Architecture, Saint Petersburg

Favorite thing: St. Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703, so it celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2003.

The tsars employed the best architects and artists from Western Europe to build St. Petersburg. Most of the Baroque or Classizism style buildings were worked out by Italian, French, Dutch or German people, therefore St. Petersburg is dominated by Western European Architecture.

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Favorite thing: St. Petersburg has five main train stations: Vitebsky, Ladozhsky, Moskovskya, Baltiisky and Finlyandsky.

Eastern European train stations are often very beautiful and well worth seeing. So always when you come across a train station, take the chance to get a glimpse of the architecture both from the outside as well as from the inside.

Unfortunately, the area around the train stations is often a bit dodgy and full of beggars, thieves and drunks. Nevertheless, don't miss the chance to see some architectural gems.

My favourite train station in St.Petersburg is Vitebsky Station. For more info about Vitebsky Station, please have a look at my "Things to do Tips".

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Favorite thing: I always wanted to be an architect, but I was more suited for Medicine. So, I discovered I liked doing little model projects like the great Church of Spilt Blood in St. Petersburg. In the church itself, they do sell (for only about $20) a cardboard model kit for making a three-dimensional colorful model of this beautiful orthodox Russian church. While completing the structure, you do remember certain areas of the church. The finished product looked good on top of my kitchen cabinets and the twins enjoyed the project!

Fondest memory: Church of Spilt Blood

Favorite thing: The first architect to build St Petersburg was the Italian Domenico Tozzini, who stayed for 9 years. All the city was built almost exclusively by european architects, mainly italian and french, the most famous being Bartolomeo Rastrelli and Giacomo Quarenghi.

Since the celebration of 300 years of the founding of the city, the efforts of renovation continue on and on, so most of the center is in excellent shape (at least looking from the street)

Most of the palaces are situated either on Nevsky prospect or between Moika canal and Neva.

Fondest memory: The highest points in the city are the towers of the Petro Pavlovski Church and Admiralty tower, so all the city has a laid back, relaxed atmosphere with low buildings and large avenues and canals.

... due to the northern latitude, the sun stays rather low, so the low buildings have the advantage of blocking it less. And the sky always stays present in the city, either reflected in the canals or above the low rise buildings.

Favorite thing: Soviet era art is still found in abundance throughout St. Petersburg. In a historical sense, I found it to be fascinating, it being one of those things that I have only seen in books. This art was, or course, used by the Soviet government to serve as a constant reminder to the people of who and what was important, though today it is largely ignored for the most part. I particularly liked the style of most of the work as it was done in the 1930's art-deco style which I love.

Favorite thing: Avrora
60 Nevsky Prospect. M: Nevsky Pr.
Schedule answering machine: 315-5254. Administrator: 314-4854

Barrikada
15 Nevsky Prospect. M: Nevsky Pr. 315-4028, 312-5386, 315-0948

Crystal Palace
72 Nevasky Prospect, M: Nevsky Prospect, M: Mayakovskaya.
Schedule answering machine: 272-2382. Administrator: 279-5383.

Dom Kino
12 Karavannaya Ulitsa, 314-8036.
Jam Hall
160 Leninsky Prospect., 290-7372.

Khudozhestveny
67 Nevsky Prospect. M: Nevsky Pr. 314-0053.

Kolizei
100 Nevsky Pr. M: Mayakovskaya. 272-8775.

Leningrad
4 Potemkinskaya Ulitsa. M: Chernyshevskaya. 272-6513.

Kosmonavt
Bronnitskaya Ulitsa 24. Tel. 316-2040.

Mirage-Cinema
35 Bolshoi Prospect P.S.., 232-4838.

Molodyozhny
12 Sadovaya Ulitsa. M: Sadovaya. 117-0045

Rodina
12 Karavannaya Ulitsa, M: Gostiny Dvor. 117-6131.

Parisiana
80 Nevsky Pr., 273-4813.

Spartak
8 Ulitsa Saltykova-Shchedrina. M: Chernyshevskaya. 272-78-97.

Favorite thing: Commissioned by Alexander I in 1819, the neoclassical General Staff building was situated so as to formally balance the facing Winter Palace. Its grand triumphal arch was the first Russian monument to the war against Napoleon. Atop the arch stands a bronze sculpture of Victory in her six-horsed chariot--in a nicely lifelike touch, two Roman soldiers restrain the outermost horses, as if to prevent the team from leaping out onto the square. Although the General Staff Building is not open to the public, it is in any case of primary interest for its sweeping, graceful facade.

Favorite thing: For our first day in St. Petersburg, I had arranged a two-hour guided oriention (by car) to the city. In our jet-lagged state, it turned out to be a good introduction. . .but we quickly came to the conclusion that the best way to explore the city would be by foot.

Fondest memory: A tour by car, bus, or even one that relies heavily on the metro, would mean missing out on all the little details that can be found throughout St. Petersburg.

We found beauty and charm everywhere in the city ~ from grand palaces to scrolling woodwork in doorways. . .

Favorite thing: There is so much architectural interest in the city, that the best way of appreciating it is to simply get out of your hotel or apartment and walk.

Outside, at street level, you'll find unending doorways, carvings, atlantes and caryatids. . .bridges, statues, and more. . .all with appeal and character.

Fondest memory: As St. Petersburg was carefully modelled after European capitals, it shares this in common with them: leisurely (even aimless) walks are immensely rewarding.

Much of our appreciation for the city came from this approach.

Favorite thing: Examples of Style Moderne architecture can be found all over St. Petersburg ~ this type of art and decoration became popular in Europe in the late 1800's as "Art Nouveau."

The lines of this style are unmistakable ~ curved and rippling. The wall surfaces are smooth and rounded. . .you'll find lots of asymmetrical facades, large windows, iron and metal-work, tiles and mosaics. . .sometimes all of these items combined in a way that should work, but does.

The best way to appreciate it ~ keep your eyes open and explore the city by foot.