhibition is no better and no worse than the other numerous wax exhibitions throughout the city.

99 TRINITY SQUARE Value: here in 1721 Russia became an empire. Name Origin: The Trinity Church, where was the funeral of Peter the Great, is located on the square. Interesting facts: the center of St. Petersburg of the Peter the Great epoch was situated here: The Trinity Church, the first Gostiny Dvor, the first collegiums building (ministries), the first city port. That is why the island with the Trinity Square was originally called «The City» or «St. Petersburg». In 1914, Russia entered the First World War. Russia was fighting against Germany, Austria-Hungary, and other Germanspeaking countries. The German name Saint-Petersburg was replaced by Russian Petrograd. Although, after the death of Lenin in 1924 the city was renamed Leningrad and in 1991, following a referendum, the historical name St. Petersburg was returned. The island s name remains Petrogradsky.

100 MAJOR ATTRACTIONS St. John Bridge the oldest of 300 bridges of St. Petersburg Walls of Peter and Paul Fortress one of the best fortifications that had ever fired their weapons at an enemy at all Palaces of the Grand Dukes the residences of uncrowned Romanovs Troitsky Bridge the only bridge in St. Petersburg, under which the plane has ever flown

101 State Hermitage Museum the largest museum of Russia and the fourth largest museum in the world. The Hermitage complex consists of five connected buildings; four of them are visible from the embankment Winter Palace the main residence of the Russian emperors Small Hermitage this building gave the name Hermitage for the whole museum complex Old Hermitage among other masterpieces, it houses the only paintings by Leonardo da Vinci in Russia Hermitage Theatre private theater of Catherine the Great

102 Chapel the building indicating the location of Trinity Church, which was blown up in Stalin s time Mosque the main mosque of the city, it is over 100 years old

103 JOHN BRIDGE Place: Trinity Square Construction time: 1706 Name Origin: The bridge was named after John, Peter the Great s brother. Officially, Peter reigned with him at the same time for 14 years ( ). Remarkable features: This is the first bridge in St. Petersburg, the grandfather of more than 300 existing bridges of the city. Interesting fact: In 2003, the monument of the hare appeared in front of the bridge. The sculpture of the hare was placed there because the Peter and Paul s fortress was constructed on the Hare Island. The island was called so long time before the foundation of the city, probably because of the abundance of hares in the surrounding areas. Details on wikipedia

104 PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS WALLS Place: Peter and Paul Fortress Construction time: 1703, reconstructions during the XVIII XX cent. Architects: J.Lambert, I.Kirchenstein, B.-H.Minih and others. Name Origin: The Cathedral, dedicated to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, is situated in the center of the fortress. Remarkable features: The width of the walls is about 20 m. The casemates were installed inside of the walls. Usually, the casemates are associated with the prison, but in these rooms they were used mostly as the barracks for garrison. The places are called magazins, that means warehouses of ammunition and food. Legend: The one-half of the fortress walls is faced with granite, but another half left without facing. Argue that Catherine the Great went to the balcony of the Winter Palace once, and paid attention to the fact that the red wall, opening onto the embankment, looked very ugly. The empress gave the instructions and the funds for covering the walls of fortress with granite. However, as it often happened in Russia, half of this money had disappeared. That is why the granite was only on the one part of the walls in front of the Winter Palace. About Museum: On the territory of the fortress, you can find about two dozen expositions and exhibitions. Some of them are located in the casemates. If you visit the exhibition Printing premises, you can observe the casemates free of charge. Working hours: 10.00am-6pm, Wen-day off.

