Peter the Great’s vision to make this city the most European city of Russia, as a maritime superpower came to a spectacular fruition. This city gives me more de ja vu experiences, than anywhere I’ve been. So, after visiting many times, I enjoyed writing this guide on Saint Petersburg Russia attractions.
Overall, the history is still very much alive, emanating from Saint Petersburg’s art and culture. Because the Romanov Dynasty admired and collected the arts for 300 years, the Hermitage Museum grew to the largest art collection in the world. In addition, the city’s lavish architecture and elegant canal system exhibits a cityscape in itself as a magnum opus.
St. Petersburg’s Background
Formerly known as Petrograd and then Leningrad, Saint Petersburg has been through many transformations of culture and image. On the Neva River, it lies at the head of the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. The Tzar, Peter the Great founded this city in 1708. Saint Petersburg served as the political capital of the Tzardom and later empire of Russia. After the October Revolution in 1917, the Bolsheviks moved the capital to Moscow.
St. Petersburg is built on the marshlands of the Neva River Delta. Thus, it intertwines with about 100 tributaries and canals, including 800 bridges. Peter the Great chose this area because it has water access to the Baltic Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Thus, St. Petersburg became known as the “Window to Europe.” However, this created monumental challenges in building the city’s infrastructure on marshlands back in the 18th century. Therefore, Peter researched the engineering and architecture of the European canal systems in cities, such as Amsterdam and Venice for his maritime and capital port.
The Romanov Family was the last imperial dynasty ruling Russia, from 1613 to the Revolution with 18 Romanovs. Peter the Great and Catherine the Great were the most instrumental in westernizing St. Petersburg. Relentlessly, Peter launched a cultural revolution, westernizing and modernizing Russia. Also, Catherine the Great was influential by collecting art, especially Western European, for the Winter Palace, later to become the Hermitage Museum. Finally, the Hermitage Museum expanded into the largest art collection in the world, that it is today.
Top 12 Saint Petersburg Russia Attractions
Hermitage Museum’s Winter Palace
Many people come to St. Petersburg just for this renowned museum. The State Hermitage Museum is the largest art collection in the world. The palace opened in 1764, when Catherine the Great founded the museum when she purchased 255 paintings from Berlin. Since then, the museum grew to include collections, such as,17,000 paintings, 600,000 graphic works,12,000 sculptures and 300,000 crafts. Plus, 700,000 archeological and 1,000,000 numismatic (coin and paper currency) findings also display here. Overall, there are over three million items, spanning the years from the Stone Age to the early 20th century.
State Hermitage Buildings
Collections of Art and Interior
The museum comprises 6 buildings along the Neva River, with the Winter Palace as the crowning turquoise, white and gold jewel. Majestically, this building is a museum all on its own. Therefore, the Interior is just as fabulous as the art that resides in the palace. The baroque museum’s exquisite starring attraction is its Western European Art. However, it has other prestigious collections, such as, Egyptian Antiquities, prehistoric art and Russian Art. Plus, famous Interiors of the palace are showcased, for example, the Military Hall, Malachite Room and Nicholas II Library.
Palace Square
This historical site was the center of St. Petersburg and the Russian Empire for centuries. Therefore, significant events happened here, such as, parts of the October Revolution of 1917 and the Bloody Sunday Massacre. The gorgeous turquoise, gold and white Winter Palace looms over the square, with the red granite 47.5 m high Alexander Column in the center. Also, across the square from the Winter Palace is the yellow bow-shaped Building of the General Staff, centered on a double triumphal arch, crowned with a Roman Quadriga (chariot drawn by 4 horses).
This bustling square is a wonderful place to step back and gain perspective. It’s awe-inspiring and chilling to imagine all the history that happened here. Overall, there are endless photo ops, even with costumed characters in colorful period pieces, circulating with the visitors. Also, there are food stands and musicians to celebrate the venue.
Related: St. Petersburg, Russia’s Magnificent Hermitage Museum – Top 10 Highlights from the World’s Largest Art Collection
Summer Garden
This sanctuary on an island is a wonderful place to relax and ponder, near the Winter Palace. Peter the Great’s Summer Palace is also in the Gardens. So, this was a summer refuge for the Tzars. The classical gardens display colorful flowers, statues, and elegant fountains.
This garden is considered by many to be the most beautiful setting in St. Petersburg, thus it’s a must-see attraction. Plus, it’s free.
State Russian Museum
The State Russian Museum exhibits the world’s largest collection of Russian art. The complex is colossal, with more than 400,000 works from the 10th to the 21st century. Most noteworthy, there is art here that can’t be seen outside of Russia. For example, the rooms in the Benois Wing holds the works of the Modernist Painter, Kandinsky and Malevich, both known as being pioneers in abstract art.
The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
This is one of the main attractions in St. Petersburg and well worth the visit. On the Griboedov Canal the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood is eye catching, with its colorfully decorated onion domes. The inside has stunning mosaics displayed. Furthermore, Alexander III commissioned the church in 1883 as a tribute to his father, who was assassinated on this site by revolutionaries. The symbolic name of the church and much of the art inside has a martyrdom motif.
