The State Hermitage   The Hermitage is one of the oldest and at the same time the largest museums in the world. If you are going to come to Saint-Petersburg, you should include a visit to the Hermitage into your plans. The museum collection is displayed in five historic buildings (the Winter Palace, the former tsars’ residence, the Small Hermitage, the Old Hermitage, the New Hermitage and the Hermitage Theatre). About _million exhibits, from prehistoric till modern times, are kept in the museum, and one can view them in more than 400 splendid rooms. There are about 2500 paintings by famous artists (Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, Cezanne, Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh etc.), cameos and gems, decorated clocks, objects of gold and silver, porcelain, statues, antique vases, a large collection of coins and medals, tsars’ apparel, thrones, tsars’ carriages, collections of weapons and many other things.  After the construction of the Winter Palace, Catherine the Great, an eager collector, ordered to put up the Small and the Big(today the Old) Hermitage buildings to house her art collections. The New Hermitage was the lastto appear. Nicolas I opened the New and the Old Hermitage as public museums. Since 1918, after the abolition of the monarchy, and the revolution, the Winter Palace has been gradually taken over by the museum. Today the Old and the New Hermitage mainly display paintings. The majority of the state rooms are situated in the Winter Palace. Open: from 10.30 a.m. till 6 p.m.; on Sundays till 5 p.m. Closed: on Mondays Address: 34, Dvortsovaya Emb

The State Russian Museum The Russian Museum ranks among the largest collections of Russian art. There are more than 400000 paintings, sculptures, objects of applied and folk art in the museum. The Russian Museum was founded by Alexander III in 1895, and opened in 1898 in the Michael’s Palace (arch. K. Rossi). The exhibition of the museum covers the period from ancient Russian art to the art of the end covers the period from ancient Russian art to the art of the end of the 19th century. Fragments of the original decor can be seen in a lot of rooms of the palace: paintings on the ceilings, moulded ornamentation, gilt, lamps, and furniture. Open: from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m.; on Monday till 4 p.m. Closed: on Tuesday Address: 2, Inzhenernaya Street

St. Icaac’s Cathedral St. Isaac’s Cathedral is the most opulent church of Saint-Petersburg, one of the most exquisite creations by the architect O.Montferrand. The largest cathedral can hold 10000 people. The huge gilded dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral (26 metres in diameter) rises over the city centre, and it is visible from Peterhof. The largest church of Russia was built in more than 40 years, from1818 to 1858. Its purpose was to represent Russia as a new great European empire. More than half a million serfs participated in the arduous construction toil. The outside of the cathedral is adorned with 112 granite columns, each column weighs 114 tons. From the colonnade of the dome, a magnificent panorama of the city unfolds. Open: from 11 a.m. till 6 p.m. Closed: on Wednesday Address: 1, Isaakievskaya Square

The Church of the Savior on the Spilt Blood This cathedral was built in memory of the Russian tsar Alexander II; it was modeled on St. Basil Cathedral in Moscow, in Pseudo-Russian Style (1907,arch. Parland). The cathedral was erected on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was brutally murdered by terrorists Mosaics, based on designs by famous Russian painters such as Vasnetsov, Nesterov, Koshelev, Ryabushkin dominate the interior and the exterior decoration. Open: from 11 a.m. till 6 p.m. Closed: on Wednesday Address: 26, Griboedova canal Emb.

Museum on Board the Cruiser Aurora At the point where the Greater Nevka flows out of the Neva, the famous Cruiser “Aurora” has been permanently moored since1948. This war ship underwent the baptism of fire in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) in the Battle of Tsushima; it participated in the First World War, in the two Russian Revolutions and in the Second World War. The cruiser played a decisive role during the Revolution of 1917. On October 25, at 9.45 p.m., the blank shot that served as a signal for thestorming of the Winter Palace was fired. The next day, Lenin’s appeal “To the Citizens of Russia” was broadcast from the radio station of the Aurora. In this way, the entire world was informed about the victory of the Bolsheviks. From 1923, the Aurora was converted into a training ship, and it participated in the defence of Leningrad during the Second World War. The cruiser has been turned into a museum after a thorough restoration. The exhibition is devoted to the history of the cruiser. Open: from 10.30 a.m. till 4 p.m. Closed: on Monday and Friday Address: Petrogradskaya Emb.