105 PALACES OF THE GRAND DUKES Place: Palace Embankment Construction time: XVIII-XIX cent. Architects: A. Rezanov, A. Stackensneider, A. Rinaldi and others. Style: Classicism, eclectic Name Origin: Palaces belonged to the Grand Dukes of the Romanov s family; the dukes were relatives (brothers, uncles, younger children, nephews ) of the reigning monarch.interesting fact: The emperor Paul had 10 children; Nicolas had 7 children and Alexander II 8. Therefore, there is nothing strange in the number of the palaces for the Grand Dukes. Contemporary purpose: The various scientific research institutes and government agencies are situated there. The Marble Palace is a branch of the Russian Museum. Legend: Legend says that the tradition of decorating the envelope of the newborn with a blue or red ribbon appeared in the imperial St. Petersburg. In the old times, this tradition concerned only the Grand Duke children. The boys received the Order of St. Andrew, the girls the Order of St. Catherine. The ribbons of these orders were accordingly of blue and red color. After the revolution, it was decided to democratize the tradition that s how all the new-born received blue or red ribbons. Details on wikipedia

106 TRINITY BRIDGE Place: connects Admiralty Island and Petrogradskiy Island Construction time: Designer: Batignolles company Name Origin: The bridge took its name from the Trinity Square, and the area from the Trinity Church, which was located here. Interesting facts: Legend tells that once a famous Russian aviator Chkalov flew under the bridge span to conquer the girl s heart. In reality, a stuntman flew under the Troitsky Bridge during the filming of the biopic about Chkalov. Chkalov himself never did it, the episode had to explain why the pilot had been arrested on the eve of his own wedding. In reality, Chkalov was arrested for drunkenness and debauch. Legend: Troitsky Bridge is said to be the largest gift in the history of St. Petersburg, made after the military alliance between Russia and France. Some people believe that the bridge was built on the French money, while the Pont d Alexandre III, the most beautiful bridge over the Seine, was constructed in Paris on the Russian money. In fact, Troitsky Bridge was built on the Russian money. Nevertheless, St. Petersburg and Paris bridges, created simultaneously, were certainly the symbols of the military alliance. Of interest is that G. Eiffel, the author of the famous Eiffel Tower, took part in the building of the Trinity Bridge competition, but lost the second round to the company Batignolles. Details on wikipedia

107 WINTER PALACE Place: Palace Square Construction time: Architect: Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli Style: Russian Baroque Remarkable features: The building is decorated with abundant moldings, columns and pilasters with ornamental purposes only. Numerous images of human faces and animal snouts have no symbolic meaning, as well as the sculptures on the roof of the building. The Italian architect decided to place that sculptures to hide protruding chimneys that were making him angry. Inside the Winter Palace, there are more than 1,000 rooms, but only a few hundred of them are open to the public.

108 Value: The main residence of the Russian emperors from Catherine II to Nicholas II. Our days: The main building of the State Hermitage Museum, the largest museum in Russia and the fourth largest museum in the world (after the British Museum, the Louvre in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum in New York). Highlights of Hermitage: Ceremonial halls of the Russian emperors, famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael (the only place in Russia where you can see their works); the single sculpture by Michelangelo in Russia and Peacock Clock; the largest collection of Rembrandt, including the famous Danae which was damaged by the man. He splashed an acid on it in 1985 and its restoration took 10 years. Interesting fact: There are more than 3 million items in the Hermitage collection. To look at each of them for just one minute, you need to spend about 8 years without rest or sleep. Wrong belief: The State Hermitage Museum complex includes five buildings connected by passages. The building of the Winter Palace is only one of them. Therefore, it s incorrect to tell that the Winter Palace and the Hermitage are the same building. Opening hours: Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun: 10:30am-6pm, Wed, Fri: 10:30am pm, Mon: closed. Tickets: 600 rubles, students and kids- free of charge.

109 Guide recommendations: You should never combine the visiting of Hermitage with a sightseeing tour this entertainment is not for the faint of the heart! It is a usual thing, to spend several hours standing in line to the Hermitage Museum. Therefore, it is better to decide earlier what you want to see in the Hermitage. Otherwise, you will aimlessly wander the museum for half an hour, and then, tired, you will go to drink a cup of coffee. Maybe it is better to drink a cup of coffee without waiting for a few hours and continue walking around the city? However, to be serious, it is better not to spend more than 3 hours in the Hermitage and to go there with a good guide or guidebook. Details on wikipedia