Faberge Museum
The Faberge Museum in the Shuvalov Palace houses the world’s largest collections of works by Peter Carl Fabergé. This includes nine of the renowned, bejeweled imperial Easter eggs, for which the artist is best known. Plus, the museum collects more than 4,000 works of Russian decorative and fine arts. Born in St. Petersburg, Faberge crafted his famous eggs for the last two Russian Tzars, Alexander III and Nicholas II. Like the Winter Palace, the elegant Shuvalov Palace is a museum in itself.
Canal Ride – Russia’s Saint Petersburg Attractions
St. Petersburg is built on the marshlands of the Neva River Delta. Thus, it intertwines with about 100 tributaries and canals, including over 800 bridges. This is a great way to get a good perspective on the challenging infrastructure of St. Petersburg and it’s harmonious relationship with water. I started a canal ride from the prominent Griboedov Canal, going past the Church of Spilled Blood. Also, we went throughout the town coming out into the grand finale on the Neva River by the the Winter Palace Embankment on one side and the Peter and Paul Fortress on the other.
Nevsky Prospect or Avenue
Nevsky Prospect is the main street of St. Petersburg with many historic landmarks. Originally, Peter the Great designed this main artery to run from St. Petersburg’s Admiralty to Moscow Railway Station. Furthermore, its name commemorates the Russian hero Prince Saint Alexander Nevsky. Today, visitors can’t escape this main street of St. Petersburg. The Winter Palace Square connects Nevsky Prospect with the Palace Bridge.
In addition, many other historic landmarks flank this busy street, such as, Stroganov Palace, Kazan Cathedral, Art Noveau Bookhouse, Russian National Library and the iconic Anichkov Bridge with its horse statues. The 19th century Golden Age of the Russian Literature immortalized this street and congregated at the Literary Café, still there on Nevsky Prospect.
St. Isaac’s Cathedral
This neoclassical cathedral creates a dominant presence and also is the repository for intriguing history. Completed in 1858, St. Isaac’s Cathedral regally stands with its singular, commanding gold dome and neoclassical columns. The inside is also stunning with its marble floors and colorful mosaics. It is named after Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great. The Soviet Government turned the cathedral into a museum of atheism in 1931. Visitors can access the colonnade for one of the most fantastic views in St. Petersburg. Additionally, from 43 metres high, there is a 360-degree view of the vast cityscape.
Peter and Paul Fortress
This fortress is where St. Petersburg was founded in 1703 as the first structure by Peter the Great. Overall, it includes many attractions, such as, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, burial sites for Russian Tzars and the ruins from an old prison. Currently, it operates as part of the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg. Most noteworthy, on my canal tour I observed its structure and gilded cathedral steeple from the Neva River cruise. Also, this Fortress is across the Neva River from the Winter Palace.
Mariinsky Theatre for Russian Ballet
Opened in 1860 on Theatre Square, the famously magnificent Mariinsky Theatre is currently home to the Mariinsky Ballet, Opera and Orchestra. Catherine the Great established the drama, opera and ballet troupe in 1783. Eventually, this theatre became the most prestigious music theatre of the late 19th century Russia. Here is where famous ballets premiered, such as, “The Nutcracker,” “Sleeping Beauty” and the most renowned “Swan Lake. ” I cherish my memory of seeing the masterpiece, “Swan Lake” at the Mariisky Theatre. Also, famous dancers, such as, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Anna Pavolova performed here.
Peterhof Palace and Gardens
About 25 miles southwest of St. Petersburg is this palatial UNESCO World Heritage Site. Peterhof was the summer palace of Peter the Great, inspired by the famous Versailles. One can easily spend a whole day here, seeing both inside the palace and the elegant gardens. It also provides extraordinary views of the Gulf of Finland. The sophisticated and extravagantly manicured gardens are a dream, all interspersed with elegant fountains. This is a must-see for anyone visiting St. Petersburg.
Related: Enchanting Peterhof & Catherine Palaces Day Trip from St. Petersburg
Catherine Palace and Park
Located about 20 miles from St. Petersburg, the Catherine Palace and Park is an opulent complex elaborately decorated with architecture and art. Peter the Great commissioned this palace for his wife, Catherine. However, their daughter, Empress Elizabeth expanded upon it greatly as a blue and white palace decorated with real gold. Most noteworthy, this palace is famous for its Amber Room, decorated with six tons of amber and semiprecious stones. However, the Nazis during WW II looted the Amber Room. So, in 2003 the palace revealed a reconstructed version of the room. Also, its 1400-acre park is a breathtaking landscape with beautiful gardens and bridges.
Overall…
St. Petersburg is arguably one of the most dazzling and opulent cities in the world. It’s grandeur seems to come from a myth or storybook. Peter the Great’s great vision came to pass and we are all to benefit from this. Even though the Romanov Dynasty ended tragically, their 300 years of reign inspired and collected some of the most incredible architecture and art for the world to see, and commemorate their controversial, yet majestic era of Tzardom.
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