St. Petersburg has always been one of the most attractive cities for tourists in Russia. This is not at all surprising, because the number of attractions in this city amazes any of its guests. Therefore, travelers who intend to go to the northern capital need to familiarize themselves with the list of what to see in St. Petersburg in the first place.
Mosque
Any tourist who is looking for something to see in St. Petersburg in winter just needs to visit the mosque, which is located in the historical center of the city. A huge turquoise dome and two minarets stand out clearly in the general panorama of the city, and the interior of the cathedral is completely mesmerizing with its luxury and elegance.
For many years, the Muslim community could not agree to the construction of a church in the center of St. Petersburg, but in 1907 Nicholas II signed a permit, and in 1910 the church was already built. The architects were elected N.V. Vasiliev, S.S. Krichinsky and A.I. Gauguin. They sought to create a structure that would be close to Muslim culture, but fit well into the panorama of the northern capital. A solution has been found. Some elements of the building were borrowed from Central Asian architecture, and the walls are faced with granite, which fits perfectly into the architecture of St. Petersburg.
In the interior of the cathedral all the canons of Muslim architecture were also observed. The columns that support the dome are lined with green marble, and in the prayer hall there is a magnificent chandelier, on which are written sayings from the Koran. If city guests are wondering what to see in St. Petersburg, then this attraction should definitely appeal to everyone, even if the trip was in the cold season. Therefore, the mosque can be attributed to what to see in St. Petersburg in the winter.
Hermitage
The palace is located on the territory of
State Hermitage Museum. When visiting this museum complex, you can see many masterpieces of various eras and masters, including Titian, da Vinci and Rubens. It is believed that even a cursory inspection of the most famous exhibits will take a huge amount of time.
In addition, all those who are looking for what's interesting to see in St. Petersburg should visit the territory close to the museum, namely the Palace Square and the facade of the building.
Winter Palace
Many, having arrived, are wondering what to see in St. Petersburg. Having been in this city, one cannot fail to visit the Winter Palace, which is the residence of Russian emperors.
The construction of the palace was completed under Catherine II, and the beauty of the structure still fascinates all visitors. The complex of the Winter Palace is very extensive, therefore, in order to examine at least the most remarkable elements, it is recommended to resort to the services of a guide.
Peterhof
In addition to the Winter Palace, Russian emperors were the owners of another residence, which they visited mainly in the summer. The construction of Peterhof and St. Petersburg began at about the same time by decree of Peter I, who, incidentally, was the ideological inspirer of the magnificent Grand Palace.
Peterhof ranks first in the list of what to see in St. Petersburg in the summer is a must. Its fountain complex called the Grand Cascade combines dozens of different fountains and statues covered with gilding. Elegant design and at the same time simplicity reached its peak in this architectural masterpiece.
Once in Peterhof, you should definitely get acquainted with the Gothic chapel and the Colonist Park. At the bottom and top of the park are various attractions and museums.
Vasilievsky island
Located on the banks of the Neva, Vasilievsky Island is a great example of what to see in St. Petersburg. Earlier, Strelka, located on the island, was a trading port, now it is one of the main attractions of the northern capital.
The architectural ensemble of the structure is supplemented by columns that were used as lighthouses in the 19th century. In the upper part of the building there is a bowl that was filled with fat, so that the sailors knew that they were already close to the land.
On Vasilievsky Island there are also the Menshikov Palace Museum and the oldest museum of St. Petersburg, founded in 1714 by decree of Peter the Great. In the collection of this ethnographic museum you can find many different exhibits created by man or nature itself. In addition, the Zoological and Naval Museums are located on Vasilievsky Island.
Tsarskoye Selo
Choosing what to see in St. Petersburg, do not forget about Tsarskoye Selo, which is now renamed the city of Pushkin. Several emperors took part in the creation of the architectural ensemble, including Catherine I, Elizaveta Petrovna and Catherine II.
The widely known Catherine Palace was built at the insistence of Elizabeth Petrovna and has survived to this day without any changes. The interior and exterior decoration of the palace is striking in its luxury and elegance. The Chinese hall of the palace will impress any visitor with a huge amount of porcelain, and the Queen’s Bedchamber will be remembered for its skillful decoration.
The cradle of revolutions, northern Venice and many other unofficial names, rightfully given to St. Petersburg, only confirm how beautiful this city is. Many attractions that attract an incredible number of travelers every year will be bewitching for many more generations with their beauty.