Saint Petersburg Things to Do Tips by Canadienne Top 5 Page for this destination

The Russian Museum Museums Review

When traveling, I'm much more interested in visiting a museum filled with national art than simply "impressive" art. Time is precious and I'd rather be soaking up the atmosphere of the country I am in, in every way possible, than admiring borrowed treasures.

So, visiting the Russian Museum was a priority for me. . .and it fulfilled every expectation.

Address: Inzhernaya ulitsa 4

Directions: Arts Square, near Gostinyy Dvor & Nevsky Prospekt Metros

Website: http://www.rusmuseum.ru/eng/

Petergof, Pushkin & Pavlovsk Admiralty Review

Information on the imperial palaces ~ Petergof, Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo) and Pavlovsk ~ will be found on those cities' pages. . .once I have created them. :-)

A visit to at least one, most likely two, of the three is a must. Depending on your interests, that will mean a combination of indoors and outdoor attractions at each place ~ extremely rewarding.

The Bronze Horseman Monuments Review

This statue of Peter the Great, astride an incredibly detailed horse, was unveiled in Decembrists' Square in 1782. Catherine the Great commissioned it from Etienne Falconet, a French sculptor who spent 12 years working on the piece.

Modelled after Pushkin's poem The Bronze Horseman, the statue was protected by a wooden shelter and sandbags during the second World War. . .the representation of Peter leading Russia willfully into the future survived without any significant damage.

The base was carved from a single piece of granite. . .and the delicate balance that the statue exhibits is remarkable.

Address: Ploshchad Dekabristov (Decembrists' Square)

The Strelka ~ Naval Museum (Detail) Museums Review

The sculpture that sits atop the former Stock Exchange is of Neptune, in a chariot drawn by sea horses.

The Strelka was the main port for the city for over one hundred years, so the ties between the city and its rivers and canals are heavily present here. . .as well as in many other spots.

Address: Vasilevsky Island

The Strelka ~ Naval Museum Museums Review

A naval museum since 1940, this building was built in 1805 and was originally the city's Stock Exchange. On one side sits the Zoological Museum and on the other a Museum of Soil Science ~ both buildings were warehouses for goods that were brought into St. Petersburg.

The building itself was modelled on a greek-styled Italian temple. Although the architecture diverges from the norm, it works incredibly well within the Strelka.

We didn't have much interest in actually entering the museum, but the exhibits include the boat on which Peter the Great learned to sail and on which his interest in building a navy was born.

Address: Vasilevsky Island

The Strelka ~ Rostral Column (Detail) Rivers and Canals Review

Modelled after a Roman tradition, each column is decorated with prows of boats representing Russian victories at sea (rostrum is Latin for ship bow).

At the base of each column are two seated stone statues ~ these represent the routes that Russia relied on most heavily for trade (the rivers Neva, Volkhov, Dnieper and Volga).

The statues and prows aren't as artistically impressive indivually as the look of the whole Strelka, but we found ourselves catching sight of the columns from different vantage points in the city and it's a very appealing grouping.

Address: Vasilievsky Island

The Strelka ~ Rostral Column Rivers and Canals Review

The Rostral Columns (there are two ~ one on either side of the island point) were originally functional lighthouses, used to guide ships into port near the Stock Exchange and storage houses. Each column measures 32 metres high and they were erected in 1810.

Today, they are apparently only lit for certain holidays ~ accompanied by fireworks over the Neva, which must be an amazing sight.

Address: Vasilievskiy Island

The Strelka ~ Birzhevaya Ploshchad Rivers and Canals Review

The Strelka, also known as the Spit, is located at the eastern point of Vasilievsky Island. It's a popular area to visit due to its view across the Neva to the Hermitage and to Peter & Paul Fortress.

Aside from being a viewpoint, there are also quite a few buildings in and around the Strelka that merit some attention. The point itself is exceptionally attractive ~ the ploshchad/park is bordered by two striking red columns and the former Stock Exchange.

There were a number of guides, souvenir salespeople, and a few beggars when we visited this area (the second time). . .but not enough to be a deterrent.

Address: Vasilievsky Island

Kazan Cathedral (Part II) Cathedrals and Churches Review

Although the interior is plain compared to the Baroque Peter & Paul Cathedral or mosaic-covered Church on Spilled Blood, a visit is still rewarding.

As this is an active church, your chances of visiting during a service ~ and thus getting to hear a choir ~ are very good. Russians come and go during services, so there is no reason to feel shy about entering during one ~ find a spot nearby, close your eyes, and let yourself be caught up in the moment.

One warning: the entry-gate to the church takes you past a row of begging women and children ~ this was our first full-on encounter with a "hands out" congregation, so it's good to be prepared for the situation (whether that means having small change ready, or steeling yourself to pass by, is up to you).

Address: Kazanskaya pl. 2

Kazan Cathedral Cathedrals and Churches Review

Inspired by St. Peter's in Rome, the Cathedral of our Lady of Kazan was built to house the icon of the same name (the icon is credited with rescuing Moscow from Polish attack in 1612). The enormous colonnade poses an enormous photography challenge (I failed to capture it in one decent shot). . .

There are enormous pink marble columns and a beautiful mosaic floor inside. This church, among many other, was converted into a Museum of Atheism during the Communist era. Displays included obscene photographs of monks and nuns, mummies, and other items designed to provoke doubt among believers.

Address: Kazanskaya pl. 2