The huge five-domed cathedral (85 metres high) of the Smolny Nunnery is the centre of an architectural ensemble built in 1748—1764 to the design of the architect V. V. Rastrelli, an outstanding master of the baroque style.
In 1832—1835 the architect V. P. Stasov completed the construction and the fittings of the cathedral.
The building is a memorial of the history of the Great October Socialist Revolution. Here, on April 4, 1917, V. I. Lenin expounded his famous April Theses. On May 31, at the Petrograd Conference of Factory Committees that took place in the palace, Vladimir Ilyich delivered a speech on the problem of workers’ control over…
DetailsThe station is named after the writer N. G. Chernyshevsky, the great philosopher of the Russian Revolutionary Democrats, and is situated on the prospect bearing his name. The design of the station is unpretentious but modern. The plain interior of the entrance-hall (architects A. S. Getsky and V. P. Shuvalova) contrasts with its striking facade…
DetailsThis park, the first in St. Petersburg, called the Summer Garden, was laid out in 1704. The architectural and sculptural ensemble in and around the garden is one of the most treasured memorials of Russian culture of the early 18th century. The Summer Garden contains a very old and unique collection of park sculptures. It…
DetailsThe monument by the sculptor M. I. Kozldvsky represents the great general as Mars, the ancient Romans’ god of war. The basreliefs on the pedestal picturing Glory and Peace were modelled by F. G. Gordeyev. The monument was placed on the drive to Kirov bridge in 1818. The Monument to Suvorov opens the vista of…
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Swan Canal (canal Swan) – Canal in St. Petersburg. Joins the River Neva Irek Sink. Swan Canal between the Summer Garden (Summer Garden Island) and the Field of Mars (1st Admiralty Island).
A. S. Pushkin lived in this house from October 1836 to the day of his death on January 29, 1837. The rooms of the museum contain many of the things that belonged to the poet — his writing-table, desk, inkstand and pen, his portraits painted by famous contemporary artists during Pushkin’s life and after his…
DetailsThe plaque on the facade indicates that from March 5 to July 5, 1917, the editorial office of the Bolshevist newspaper Pravda was housed in this building. On April 4, 1917, the day after his return to Petersburg from exile, V. I. Lenin called at the editorial office. From that day right up to July…
DetailsThe State Hermitage is a rich treasure house of world culture and art. It is the greatest history and’ arts museum in the RUSSIA — a museum of world significance. The collections of the museum began to accumulate as far back as the 18th century, when they were considered the personal property of the tsar’s…
DetailsThis is the central square of Saint Petersburg and one of the most beautiful squares in the world. The scene of traditional festive demonstrations and rallies, the square witnessed great historical events in Russia. It was here that on Januarv 9, 1905, by order of the tsar a peaceful working people’s demonstration, which was marching…
DetailsThe silhouette of the Admiralty, engraved on the medal For the Defence of Saint Petersburg, is a symbol of the hero-city, the port-city. The setting up of the Admiralty was closely connected with the foundation of the Russian Navy and took place in the early years of the construction of the city. The then shipyard…
DetailsAdmiring the Bronze Horseman This famous work of the sculptor E. M. Falconet is one of the jems of world art. (The head of the rider was created by Marie-Anne CoIIot, the sculptor’s assistant, and the snake was modelled by F. G. Gordeyev, another of Falconet’s assistants). A monolithic slab for the pedestal (called Thunder…
DetailsThis square, Senatskaya Ploshchad, was given the name of the Decembrists because on that memorable day, December 14, 1825, this square was the scene of the first open armed uprising of the revolutionary young noblemen, afterwards known as the Decembrists, who proclaimed the abolition of serfdom and autocracy. The architectural ensemble of the square is…
DetailsThe complex of former warehouses for the storing and drying of ship-building timber, called New Holland, is a fine monument of industrial architecture of the 18th century. It was designed and built by S. I. Chevakinsky and J. B. Vallin-Delamothe in 1765—1780. The splendid monumental portal and arch are of particular interest. New Holland Island…
DetailsThe exhibition of the museum is housed in an old mansion. It reflects the history of the city from the time of its foundation up to the present day. There is a special section called Socialist Saint Petersburg that contains some interesting documents and exhibits revealing the great socialist changes effected in Saint Petersburg during…
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The stela stands not far from Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge (former Nikolayevsky Bridge), just opposite the place where on October 25, 1917, the revolutionary cruiser Aurora heralded the victory of the Socialist Revolution by firing a salvo. The obelisk was designed by the architect A. I. Qegello and put up in 1939.