The Peter-and-Paul Fortress The Peter-and-Paul Fortress was founded by Peter I on a little island (Hare Island) in 1703,during the Northern War.  It is the oldest structure of the city. On the grounds of the fortress, one can meet the following sights: the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul (the 18th century, arch. Trezzini) with the tomb of Peter the Great and other Russian tsars, the prison of the Trubetskoy Bastion, different temporary exhibitions: “the History of Saint-Petersburg”, “the Museum of the Gas-dynamic Laboratory”, “the History of the Mint”, “the Printing Shop”. Open: from 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. Closed: on Wednesday and the last Tuesday of every month Address: Petropavlovskaya Fortress

The Yusupov Palace The palace was built in 1780in Classical style by the famous architect Vallin de la Mothe. Then, the aristocratic Yusupov family used it for accommodation of their collection of paintings. The Yusupovs ranked among the richest clans of the country. From the beginning to the middle of the 19th century, the work on the interior was completed; we can see that original interior now. The interior radiates riches and luxury, and can compete even with the Winter Palace. In the yard, there is a small theatre for 180 spectators. The theatre, designed in Neo-Baroque Style, offers interesting concerts. The famous singer Fyodor Shalyapin performed here. The mysterious murder of the tsar’s favourite Rasputin and the opulent interiors attract a great number of visitors. Open: from 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. Address: 94, river Moika Emb. Open: from 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. Address: 94, river Moika Emb.

The Menshikov Palace The Menshikov Palace, erected in 1720, is the first large masonry structure of Saint-Petersburg. The first architect of the palace was the Italian Fontana, then Hamburg born Gottfried Schadel. The palace was constructed for Alexander Menshikov, the first governor of Saint-Petersburg. Prince Alexander Menshikov was a close friend and the counsellor of Peter the Great. It was the most sumptuous palace of the city in that time. Even Peter the Great lived at Menshikov’s sometimes. At the same time the palace became an ideal place for holding celebrations and guest receptions. After the exile of the prince, his palace was expropriated. Later, it accommodated an elite cadet school. The premises and the furniture are designed in the Dutch Style. Alexander Menshikov, like the Tsar, had a liking for the Dutch style. Now the Menshikov Palace is a branch of the Hermitage. The exposition acquaints us with the Russian culture of the first quarter of the 18th century. Open: from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed: on Monday Address: 15, Universitetskaya Emb.

The Mikhaylovsky Castle (Engineers' Castle) The castle was constructed on the orders of Paul I. He wanted his new residence to be made in form of a fortified castle, to feel secure against attempts on his life. However, in a palace revolution, Paul I was strangled in the bedroom of the castle. The southern facade of the building is decorated with a relief (“the Glory of Russia”) and the emperor’s coat of arms. From 1817 the castle housed the Central Military Engineering College. Among its graduates, there were a lot of famous people, for example, the writer Dostoevsky. Exhibitions: “A portrait gallery of the Russian aristocracy of the 18-19th centuries”, “the sculptural portrait of the 18th century”. In front of the main façade, Paul ordered to establish a monument to Peter the Great with the inscription “From great-grandson to great-grandfather”. Open: from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. Closed: on Tuesday Address: 2, Sadovaya Street

Peter the Great's Summer Palace In the Summer Garden, which is of the same age as the city, located on the small island which is formed by the Neva, the Fontanka, the Swan Canal and the Moika, the oldest stone building of the city is situated. The Summer Palace was built by the Italian architect Domenico Trezzini in 1714 and served as a residence of Peter the Great. While the construction work was underway, the tsar lived in a wooden cabin on the other bank of the Neva for 11 years. In comparison with the palaces of the successors of Peter, the two-storey palace looks rather modest. The facades of the palace are adorned with nine bas-reliefs on maritime subjects – they are works by the famous Prussian sculptor Andreas Schluter. The inside walls are upholstered in fabrics, the tiled stoves and the kitchen stove, the paintings on the ceilings and the inlaid parquet floor are splendid. One can also see works of art of the beginning of the 18th century, Dutch oak furniture, a genuine Russian turnery workshop (turnery was one of the passions of the tsar), a cunning meteorological instrument from Dresden, which is connected to the weathervane on the roof, portraits and clothes of the tsar. Peter’s interest in the Dutch style is particularly evident here. Empress Elizabeth didn’t share the modest tastes of her farther, and ordered to redecorate the interiors lavishly. Open: May 1 – November 10, from 11 a.m. till 7 p.m. Closed: on Tuesday Address: Kutuzova Emb.

The Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography after Peter the Great (Chamber of curiosities) The museum was founded in 1879. Rich collections which tell the visitor about the people of Asia, Africa, Australia and American Indians are gathered in the museum. Open: from 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. Closed: on Monday and the last Tuesday of every month Address: 3, Universitetskaya Emb.

The Museum of Ethnography The exposition is dedicated to the life styles, customs and morals, folk art of different peoples of Russia. In 1911, the architect Svin’in erected the present day building next to the eastern wing of the Russian Museum. The collection of the museum numbers about half a million exhibits from different regions of the former U.S.S.R.. Do not confuse this museum with the Ethnographical Museum of the Kunstkammer. Open: from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. Closed: on Monday and the last Friday of every month Address: 4/1, Inzhenernaya Street

Boat trip  More than 70 rivers and canals wind their way through the city, with around 400 bridges crossing them. All the bridges over the Neva can be raised to allow large vessels pass through at night between April and October, when the river is navigable. At that same time various pleasure boats ply their way around St. Petersburg - the so-called "river trams"; they follow a host of different routes, so it is possible to go from one boat to another and see all St. Petersburg's rivers and canals, thus viewing our city's main sights from the water. The looming silhouettes of the bridges, the grandeur of the waterways, the granite embankments with their various piers and slipways, the 18th and 19th century palaces and parks on the banks of the Neva and the canals, architectural landmarks in the form of the domes and spires of churches and cathedrals, visible from a long way off - all this contributes to the unique appearance of the "Venice of the North", one of the world's most beautiful cities. Recommended period: May - September

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan The Kazan Cathedral is one of the most outstanding edifices in St. Petersburg. This grand semicircular-shaped cathedral stands right in Nevsky Prospekt. It owes its name to the miracle-making icon of the Virgin of Kazan. The construction work lasted for ten years, and the cathedral was completed in 1811. The architect Andrey Voronikhin strictly modeled it on St. Peter’s cathedral in Rome. Tsar Paul I, who commissioned the architect, had been fascinated by St. Peter’s Cathedral during his visit to Rome, and decided to have something similar in his own city. Nevertheless, an absolutely original architectural monument appeared. After the victory over Napoleon in 1812, the cathedral became a national monument. Two sculptures in front of the cathedral immortalized Field Marshal Kutuzov (on the left) and his predecessor Field Marshal Barclay de Tolly. One of the sides of this cross-shaped building faces Nevsky Prospekt, and joins a colonnade of Corinthian columns (13 metres high each) arranged in four rows. Above the intersection of the cross, a dome rises to a height of 71 metres. From 1932 to 1990, it housed the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism. Today the cathedral belongs to the community again, and it is the main cathedral of the city. In the northern transept of the cathedral, Field Marshal Kutuzov is buried on the spot where he, according to the legend, prayed in 1812 before setting out for the war against Napoleon. The revived iconostasis includes the miracle-making icon of Kazan Mother of God, which was found in Kazan in 1579. Address: 2, Kazan Square

Alexander Nevsky Monastery (Lavra) Alexander Nevsky Monastery (Lavra) was founded by Peter the Great in 1710 as the Monastery of the Holy Trinity Saint Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky in honor of the victory over the Swedes in 1240. In 1724 the remnants of Alexander Nevsky were on Peter's order transferred from the city of Vladimir to St.Petersburg — Alexander Nevsky Monastery. It is located at the end of Nevsky Prospect. The monastery trained priests of high rank for the Orthodox Church. In 1726 Slavonic, Greek and Latin Seminary was opened. In 1797 the monastery got the lavra status (the highest rank of the monastery in the Orthodox Church). The monastery complex comprises The Holy Trinity Cathedral, one of St.Petersburg's main functioning places of worship, the Tikhvin and Lazarus cemeteries where the outstanding figures of Russian culture as Dostoyevsky and Tchaikovsky are buried. There are also the graves of Alexander Suvorov, celebrated general; scholar Mikhail Lomonosov; architects Giacomo Quarenghi and Carlo Rossi; composers Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Moussorgsky, Rubinstein, Rimsky-Korsakov and many others. Address: Ploschad Alexandra Nevskogo