110 SMALL HERMITAGE Place: Palace Embankment Construction time: Architects: Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe, Georg Friedrich Veldten Style: Classicism Name Origin: The word Hermitage is translated from French as the place of solitude. In the XVIII century, this name was given to the special types of the buildings. On the first floor of the pavilions, the lifting tables were situated. The guests gathered on the first floor, but the servants were prohibited to enter to avoid rumors and uneasiness. The guests put the notes with the order on their plates. After that, the table moved down and the servants prepared a peculiar dinner for each guest. Then the table moved the prepared food up. In the time of Catherine the Great, the lifting table was constructed on the exact place, where the Peacock Clock are situated now. Today, the citizens use the name Hermitage not only for this building, but also for all the Museum Complex. As for the epithet Small, it is explained by the small size of the building compared to the other structures of the State Hermitage. Details on wikipedia

111 OLD HERMITAGE Place: Palace Embankment Construction time: Architect: Georg Friedrich Veldten Style: Classicism Name Origin: Catherine the Great decided to place some samples of her art collection in the Small Hermitage. Later, the people began to associate the word hermitage with painting as a whole. That is why a new building, constructed for the Art gallery, received this name. It was called the Old Hermitage after the construction of the New Hermitage (1852). You can see the New Hermitage, the fifth building of the Hermitage Complex, only from Millionnaya Street. Interesting fact: Here you can find the only two works by Leonardo da Vinci in Russia.

112 HERMITAGE THEATER Place: Palace Embankment Construction time: Architect: Giacomo Quarenghi Style: Classicism Name Origin: Catherine the Great loved theatre very much. This building was constructed for her own plays. This theatre was built near the Hermitage Art gallery. That is why it was called the Hermitage Theatre. Interesting fact: Catherine II often wrote the plays for the Hermitage Theater by herself. Purpose: Theater retains its original function; you can purchase the tickets at the city cash desks. Details on wikipedia

113 CHAPEL ON PLACE OF THE TRINITY CHURCH Place: Troitskaya (Trinity) Square Construction time: 2003 Architect: Iak architect bureau Interesting fact: The chapel marks the place where one of the first churches of our city was situated. On this place, Russia became an Empire, because Peter the Great solemnly proclaimed himself emperor in 1721 in the Trinity Church. The occasion for the ceremony was the victory in a long war with Sweden for the Baltic lands. To the point, Peter the Great built the Peter and Paul s fortress to defend these lands from Sweden. The word emperor is originally latin: this was the name for a victorious commander, who succeed to come back with a triumph. Reconstruction: Reconstruction of the Trinity Church, a fragment of the film Petrine Petersburg. Details on wikipedia

114 ST. PETERSBURG MOSQUE Place: Trinity Square Construction time: Architect: Nikolai Vasilyev Interesting facts: The architect was guided by the mausoleum of the cruel conqueror Timur-Tamerlane in Samarkand. The mosque was built at the expense of the Bukhara emir, the vassal of the Russian Empire. Details on wikipedia

115 FIELD OF MARS Value: the largest square of St. Petersburg. Name Origin: the training exercises and the Guard parades were held here in the pre-revolutionary times. Ancient Romans called similar fields for training soldiers in honor of Mars, the Roman god of war. The same name was given to the square in St. Petersburg. Interesting facts: in the Imperial Russia the Field of Mars was called Petersburg Sahara. It was huge sandy area where the soldiers were raising in the air clouds of dust while marching. The park was built only after the Revolution of 1917.

116 MAJOR ATTRACTIONS Eternal Flame the first eternal flame in the history of Russia Monument to A.V. Suvorov the monument of «Mars» of the Russian history Troitsky Bridge the only bridge in St. Petersburg, under which the plane has ever flown Summer Garden a place where Peter the Great planted tomatoes and potatoes for the first time in the history of Russia

117 The Mikhailovsky Castle a building where the most famous ghost of Petersburg lives Church of the Savior on Blood the most colorful and cheerful church in the city, built on the site of murder.