In 1806 two column-shaped lighthouses adorned with rostrums (sculptural replicas of ships’ prows) were built on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. The columns were designed by the architect Thomas de Thomon. The mighty figures, seated at the foot of the columns, personify Russia’s trade routes — the Neva, the Volkhov, the Volga and the Dnieper.…
DetailsFounded in 1714, the Museum of Natural History was transferred to this building in 1727. The building of the Kunstkamera, where the museum came to be housed, was erected in 1718— 1734 by the architects G. I. Mattarnovi, G. Kiaveri and M. G. Zemtsov. In the 1740’s the structure was remodelled under the supervision of…
DetailsThe museum was founded in 1709 by Peter I’s edict ordering the formation of a Model-Kdmora (Model Chamber) in the building of the Admiralty. Nowadays its collections are housed in the former Fondovaya Birzha (Stock Exchange). The Exchange building is the centre of a majestic architectural ensemble on the Strelka (Spit) of Vasilyevsky Island, created…
DetailsThe exhibition of the museum, which was founded in 1899, shows the development of Russian literature beginning with the most ancient masterpiece — Slovo o Polku fgoreve (The Lay of Igor’s Host). Special sections of the exhibition are devoted to the work of A. N. Radishchev, M. Y. Lermontov, N. V. Gogol, I. S. Turgenev,…
DetailsThis is one of the earliest buildings in the city designed in the strict classical style by the architect D. Quarenghi. It was erected in 1783—1789. In the entrance-hall a coloured mosaic picture of The Battle of Poltava, the original of which had been sketched by M V. Lomonosov in 1762— 1764, was put up…
DetailsThe University was founded in 1819. It is one of the most important educational and scientific centres in our country. The building of the University, a fine specimen of 18th century architecture, was erected bv Domenico Trezzini in 1722— 1742 to house Peter I’s Twelve Colleges. The scientific schools headed by the mathematician P. L.…
DetailsThis Academy of the Three Noblest Arts (painting, sculpture and architecture) was founded in Petersburg in 1757. In 1764—1788 the splendid building, which has been preserved in its original state up to the present day, was constructed according to the design of the architects A. F. Kokorinov and J. B. Vallin-Delamothe. During the 200 years…
DetailsThe museum was created in 1949 to commemorate the centenary of the scientist’s birth. For eighteen years I. P. Pavlov lived in this flat; he died here in 1936. His study and the drawing room have been preserved intact. Many of our country’s prominent scientists lived in the house, and memorial plaques on the fagade…
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Opened in 1959, it is one of the city’s first sports grounds with an artificial ice skating-rink. Figure skating enthusiasts are now able to train the whole year round.
This is the world’s oldest college of mining, founded in 1773. The building of the Institute is an outstanding example of early 19th century architecture. It is an inspired creation of the architect A. N. Voronikhin and the sculptors S. S. Pimenov and V. I. Demut-Malinovsky. In 1808 two sculpture groups — Heracles fighting Antaeus…
DetailsEvery Saint Petersburger is well acquainted with the peculiar sky-line of the eight-storey tower of this huge building. This monumental edifice was built in 1937 according to the design of the architects N. A. Trotsky and S. N. Kazak. There are many spac.ous halls in the Palace: a theatre seating 1,300, a dancing-hall, a cinema…
DetailsThe building of new houses and the planting of trees and bushes in this district have been effected on a large scale since the end of the war. Construction work is particularly intensive in Gavanskaya Street, Nalichnaya Street and Nalichny Pereulok On both sides of the Bolshoi Prospect trees and shrubs have been planted; there…
DetailsA fortress, a gaol and a museum — these three words comprise the history of one of the most remarkable memorials of the struggle which the Russian people waged to regain their ancient lands along the Neva River. It is also a monument to the heroic life and struggle of several generations of Russian revolutionaries.…
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This is the point of departure for ships plying the Saint Petersburg — Petrodvorets, Saint Petersburg — Kronstadt and Saint Petersburg — Zelenogorsk lines and crossing the Gulf of Finland.