The Epiphany St. Nicholas' Marine Cathedral In the beautiful place where the Kryukov Canal meets the Griboedov Canal, a sumptuous Baroque church stands. It was built in 1762 by the architect Savva Chevakinsky, and consecrated in honour of the divine patron of all the sailors, St. Nicholas. The Baroque Style exterior, with white columns and capitals against light blue background, resembles a masterpiece by Rastrelli, the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo. The inside of the cathedral is richly decorated with icons and gilt. Especially, it is recommendable to visit the upper church. There, everyday religious services as well as baptism, wedding and funeral services are held. Address: Rimsky-Korsakov Avenue

The Smolny Cathedral In 1748, Empress Elizabeth commissioned her court architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli to design a convent. The architect managed to combine Russian Style with Western Baroque in a beautiful way. After the death of Elizabeth, the building work was held up, as the new empress Catherine II favoured a different style and dismissed Rastrelli. Baroque did not meet the taste any longer. Only in 1835, Nicolas I ordered the architect Vasily Stasov to complete the construction of the cathedral. In 1764 (on the orders of Catherine), the constructed, but still not decorated cathedral housed an educational establishment for girls of noble origin. After the construction of the Smolny Institute in 1808, the educational establishment moved there. In the evenings, concerts of classical music are held in the Smolny Cathedral. Address: 3/1, Rastrelli Square

St. Vladimir's Cathedral The baroque style church was built in 1769 for the miracle-working icon of Vladimir Mother of God. The bell tower was erected a bit later in early neo-classical style. After the reopening at the beginning of the 1990s, the church is actively attended again. Address: Kuznechny lane, Vladimirsky Avenue

The Lutheran St. Peter's Church The church was built to the design by the architect Aleksandr Bryullov in 1830. In the Soviet era, the church, constructed in neo-romanesque Style for the German community of St. Petersburg, was used as a swimming pool. Nowadays regular evangelistic services are held here. The building of the church is set back from the “red” line of Nevsky Avenue Address: 22-24, Nevsky Avenue

The Armenian Church The colouring of the beautiful façade of the church consists of bright white and blue hues, which imparts vividness to the church. The construction of the edifice, which was built in 1780, was funded by an Armenian merchant. The church, created in Classical Style, is situated in the yard, between two houses in Nevsky Prospekt. In Soviet times, it was closed. Today it is a house of worshiping for the Armenian community, and opened to the public. Address: 40, Nevsky Avenue

Roman-Catholic St Catherine’s Church The early classical style Roman-Catholic St Catherine’s Church was built to the design by the architect Vallin de la Mothe in 1783. The church is situated in a recess from the “red” line of Nevsky Prospekt. It can be recognised by its magnificent green dome. Tombs of several famous people, for example, the last king of Poland are placed here. In front of the church, right in Nevsky Prospekt, an open air souvenir market is situated. Address: 32, Nevsky Avenue

The Dutch Church Built in classical style to the design by the architect P. Jacot in 1836, the church served the European, mainly Dutch, communities for Christian services. The neighbouring buildings, west of the Fontanka River, were inhabited by Dutch families. After the restoration, it is quite possible that services will be held here again. Address: 20, Nevsky Avenue

