There are many cities in the world that every traveler should visit. One of them is Peter. This extraordinary place has long been called the treasury of monuments and legends. The list of popular sights of St. Petersburg is endless. There are a huge number of palaces and monuments known around the world. If you are going to visit this city, then our article is for you.
Winners
Everyone who comes here wants to visit the main attractions of St. Petersburg. The rating of these places is difficult to compile, but you can pay attention to the reviews of tourists. Thanks to them, we will formulate our own, conditional rating. In the first place, as always, is the Winter Palace. We will talk about him a little later. The second place is occupied by the famous St. Isaac's Cathedral. Then follows two more famous temples - the Cathedral of the Savior on Spilled Blood and Kazan.
In fifth place was Palace Square, after which a large museum - the Hermitage. The seventh line is occupied by the Peter and Paul Fortress, followed by the cruiser Aurora. The list of "the most important sights of St. Petersburg" is closed by the famous Bronze Horseman and the State Russian Museum.
Of course, that’s not all. Nevsky Prospect with Anichkov Bridge, the Kunstkamera and the Field of Mars are also missing here. It will not be difficult for a tourist to find the main attractions of St. Petersburg. The list of them can be continued for hours and sent to the traveler in the Pushkin Museum-apartment on the Moika River, to the Rostral Columns, on the University Embankment or in the house of Peter the Great.
A bit more
In St. Petersburg there are a lot of significant places where everyone can get. There is something for everyone: visiting museums, theaters, exhibitions and major concerts. This place has long been considered the center of the merger of two cultures: Slavic and European. Despite the fact that St. Petersburg is a huge city, it is a tourist center, which for 3 centuries has remained friendly and welcoming.
Earlier we learned the popular rating of attractions, but now we will deal with each of them. We learn interesting facts and fascinating stories that are hidden behind monuments, cathedrals and palaces.
Rich
Perhaps the main attraction of St. Petersburg is the Winter Palace. Here for a long time, from 1762 to 1904, was the residence of the emperors. This palace is considered the most expensive and eclectic in St. Petersburg. His birth can be described in 1754, when the famous Rastrelli undertook to erect something magnificent and grand.
Initially, the palace was built for Elizabeth Petrovna, but was completed already under Catherine II. At the end of construction, the palace contained more than a thousand rooms. Over the centuries, the interior of the palace was changing, and only the Jordanian staircase remained from the initial version. It got its name due to the fact that it was through it that the entire imperial family passed for the rite of blessing of water, supposedly to the "Jordan", which was called the ice hole in the ice of the Neva.
Over time, the Small Hermitage was built nearby, where they began to store works of art by Catherine the Great. Further to the palace, the present Old Hermitage and the theater were added. And in the 19th century, the New Hermitage appeared on Millionnaya Street. The Winter Palace has become a kind of center for an entire architectural complex.
Higher than clouds
The main attractions of St. Petersburg have prepared many more interesting stories for tourists. The next in our ranking is St. Isaac's Cathedral. In addition to being the largest Orthodox church in St. Petersburg, it is also one of the tallest domed structures in the world.
The history of this cathedral began with a small wooden church in honor of St. Isaac. In 1712, it was in her that Peter married his second wife. Later the temple was made of stone. After a while, a third project was created that did not correspond to the general style of development. It was decided to make a restructuring. Only after 9 years was the project of the young architect Auguste Montferrand accepted.
For 4 decades, work on the cathedral lasted. For cladding 43 rocks of minerals were required. In addition to granite, there is gray, green and yellow marble, jasper, porphyry, etc. Due to its size, the cathedral can accommodate 12 thousand people.
In memory of the deceased emperor
In March 1881, Alexander II was mortally wounded in 1881, it was then that a decision was made to build a wooden chapel on this site. It so happened that grief was not spared by other provinces, and donations began to come from there. With the funds raised, they decided to build a large temple - the Savior on Spilled Blood.