One of the best monuments to the founder of the Communist Party and the RussianState, if symbolizes the remarkable revolutionary history of the city. The memorial was designed by the sculptor S. A. Yevseyev and the architects V. A. Shchuko and V. G. Qelfreich. It was inaugurated on November 7, 1926 to commemorate one of…
DetailsThe Finland railway line was opened in 1862 and the old buiIding of the station was erected in 1870. The station and the square in front of it are closelv associated with the remarkable historic and revolutionary event — the unforgettable welcome given by the revolutionary Petrograd to Vladimir Ilyich Lenin who came back to…
DetailsThe cottage of the founder of the city was the first dwelling house in Petersburg. It was erected in May 1703, and has been kept in its original state up to the present day. In 1784 a stone shelter was built over the cottage to protect it from decay. The permanent exhibition in the cottage…
DetailsCruiser ‘Aurora: at Petrogradskaya Naberezhnaya The legendary cruiser Aurora. On Octobei 25, 1917, the thunder of its guns announced to the whole world the birth of the Sovet State. The Aurora is the legendary cruiser of the October Revolution. As one of the warships of the revolutionary Baltic Fleet, the Aurora took a most active…
DetailsThe museum was founded in 1919. The newi exhibition was opened to the public during the festivities held in commemoration of the 40th, anniversary of the foundation of the RussianState. The extensive display (5,000 exhibits) presents authentic documents and memorial objects which, tell of the preparation and carrying out of the Great October Socialist Revolution.…
DetailsThe monument to the destroyer Steregushchy (by the sculptor K. V. Izenberg) was erected in 1911 in the park near the former Kamennoostrov-sky Prospect. The memorial is dedicated to the heroic deed of two seamen of the destroyer Steregushchy during the Russo-Japanese War. Surrounded by the enemy warsh.ps, the Russian seamen preferred death to dishonorable…
DetailsThe Baltic House (Lenin Komsomol Theatre) is one of the leading youth theatres in the Russia It was initialed in 1936. Three years later the theatre was provided with a new well-equipped building designed by the architects N. A. Miturich and V. P. Makashov. The repertoire of the theatre includes plays by contemporary Russian and…
DetailsA collection of war relics was started in the course of the Northern War (1700—1721). That was the starting point in the history of the Artillery Museum — one of the oldest in the country. The museum is rich in various war relics, unique models of Russian fire-arms and blank weapons, battle colours, orders, medals…
DetailsWhen the reconstruction of the so-called Iron Hall’ (the designers were the architect R. A. Breg-man and a group of engineers) was completed — a third storey and an observatory tower were added — on November 7, 1959 the Planetarium opened its doors. As to its architecture and technical equipment the Planetarium is one of…
DetailsEstablished in 1865, the Zoo has been greatly enlarged during the years of Russianpower; now it is a scientific and educational centre of great importance. In the Zoo there are over 200 species of animals and birds, among them hippopotamuses, elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, several species of monkeys, white polar bears, brown and Himalayan bears.…
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Erected on the south-eastern extremity of Petrovsky Island in 1925, the stadium was restored and reconstructed in 1957—1961 by the architect V. M. Fromzei. It is quite large (28,000 seats) and conveniently located close to the centre of the city. Important football and hockey matches are held here.