118 ETERNAL FLAME Place: Field of Mars Time of creation: 1956 Significance: This is the first eternal fire in the Soviet Union. All other eternal fires across the country were lighted from this fire. Interesting facts: This eternal fire burns above the graves of the victims of two revolutions: The Russian Revolution of 1917 and The Great Patriotic War. It is interesting that now this cemetery is a favorite place for sunbathing during the day and for warming up at the Eternal Flame at night. Details on wikipedia

119 MONUMENT OF FIELDMARSHAL SUVOROV Place: Field of Mars Creation time: Sculptor: Mikhail Kozlovsky Remarkable features: Suvorov is represented as the god of war Mars. Indeed, Alexander Suvorov was a real Mars in the Russian history. He took part in 66 battles and turned out to be a winner in all of them. Legend: During the siege of Leningrad, people wanted to hide the monument in the basement of a house nearby. However, at night Suvorov himself appeared in a dream to the man responsible for the transferring of the monument: the generalissimo shook his finger and that he had never been a coward and would not be after death. The works for the transferring of the monument were stopped. A few days later, a German bomb, flying past the monument, landed in the same basement where people were going to hide the statue. Thus the monument to Alexander Suvorov, along with the monument to Mikhail Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly at the Kazan Cathedral, remained the whole War in the same places. People said that until the generals are in their places, the enemy would never take this city.

120 TRINITY BRIDGE Place: connects Admiralty Island and Petrogradskiy Island Construction time: Designer: Batignolles company Name Origin: The bridge took its name from the Trinity Square, and the area from the Trinity Church, which was located here. Interesting facts: Legend tells that once a famous Russian aviator Chkalov flew under the bridge span to conquer the girl s heart. In reality, a stuntman flew under the Troitsky Bridge during the filming of the biopic about Chkalov. Chkalov himself never did it, the episode had to explain why the pilot had been arrested on the eve of his own wedding. In reality, Chkalov was arrested for drunkenness and debauch. Legend: Troitsky Bridge is said to be the largest gift in the history of St. Petersburg, made after the military alliance between Russia and France. Some people believe that the bridge was built on the French money, while the Pont d Alexandre III, the most beautiful bridge over the Seine, was constructed in Paris on the Russian money. In fact, Troitsky Bridge was built on the Russian money. Nevertheless, St. Petersburg and Paris bridges, created simultaneously, were certainly the symbols of the military alliance. Of interest is that G. Eiffel, the author of the famous Eiffel Tower, took part in the building of the Trinity Bridge competition, but lost the second round to the company Batignolles. Details on wikipedia

121 SUMMER GARDEN Place: Summer Garden Island Construction time: Since 1704 Value: The first park in the St. Petersburg Name: Here is the Summer Palace of Peter the Great. Interesting facts: In the Summer Garden the Assemblies and major festivals in the Era of Peter the Great were celebrated. In keeping with an imperial decree, the city elite was compulsorily obliged to appear at the assembly. Regardless of the weather, it was strictly forbidden to leave the Summer Garden during the festivity. The soldiers wore huge vats of vodka along the alleys and were forced to drink for the health of the sovereign. If Peter noticed that someone was trying to evade the fun, the offender was forced to drink a goblet of the Great Eagle Cup about 1.5 liters of vodka. Not everyone survived after such a penalty, fainting was very common, but the tsar himself was having a good time. Subsequently, the Summer Garden got a much more romantic look and the aristocracy walked here sedately, voluntarily and gladly. Quote: Summer Garden is my vegetable garden. Waking up from a dream, I go there in a bathrobe and slippers. After dinner, I sleep there, read and write (Alexander Pushkin) Legend: legend tells that it is here Peter the Great planted tomatoes and potatoes first time in the history of Russia. Details on wikipedia

122 MICHAEL CASTLE Place: Field of Mars Construction time: Architect: Vincenzo Brenna, Vasily Bazhenov Style: Early Classicism Value: It is the most mysterious place in the city Name Origin: A soldier reported to the Emperor Paul I about the vision that occurred at the future site of the castle. Archangel Michael appeared to him and ordered him to build a church here. Believing in mysticism, Paul I immediately ordered to start working. However, he interpreted the words of the angel in his own way and built here the residence with a church in honor of St. Michael inside. Interesting facts: Paul ruled the country for 4 years, 4 months and 4 days. He was killed in the Saint Michael s Castle, where he lived only 40 days. On the facade of the castle, you can find a distorted biblical quote: To your house befits the sanctuary of the Lord in the longitude of days. This inscription consists of 47 letters, and Paul was killed when he was 47. After the death of Paul I, the building was given to the engineering college. Here studied Feodor Dostoevsky.