Peterhof Owing to its palaces and parks with fountains, the town of Peterhof, located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, approximately 30 km. from St.Petersburg, is perhaps one of the most famous suburbs of St.Petersburg. The palace-park complex of Peterhof is a historical and architectural monument of the 18-19th centuries. Peterhof was built as the state residence of Tsar Peter I to emulate the residence of the French king in Versailles, and as a monument dedicated to the victory in the Northern War. In the first quarter of the 18th century, the park was completed in main details. To 1917, the Large Peterhof Palace served for official state receptions; in its surrounding, a numerous tsars’ and grand dukes’ palaces were built. In 1714 the construction of the palace started, and by the end of 1715 the work on “the Upper Chambers” had already been completed. In 10 years, the ensemble of the Upper Garden and the Lower Park (both are famous for their beautiful fountains) appeared. Five fountains are situated in the Upper Garden; others are in the Lower Park as well as the numerous so-called “small palaces”: the Monplaisir, the Marly Palace, the Hermitage Pavilion. The idea to lay out a park right on the shore of the Gulf of Finland as well as the layout of the park belonged to Peter the Great. The park was typical of Baroque Style. Peter’s dream of a summer residence of European level was realized by such famous architects and engineers as Le Blon, Braunstain, N.Michetti, Rastrelli. Peterhoff is the capital of fountains whose charming jets will transfer you to the epoch of Peter I.

Pushkin/ Tsarskoe Selo Tsarskoe Selo is a suburb of Saint-Petersburg, located about 25 km. to the south of St. Petersburg, and famous for its palaces and parks. This suburb occupies a special place among the others, as it is closely connected with the life and the creative work of the great Russian poet Pushkin. The town bore the name of Pushkin from 1937 to 1992. The palace-park ensembles of Tsarskoe Selo were formed for a century and a half. Tsarskoe Selo was founded as a private residence of the second wife of Peter the Great, Catherine I. A small wooden palace consisting of 16 chambers was built for her here. In 1750, the architects M.Zemtsov and S.Chevakinsky created a stone palace with a church. Under Empress Elizabeth, Tsarskoe Selo became a state residence. The architect Pastrelli designed a sumptuous palace, a diamond of Russian Baroque; a regular style park was laid out in front of the palace. The palace and the park retain the name of their first mistress Catherine I. In the second half of the 18th century, under Catherine the Great, several rooms of the palace were redecorated by Cameron in Classical style; along with the regular style park, a landscape park appeared. The main gem of the Catherine Palace is the Amber Room, revived by the celebration of the tercentenary of Saint-Petersburg.

Pavlovsk The Pavlovsk palace and park complex is an outstanding monument of Classicism of the second half of the 18th century. It is located about 27 km. from Saint-Peresburg. Founded in 1777, Pavlovsk was a private residence of Russian tsars and grand princes till the October Revolution of 1917 except the period of the reign of Paul I, who used Pavlovsk as his state residence. In 1777, Alexander, the first son in Paul’s family and the heir, was born. Catherine the Great, Paul’s mother, presented her son with a plot of land, on which two wooden palaces were built. Intensive construction in Pavlovsk began only in 1780. The architect Cameron devoted 20 years of his life to the magnificent ensemble of Pavlovsk. The palace was remodelled to be a state residence by the architect Brenna. A brilliant constellation of talented masters worked on the creation of Pavlovsk for 50 years. Those were the architects: Cameron, Brenna, Quarenghi, Voronikhin, Rossi, Kozlovsky, Martos, Mettenleiter. The ideas of the architects, sculptors and artists were fulfilled by hundreds of unknown serf masters and workmen.

Gatchina   Gatchina is a country residence located to the south of St. Petersburg. For the first time Gatchina was mentioned at the beginning of the 18th century when Peter the Great gave it to his beloved sister Natalia Alekseevna. From then on, the residence changed its masters many times. Eventually it was bought by Catherine the Great, and she gave it to her favourite Grigory Orlov. Here, in Gatchina, the Empress ordered and financed the construction of the palace. The Italian architect Antonio Rinalde, who was famous in Russia, was in charge of the construction. He worked on a commission from Grigory Orlov and designed the palace in strict English Style with turrets and underground passages. The construction work lasted for 15 years. After the death of Grigory Orlov, Catherine II bought the palace from his heirs at one million roubles. It was a huge sum of money in that time. Later, she gave the whole palace complex to her son Paul. Under Paul I, the construction of the palace was continued by the architect Vincenzo Brenna. Everything in Gatchina corresponds to our conception of beauty, harmony and prudence. The Gatchina Palace was conceived as a private, not a state residence. Everything is designed to amaze the visitor: spacious rooms, large paintings on the ceilings, statues and high ceilings.