The project was implemented 24 years, and in 1907 he was born. When Tsarist Russia was replaced by Soviet power, financial support completely stopped. In the late 30s, it was completely decided to disassemble the temple. But because of the war, urgent matters faded into the background. The temple of the Resurrection of Christ was fully opened only at the end of the 90s, after major repairs.
Inside, the church looks as bright as the outside. This is due to the fact that initially only a few could enter the temple, so today you can see a magnificent collection of gems, inlaid marble floor and the very fateful place where the emperor was killed. Also from that tragic day the stones of the pavement, on which the monarch fell, have been preserved.
Treasure vault
Like many emperors of Russia, Pavel Petrovich entered Europe at one time. He could not look at the Roman Cathedral of St. Peter and upon arrival wanted to see such an architectural miracle at home. The main attractions of St. Petersburg at that time were grandiose. But the emperor announced a competition, which means that it was necessary to create something even more fascinating.
Kazan Cathedral replaced the outdated Church of the Nativity of the Virgin. His main task was to preserve the military relic - the Kazan icon of the Mother of God. The competition was won by architect Voronikhin, but they managed to lay the cathedral only after the assassination of the emperor.
Throughout its existence, the cathedral has become a repository of military booty. Banners of the French army after the war were brought here, they also kept here the keys to the fortresses received during the campaigns.
Collection of all tourists
In our ranking, Palace Square was in fifth place. This is a favorite place for tourists and townspeople; mass events and concerts are often organized here. Also, this place can rightfully be considered an architectural ensemble, which was built in the 18th century.
The name of the square appeared thanks to the Winter Palace, which is located here. In addition, the General Headquarters, founded in 1819, is located here. He harmoniously passes into the arch, which, in turn, is crowned with a chariot carrying the goddess Nick.
Also on Palace Square is the famous Alexander Column, which is a popular attraction. She appeared in 1834 thanks to Montferrand. The column was erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon, and the tablet thanks Alexander the First on behalf of all of Russia. To this day, this structure is supported only by its weight and gravity.
The square has gathered the main historical sights of St. Petersburg and is striking in its scale and architectural beauty.
Greatness of culture
The cultural and historical museum appeared in 1764. Then it was only a private collection of the empress. She placed 220 paintings in the distant apartments of the Winter Palace and called it the Hermitage, a place of solitude. Over the centuries, the collection of works has increased, and now the museum occupies 6 historical buildings. One can safely say that the main attractions of St. Petersburg can be found not only on the streets of the city, but also in the Hermitage.
City defender
An unusual place can be considered the Peter and Paul Fortress. She also hid all the main attractions of St. Petersburg: powerful fortress walls, bastions and ravelins, unusual front gates, the buildings of the Mint, the Engineering and Commandant's houses.
In the center of the entire architectural ensemble is the magnificent Peter and Paul Cathedral. Nearby tourists can visit the Museum of the City History, various exhibitions and expositions.
Marine achievements
Tourists do not bypass the cruiser Aurora. This museum ship attracts travelers from the coast. The greatness of the cruiser is amazing, so it has become not just a museum, but a symbol of the city. Aurora defended the Russian fleet in two wars and did it quite successfully, therefore it is no wonder that it managed to become one of the main attractions.
Glory to Peter
The Bronze Horseman is considered the most popular monument to Peter the Great. Catherine the Second for a long time consulted with artists to help her with the appearance of the sculpture. But here the artist himself - Falcone - neglected all the wishes and created the monument as he himself saw it.
The sculpture turned out to be very expressive and memorable. Peter the Great looks like a strong, purposeful and unshakable ruler.
World record holder
The State Russian Museum completes our symbolic rating of the sights of St. Petersburg. In addition to being the first museum of fine art in Russia, it is also the largest in the world. It was discovered back in 1898 by decree of Nicholas II.
Now it has collected more than 320 thousand exhibits. The oldest dates back to the 11th century. In addition, the Russian Museum is a complex consisting of seven buildings, including Benois Wing, Mikhailovsky Palace, Marble Castle and other attractions.