123 Legends: The most famous ghost of St. Petersburg is claimed to live in this castle. A sad shadow of the emperor playing the flageolet (an instrument resembling a flute), was seen in XIX century, and sometimes it can be seen even today. However, the museum staff noticed that the first sounds of music are enough to tell: Hello, Your Majesty, and the ghost fades away. The color of the castle is said to be of the gloves of Paul s favorite. She seemed to drop her glove at the ball. The chivalrous emperor raised the glove but did not return it to her, but gave to the architect V. Brenna, who painted the residence in this unusual for St. Petersburg color. About Museum: In this building, the branch of the Russian Museum is located. In several restored parade halls, paintings and tapestries created in the 18th-19th centuries Russia are exhibited. However, the most attractive object the bedroom where Paul I was killed, is not recreated. The strict and cold decor of the halls does not produce the impression of luxury, and the effect of mystical mood can happen only to very emotional people. Opening hours: 10am-6pm, Thu 1pm-9pm. Day off: Tue. Tickets: adults 300 rubles, students 150 rubles, children under 16 free of charge. Details on wikipedia

124 CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR ON BLOOD Place: Griboyedov Canal Construction time: Architects: Alfred Parland, archimandrite Ignaty (Malishev) Style: Pseudo-Russian Remarkable features: In keeping with the instructions of Alexander III, the church was designed on the model of old Russian Orthodox churches in Moscow and Yaroslavl, constructed of XVI-XVII centuries. Therefore, the similarity with St. Basil s Cathedral on Red Square is not accidental. Symbolic meaning: The church is a memorial to Alexander II. The emperor, who abolished the serfdom, was wounded mortally in this place on March 1, 1881 because of the eighth assassination attempt on him. At the bottom of the church, there are the granite plaques with the main events of his reign. On the bell tower, you can see the emblems of the Russian cities and provinces the symbols of national grief for the murdered emperor.

125 The pavement, where the emperor fell after the fatal explosion, was preserved inside the church. The cathedral is decorated inside and outside with more than 7000 square meters of mosaics. Interesting facts: In Soviet time, the Bolsheviks wanted to blow up the church, and only the beginning of the Great Patriotic War ( ) broke down their plans. Before the War, a vegetable warehouse took place inside the church, during the War there was a morgue and after the place for scenery of Small Theater of Opera and Ballet. Cathedral reopened to the public only in About Museum: The cathedral functions as a museum. Working hours: 11:00 a.m.-18:00 p.m. (in summertime a.m. 22:30p.m.). Day off: Wednesday. Tickets: adults 250 rubles, students with ISIC 150 rubles. Attention, from 18:00 prices double, no discounts. Details on wikipedia

126 STABLES SQUARE Name Origin: the building of the former Stables Office is situated here

127 MAJOR ATTRACTIONS Church of the Savior on Blood the most colorful and cheerful church in the city, built on the site of murder Chapel vestry building with unusual symbols Griboyedov Canal A.S. Griboyedov would be quite surprised hearing this name Stables Office building the building where the tsar s horses were kept. The funeral service of Alexander Pushkin was also held in this place

128 CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR ON BLOOD Place: Griboyedov Canal Construction time: Architects: Alfred Parland, archimandrite Ignaty (Malishev) Style: Pseudo-Russian Remarkable features: In keeping with the instructions of Alexander III, the church was designed on the model of old Russian Orthodox churches in Moscow and Yaroslavl, constructed of XVI-XVII centuries. Therefore, the similarity with St. Basil s Cathedral on Red Square is not accidental. Symbolic meaning: The church is a memorial to Alexander II. The emperor, who abolished the serfdom, was wounded mortally in this place on March 1, 1881 because of the eighth assassination attempt on him. At the bottom of the church, there are the granite plaques with the main events of his reign. On the bell tower, you can see the emblems of the Russian cities and provinces the symbols of national grief for the murdered emperor.

