Russia Saint Petersburg city guided tour

Itinerary

Sightseeing city tour of St.Petersburg

For three centuries, St. Petersburg has always been included in the list of the most beautiful and visited cities in the world. The brilliant and luxurious capital of the Russian Empire today amazes tourists with the grandeur of aristocratic mansions and temples, the beauty of spacious streets and squares.
During a sightseeing tour of the historical center, you can see the most famous sights of the city.

Nevsky Avenue

This is the main street of the city on the Neva with a length of over 4 kilometers. It has a huge number of luxurious mansions, where previously lived to know the capital. Also on Nevsky Avenue there are many museums, theaters, temples. From here you can admire the beauty of canals, embankments and bridges across the Moika, Griboedov Canal and Fontanka.

The Admiralty

The Admiralty is one of the wondefull example of the building in classic style.
In 1704, according to the drawings of Peter I, its construction was started. The Admiralty was the center of ship building and was conceived as the main shipbuilding yard of Russia on the Baltic sea. From here the general management of the construction of ports, ships, canals, harbors was carried out. Admiralty spire 23 meters long crowned with a ship polished with 2 kilograms of gold. “Admiralty Needle” – a symbol of St. Petersburg. The central tower of the building is decorated with antique figures. Today the Admiralty is the main headquarters of the Russian Navy.

Spit of Vasilyevsky Island and Exchange

Spit of Vasilyevsky Island is a unique architectural ensemble built in the style of Russian classicism. Over the construction worked of such architects as Domenico Trezzini, Giacomo Quarenghi and Thomas de Thomon. From here opens a panoramic view of the Neva river, the Peter and Paul fortress, the Palace embankment and the Winter Palace. Spit of Vasilyevsky Island is impossible to imagine without the four Rostral columns height 32 metres each and majestic Exchange builted in 1805—1810 years. Spit of Vasilyevsky Island is one of the favorite places of the newlyweds for a photo session.

The Palace square

The heart of the Northern capital and one of the most beautiful squares in the world. At various points in the Petersburg existence, there were both lavish celebrations and dramatic events.
Now it is the main venue for city holidays, rallies and concerts. Place loved by toursists. The Palace sguqre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here are preserved buildings of the XVIII-XIX centuries: the Winter Palace, the General Staff Building, the Alexander Column, the Arc de Triomphe.
In the center stands the Alexander column, designed by the architect Auguste Montferrand in honor of Russia’s victory over Napoleon. The Alexander Column was erected from a single piece of pink granite and is not fixed by anything.

The Bronze Horseman

The Bronze Horseman is one the symbol of Saint- Petersburg. Monument was built in honor of the city’s founder, Peter the Great in 1782. Catherine the Great perpetuate the memory about the great Russian Tsar erected a grandiose monument. The sculptor of The Bronze Horseman is french Etienne Falcone. The base of the monument is granite single stone pedestal with with an initial weight of 1,600 tons. Interestingly, the snake under the horse’s hooves is a symbol of ignorance, self-interest, evil, envy, vices with which Peter I frantically fought. The monument got its name in honor of Pushkin’s poem “The Bronze Horseman” much later after its construction.
The Bronze Horseman is located on the Senate square surrounded by famous buildins: to the West are the buildings of the Senate and Synod, to the East — the Admiralty, to the South — St. Isaac’s Cathedral.

Anichkov bridge

Anichkov bridge is оne of the recognizable in the world symbol of Saint Petersburg connected Spassky and the Unnamed islands. Anichkov bridge is the main dominant of Nevsky Prospect, the central highway of St. Petersburg
The Anichkov bridge in original its was wood was built over the Fontanka river by decree of Peter I in 1715. In the middle of the XVIII century the bridge was completely rebuilt and became stone. 4 sculptures “The Taming of the Horse by Man” by sculptor Klodt give uniqueness to the bridge. They illustrate the stages of taming a horse by a man: a defeated waterman, a waterman standing on one knee, the waterman rose from his knees, the waterman confidently holds the tamed horse. Klodt worked on their creation for 20 years. The sculptural composition was solemnly presented to the public in 1841.

Field of Mars

Field of Mars is a memorial park-complex on the territory of 9 hectares. Named in honor of the god of war – Mars. In the XVIIth century under Tsar Peter the Great, it was called “The Comic Field”. It was the site of the parades of the tsarist troops. At the beginning of the XIXth century, the Field of Mars became a mass grave for the burial of the victims of the proletarian revolution of 1917. In 1919, a monument to “Fighters of the Revolution” was ceremoniously opened. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, when Petersburg was blockaded for 822 days, the Field of Mars used as a vegetable garden. In 1956, an eternal flame was lit on the Champ de Mars, perpetuating the names of the dead. Today, the Field of Mars is one of any loved by citizens recreation places, the so-called St. Petersburg Hyde Park.

St. Isaac’s Square

Together with the Palace and Senate Squares St. Isaac’s Square is included in all tourist routes in the city center. Its main attraction is St. Isaac’s Cathedral, a magnificent temple 100 meters high with a golden dome. It took 40 years to erect for future generations this architectural masterpiece.
The most famous Orthodox church in the city impresses with its power, huge size and richness of interior decoration. It has long become a symbol of St. Petersburg.
In the square it is also worth looking at the Mariinsky Palace, the house of Lobanovo-Rostotsky, the mansion in the classical style, the house of Naryshkin-Myatlev.

Summer Garden

Summer Garden is the oldest city garden placed by tzar Peter the Great. Founded in 1704, one year after the St.Petersburg foundation. Summer Garden recognized as a world masterpiece of landscaping decorated with antique marble sculptures of Italian masters of the late XVIIth – early XVIIIth centuries, openwork fontaines, mainly on the main garden avenue. At the entrance to the park, a beautiful pond is laid where historically white swans lives. In 1784, an openwork lattice forged with gilding was installed from the Neva, each link of which the masters from the city of Tula forged manually. This work lasted 14 years. The only original building of the beginning of the XVIII century, preserved to our day without significant changes, is the Summer Palace of Peter. Built in 1714 by the architects Trezzini and Schluter. Very green and very romantic – this is how residents of St. Petersburg respond lovingly about the park