Annenkirche
Spooky Church With a Difference
Though it doesn’t attract much attraction from the outside, Annenkirche is an Evangelical Lutheran church with a very peculiar history. After serving as a movie theater during Soviet times and as a club in the early 1990s, the church was heavily damaged by a fire in 2002 that left the interior of the building virtually destroyed. Although the exterior was subsequently renovated, the interior was left almost completely untouched, stoically revealing the scars of the flames. Nowadays, the church offers a rather gloomy spectacle that could easily function as the background of a horror movie or gothic concert. Instead, the venue hosts various art exhibitions, religious concerts, as well as an English-language service every Sunday morning and a Russian one in the afternoon.
Open: Sun., from 9.30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wed. to Sat. from noon to 8 p.m.
Tickets: By donation
Ulitsa Kirochnaya, 8 vk.com/annenkirche
Pushkinskaya 10
Ultra-Cool Art Center
Pushkinskaya 10 can hardly be called a tourist attraction, despite its central location. Unknown even to many locals, this is where St. Petersburg’s unconventional art originated. Born as a squat after city authorities relocated the original inhabitants of the building for renovation work — which never happened, thanks to the economic crisis of the 1990s — Pushkinskaya 10 quickly became a confluence of local artists who did not adhere to the art conventions of the Soviet Union and wanted to be free to pursue their own concepts and ideas. Today, the building preserves that initial ideology — as well as many of the original occupants who found in Pushkinskaya 10 a home, a studio, and a venue for their art. Among the main attractions of the art center is the studio of Kolya Vasin, a huge Beatles fan; inside, you will find a collection of souvenirs, gadgets, and an exhaustive discography of the Liverpool band. But be aware, access to the studio might depend on your Beatles knowledge, which may be tested on the spot, depending on Vasin’s mood. A perfect occasion to visit Pushkinskaya 10 this summer would be the last Saturday of June, when the center will celebrate its anniversary with concerts and special exhibitions.
Open: Wed. to Sun., 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Ticket: Free
Pushkinskaya Ulitsa, 10 p-10.ru