129 The pavement, where the emperor fell after the fatal explosion, was preserved inside the church. The cathedral is decorated inside and outside with more than 7000 square meters of mosaics. Interesting facts: In Soviet time, the Bolsheviks wanted to blow up the church, and only the beginning of the Great Patriotic War ( ) broke down their plans. Before the War, a vegetable warehouse took place inside the church, during the War there was a morgue and after the place for scenery of Small Theater of Opera and Ballet. Cathedral reopened to the public only in About Museum: The cathedral functions as a museum. Working hours: 11:00 a.m.-18:00 p.m. (in summertime a.m. 22:30p.m.). Day off: Wednesday. Tickets: adults 250 rubles, students with ISIC 150 rubles. Attention, from 18:00 prices double, no discounts. Details on wikipedia

130 CHAPEL OF OUR LADY Place: Konnyushennaya Square Construction time: Architect: Alfred Parland Style: Pseudo-russian Purpose: Building was used as a storage of the clergy vestments and church utensils. The Museum of Stone is now located in this chapel. Interesting facts: Tourists are usually surprised by symbol on the dome of the sacristy. They think that it is some kind of a mysterious and Masonic symbol. In fact, this symbol is traditionally Christian. Here the Greek letters alpha, omega, hi and ro are depicted. Hi and ro are the first letters of the name of Christ. Alpha and omega are taken from the Apocalypses, where you can find the words, saying by God: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

131 GRIBOEDOV CANAL Place: Originates in the Moika River and flows into the Fontanka River. Name: The canal was arranged, deepened and made navigable by the order of Catherine the Great, and thus named The Catherine s Canal. But in the Soviet time this naming reminded of the emperors, so the canal was renamed in the honor of the author of the comedy Woe from Wit Alexander Griboedov, who really rented an apartment for a while in one of the houses on this canal. Interesting facts: a considerable part of Feodor Dostoevsky s heroes lived along the banks of the Griboedov Canal. For example, Sonia Marmeladova and the old moneylender. Raskolnikov himself lived near the Canal, which the author of Crime and Punishment grimly calls the ditch. Details on wikipedia

132 STABLES OFFICE BUILDING Place: Konnyushennaya Square Construction time: Architect: Vasily Stasov Purpose: Here were the imperial stables. There were the stalls for horses located on the first floor, on the second the chancery, where the horses were distributed. In the center of the building is the Church of Sudarium. Interesting fact: The funeral service of Alexander Pushkin was held in this place. His last apartment was nearby, in the house number 12 on the Moika River.

133 SQUARE OF ARTS Name Origin: all the buildings located here are somehow connected with arts and culture. MAIN ATTRACTIONS Russian Museum wondering why where the Hermitage has almost no Russian art? Because all Russian art is here

134 Mikhailovsky Theatre Opera and Ballet Theater, now closely associated with fruits Monument to Alexander Pushkin the most spectacular monument to the great Russian poet Grand Hotel Europe the most luxurious hotel in St. Petersburg Grand Philharmonic Hall the best place for the classical music lover

135 RUSSIAN MUSEUM Place: Square of Arts Construction time: Architect: Carlo Rossi Style: Empire Purpose: The building was constructed as the Palace for the Great Duke Michael Pavlovich, son of the emperor Paul I and brother of emperors Alexander I and Nicolas I. At the end of XIX century, the collections of Russian art from the Hermitage, the Academy of Arts and palaces were transferred to the Russian Museum. That is how Russian Museum of the Emperor Alexander III was founded. About Museum: This is the biggest collection of Russian Arts in the world. Here you can see the most beautiful works of such Russian artists as Karl Bryullov, Ivan Aivazovsky, Ilya Repin, Peredvizhniki, Kazimir Malevich, Wassily Kandinsky. Unlike the Hermitage, there are practically no queues and huge crowds in the halls. Russian Museum is the very place for Russian painting and Russian culture lovers. Working hours: 10am-6pm; Mon: 10am-8pm; Thu: 1pm-9pm. Day off: Tue. Tickets: adult 400 rubles, students 200 rubles, children under 16 free of charge. Details on wikipedia

