St. Petersburg Photos
(St. Petersburg, North-Western Federal District, Russia)
The architecture of the city is predominantly Neo-classical and Baroque, although there are also a number of striking examples of more traditional Russian-style buildings and churches within the city.
Very much Russian in style and flavour, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is an especially famous site and stands alongside the Griboedov Canal.
The Dvortsovaya Ploshchad (Palace Square) dominates much of the city centre and is where many people choose to meet, eat and socialise. Seasonal events and celebrations are often staged on the Dvortsovaya Ploshchad.
St. Isaac's Cathedral was constructed between 1818 and 1858, and was formerly the premier cathedral in the whole of Russia. With a striking gilded dome and huge granite columns, St. Isaac's Cathedral is also known for its breathtaking stained-class window entitled 'The Resurrected Christ'.
The Menshikov Palace (Menshikovskii Dvorets) is a magnificent building and now serves as a public museum, being affiliated with the Hermitage Museum on the Dvortsovaya Ploshchad.
The Neva River is a major waterway and runs through the city, arriving from western Leningrad Oblast and eventually reaching the Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland.
Many epic buildings line the banks of the Neva River, such as the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Smolny Cathedral and the Winter Palace, making river cruises a popular way to sightsee in this Russian capital city.
The Peter and Paul Fortress is the city's original citadel and is home to several different attractions, including the early 18th-century Peter and Paul Cathedral.
The Smolny Cathedral or 'Smolny Convent of the Resurrection', as it is otherwise known, is situated on the Ploschad Rastrelli and comprises a collection of buildings, which surround a central cathedral (sobor).
The Winter Palace (Zimnyi Dvorets) in St. Petersburg is one of the many magnificent sights standing next to the Neva River and is of a monumental scale, being built to show the great power of Russia.