St.Peter and St.Paul's Fortress, Saint Petersburg

Btw, it may look new... but really, it's 283 year old! Much older than any of us!

Very different from the iconostasis of the Russian Orthodox church.
It looks more like something you'd find in the Versailles, isn't it?

Repainted with cherubim in 1870, the ceiling of the central nave bears attributes of martyrdom.

The cathedral also has large windows, a pulpit & large gilded iconostasis.
It also has the look of a German or Dutch church due to the "lengthy" nave.

PETER-PAUL CATHEDRAL was built between 1712 & 1733. As with most buildings in St. Petersburg, it was styled after European architectural design rather than Russian's.

This cathedral has an Italian Baroque + Northern Baroque blend.
It's also richly decorated with frescoes & oil paintings.
Lots of pillars & marbles.
The "greenish" undertone is something different & unique.

The original nucleus of St.Petersburg, the site chosen specifically for its strategic location; protected by the Neva on the south & west while impassible from all other sides (marshes everywhere!).

This is the Fort of Peter I. Although it was never used for defensive purposes.
"THE City" until 1740.
It was once a prison though... Decembrist rebels, writer Alexander Radiscev & Maxim Gorky, Alexander Ulyanov (Lenin's brother).

The complex of Saints Peter & Paul Cathedral with its gilded spire can be seen all the way from Hermitage.
It IS the TALLEST building in St. Petersburg.
Height = 402 ft.
Architect - Domenico Trezzini.
Built - 1712-33.

This is the road leading towards the entrance of the fortress. The fortress rest on the little Zaychy Island on Petrograd side.

At noon every day, a cannon is fired from Naryshkin Bastion.

Entrance to the fortress is free but you need to pay if you want to enter the cathedral.

This is the oldest building in St Petersburg.

Peter planned it as a defense against the Swedes but defeated them before it was finished.

It was never utilised in the city's defense. Its main use up to 1917 was as a prison.

One of the first inmates was Peter's own son Alexy. Peter is said to have overseen personally Alexy's tortures inside this prison. Other famous resident includes Alexander, Lenin's older brother.

The needle-thin spire is a landmark in SP and can be seen from most places in SP.

The cathedral, though plain on the outside, houses magnificent interior.

Tombs of russian Tzars, namely Peter the Great, can be found inside the cathedral.

In the middle of the fortress complex is Peter and Paul Cathedral. Its spire is the highest point in the city. The design is very unusual for a Russian Orthodox church. The Tsars who ruled while the capital was in St. Petersburg are all buried here.

Every day at noon they fire off a canon from the side of the fortress. It is unbelievably loud. Even though I knew it was coming, the immense blast made me jump straight up in the air and scream. All the Russian schoolkids surrounding me seemed to think it was pretty awesome, too.