136 MIKHAILOVSKY THEATRE Place: Square of Arts Construction time: Architect: Alexander Brullov Style: Classicism Name Origin: The theater building was constructed by the order of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, the fourth son of Paul I, brother of emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I. Interesting facts: In Soviet times, the theater was called Small Opera and Ballet Theatre (small in comparison with the Kirov Theatre, which is now the Mariinsky Theatre). Vladimir Kehman was in the head of the theater , he is also one of the directors of the fruit import company JFC. He donated 500 million rubles for the restoration of the theater. About theatre: Although traditionally Mikhailovsky Theatre is only the second important theatre in the city, sometimes its performances are in no way inferior to the famous Mariinsky Theatre. An important advantage of the Mikhailovsky Theatre is that unlike the Mariinsky Theater, it is easy to reach. The same thing we can say about the dramatic theatre of Komissargevskaya, which is located nearby. During the restoration of the Bolshoi Drama Theater, it is certainly the main dramatic arena of the city. Details on wikipedia

137 MONUMENT OF ALEXANDER PUSHKIN Place: Square of Arts Construction time: Sculptor: Mikhail Anikushin Style: Classicism Interesting facts: There are many monuments to Alexander Pushkin all over the world, but the most beautiful of them are two: the first one is situated on Pushkin Square in Moscow, and the second one is here, on the Square of Arts in St. Petersburg. The sculptor of the monument in Moscow is Opekushin, in St/ Petersburg Anikushin. Despite the fact that the sculptors have such similar names, they lived at different times, different cities and had no family relations at all. Details on wikipedia

138 GRAND HOTEL EUROPE Place: Square of Arts Construction time: Architect: Fyodor Lidval Style: Eclectic Value: The most luxuriuos hotel in St.Petersburg. Legend: According to a legend, the script for the cult film «Unbelievable Adventures of Italians in Russia» is based on the story that happened at the Grand Hotel Europe. Before the death, an old emigrant woman told her heir that she had hidden a big treasure before fleeing abroad at the Revolution times. Of course, it was not hidden beneath a lion, but under the floor of one of the hotel Europe rooms. The heir managed to get to the USSR and stayed in the very room on the second floor. At night he began tapping the parquet and searching if there was an empty space. Having removed the flooring, he saw a metal box bolted to the ceilings with a huge nut. Cursing the prudent grandmother, the guest was unscrewing the nut all night. When he had finally succeeded, he heard a terrible noise. During the interrogation by the KGB, the heir found out that the nut was fixing the main hall chandelier on the first floor, and the treasure box was just a special disk to fix the chandelier. Details on wikipedia

139 GRAND PHILHARMONIC HALL Place: Square of Arts Construction time: 1839 Architect: Paul Jacot Style: Classicism Value: Favorite place for music fans of St. Petersburg Interesting fact: Here on August 9, 1942 in the midst of the blockade, the 7th Leningrad Symphony of Shostakovich was performed. The creation of the Symphony took place during the period of the blockade of the city. The composer himself was evacuated to Kuibyshev. The score was brought to the city by plane. There were only 15 musicians in the Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the rest were either dead or so weak from hunger that they could not play at all. The musicians to the orchestra were sent from the front. During the performance, the symphony was broadcasted through all the loudspeakers of almost dead but not surrendering Leningrad. Citations: «There were loudspeakers and the Germans heard everything. As they said later, the Germans went crazy when they heard it. They thought that the city was dead» (Lelyukhina, flutist) «Then, August 9, 1942, we realized that we would lose this war. We felt your strength, capable to overcome the hunger, fear and even death» (Wehrmacht veterans in the conversation with Eliasberg, who conducted the orchestra that day). Details on wikipedia

140 APPLICATION: PUBLIC MAP TOILETS CENTER OF ST. PETERSBURG