Stadium Petrovsky
Boishaya Okhta is situated on the right bank of the Neva and to the north of the river Okhta (the Okhta flows into the Neva). Once there used to be carpenters’ slobodi (suburbs) in Okhta; the wooden buildings in this part of the city stood in stark contrast to the district on the left bank…
DetailsThe Palace was opened in 1927, at the same time as the Palace of Culture named after A. M. Gorky. The architects are G. A. Simonov, A. I. Gegello and D. L. Krichevsky. The hall seats over 2,000. The most outstanding theatrical companies in the country give performances on the stage of the Palace. This…
DetailsIn 1939, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an obelisk of black marble was set up on the spot where, as the legend goes, the executed Decembrisfs were buried. The names of P. I. Pesiel, K. F. Ryleyev, S. I. Muravyov-Apostol, M. P. Be-stuzhev-Ryumin and P. G. Kakhovsky are engraved on the pedestal…
DetailsPloshchad Kallnina (Kalinin Square); Monument to M. I. Kalinin. Many pages of M. I. Kalinin’s revolutionary biography are connected with the Vyborg District. On November 20, 1955, a monument to M. I. Kalinin was inaugurated in one of the central squares of the city. It is designed by the sculptor M. G. Ma-nizer. Kalinin Square…
DetailsBotanical Gardens and Botanical Museum of the Academy of Sciences of the Russia: Aptekarsky Ostrov (Apothecary’s Island), Dlitsa Professora Popova, 2 (2, Professor Popov Street). The Botanical Gardens are one of the leading Russian centres for acclimatizing plants and for testing and rearing valuable new crops. As early as 1714 the Gardens were founded by…
DetailsInitiated in 1897, the first Russian Women’s Medical School became the foundation of the Institute. On the premises of the Institute a Petrograd city conference of the Bolshevist Party was convened on April 15—19, 1917; V. I. Lenin addressed the conference on two occasions. Beginning from the 24th of April, 1917, the sessions of the…
DetailsPalace of Culture named after the Leningrad Soviet: Kirovsky Prospect, 42. The Palace is part of a new block of houses. It was erected in 1934 by the architects E. A. Levins6n and V. O. Muntz on the site of the roller-skating-rink, a pleasure haunt of the Petersburg ‘gilded youth’ before the Revolution. The theatre…
DetailsDynamo Stadium: Krestovsky Ostrov, Prospect Dynamo, 44 (Krestovsky Island; 44, Dynamo Avenue) It is the third largest stadium in the city (with room for 20,000 spectators) and one of the numerous stadiums to be found within the sports compound built on Krestovsky Island during the Soviet years. The stadium was built in the 1930’s. It…
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Central Yacht Club: Petrovsky Ostrov, Petrovskaya Kossa – 9 (Petrovsky Island, Petrovskaya Spit-9)
This is the oldest institution of higher learning in the field of comprehensive electrical engineering. It was founded in 1886. At the end of 1905, V. I. Lenin visited the hostel of the Institute on several occasions. At the meetings held by the students’ Bolshevist circle V. I. Lenin talked on Marxist philosophy and current…
DetailsTogether with the Moskovsky Park this is one of the youngest parks in the city. Its layout was designed by a group of architects headed by A. S. Nikolsky; they took advantage of the old Beloselsky Park on Krestcvsky Island which had remained in good condition. The Primorsky Victory Park was planted by the people…
DetailsThis is one of the largest stadiums in Europe and the second largest in the U. S. S. R. after the Lenin Central Stadium in Moscow. The designers are the architects A. S. Nikolsky, K. I. Ka-shin and N. N. Stepanov. The total capacity of the stadium is 110,000 with seats for 80,000 people. The…
DetailsOn the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the victorious completion of the Great Patriotic War, on May 9, 1960, a torch was lit at the eternal fire burning on the Field of Mars; carried through the entire city, the torch was brought to the Piskarevskoye Cemetery in the Vyborg District. Here the ceremony was…
DetailsOn the initiative of S. M. Kirov, the Central Park of Culture and Rest was opened in 1932. The park extends over nearly 100 hectares. On its territory there are about 18,000 trees, lime-trees and elms, larches and cedars, maples and poplars and silvery willows varying in age from three to 260 years. At the…
DetailsOn October 16, 1917, an enlarged session of the Central Committee of the Bolshevist Party was held under V. I. Lenin’s guidance in this house, representatives from local Party and Trade Union organizations participating in it. The session confirmed the decision of the Central Committee adopted on the 10th of October concerning an armed uprising;…
DetailsIt is the first college of forestry in Russia, founded as early as 1803. At present the Academy is one of the largest in the Russia. The pride of the Academy is a large park on the slopes of a hill which used to be the shore of an ancient sea. The work of cultivating…
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