As a Russian native, people often ask me what they simply must see when they visit Russia. Given that Russia is vastly larger than the United States, that’s quite a question! It’s also an unfair one. The answer depends on how much time you have to spend, when you are going to visit and your interests. As it would be almost impossible to compile a decent top ten list for a nation the size of Russia, I have compiled a list for those wishing to make the most of a visit to Saint Petersburg.
Russian Museum
Housing one of the world’s greatest collections of art, the Russian Museum was opened in 1898. It is housed in the Mikhailovsky Palace. It was the great wish of Tsar Alexander III to create a public museum, a dream that became reality under his son, Tsar Nicholas II. During the Soviet period, art from palaces, churches and private collections was taken by the government and moved to the museum.
The building itself is a work of art and is one of Carlo Rossi’s finest Neo-Classical creations. The Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich commissioned it in 1819. Work on the palace was completed in 1825.
The collections include art from the 11th century to the modern day. Much of the older art was commissioned by the church and has a very somber tone to it. The modern art is characterized by a more lively interpretation of life in general. Special collections are routinely on loan to the museum from around the world.
Mariinskiy Theatre
Built in 1860 and named for the beloved wife of Alexander II, Maria Alexandrovna, Many foreigners know this theatre by its Soviet era name, The Kirov.
The same architect that built the Bolshoy in Moscow, Albert Kavos, erected the building in 1860. Between 1883 and 1896, Viktor Schroter remodeled the Neo-Renaissance façade. It was during this remodeling that most of the exterior ornamentation was added.
The interior auditorium is a pale blue and gold, with the imperial eagles marking a recent return to the royal box.
While this theatre is known worldwide for it ballet company, the Mariinskiy is also one of Russia’s leading opera houses. Most of the great 19th century operas made their debut here.
A visit to Saint Petersburg is simply not complete without an evening at the Mariinskiy, where formal attire is still considered appropriate.
Nevskiy Prospekt
This is, without a doubt, the most famous street in Russia! Along this street you will find the best shops, boutiques and kiosks in Saint Petersburg. You will also find Museums, restaurants, churches, a concert hall, a Palace and the Russian National Library!
This street is teeming with people from early in the morning to late at night, as there is always something going on and someplace to go when here.
I highly recommend Stroganovsky Dvor and The Literary Café. The Literary café is a favourite with tourists for its reasonable prices and it’s history. This is the site of the former Wolff and Beranger Café, from where Alexander Pushkin set off for his fatal duel!
The Stroganovsky Dvor serves over 20 kinds of salad and a vast ever-changing menu. The prices here range from reasonable to cheap. You can get a quick bite here and continue on your romp of Nevskiy Prospect.
This is the street for shopping and souvenir gathering when in Saint Petersburg. The prices here will be far more reasonable than in the hotel or airport gift shops. When you see a price on an item, that is the cost and you pay it or look elsewhere. If you have to ask for a price that means there is room to bargain! This is serious business in Russia so please don’t haggle if you aren’t really going to buy.
The Passazh Arcade, a glass enclosed shopping mall, is an absolute must see experience. You can find virtually anything and everything in this arcade and you should plan to spend a few hours here.
A final recommendation for eating on this street is located not far from the Passazh Arcade and that is Yeliseev’s Deli. The food is very good and inexpensive. Grab a snack and keep walking.
Church on Spilled Blood
On March 1st, 1881 Tsar Alexander II was assassinated. In October of 1883, the cornerstone was laid on the site for what became the Church on Spilled Blood.
The design, Russian-Revival, was the favourite of Tsar Alexander III. The Tsar had held a competition for a memorial to his father and settled on the design by Alfred Parland and Ignatiy Malyshev. The Church was reopened to the public in 1998 after a more than 20 year long restoration project.
The interior contains more than 20 minerals and is a riot of colour. The exterior has jewelers enamel covering the 10, 760 square feet of surface that makes up the five domes. There are twenty plaques of granite engraved with gilt letters describing the outstanding events of Alexander II’s reign.
Stieglitz Museum
Originally founded as a school of industrial design in 1876 by Baron Aleksandr Stieglitz, The collection soon outgrew the school and a museum had to be opened next to it. The exhibition features incredible displays of glassware, ceramics, and majolica from all over the world. There are also fabric displays including one set in a room reminiscent of the Terem Palace in Moscow that feature colourfully embroidered dresses and headgear made by peasant women. There is also an astounding collection of dolls wearing Russian folk costumes from the 17th-19th centuries.
Some pieces of decorative metalwork date back to the Middle Ages and the workmanship on the wooden furniture is incredible.
St. Isaacs Cathedral
Built in 1818 by Auguste de Montferrand, St. Isaac’s Cathedral is one of the worlds largest. The cathedral opened in 1858 but was designated a museum of atheism during the Soviet era.
One of the most incredible aspects of this cathedral are the sculptures that adorn the 4 corners. They are carved angels supporting gas torches. Created by Ivan Vitali, they are absolutely breathtaking at night.
The interior of the church consists of an area of more than 43,000 square feet and is filled with hundreds of 19th century works of art. Officially, this is still considered a museum, but religious festivals are now a frequent sight.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan
This is one of St. Petersburg’s most impressive churches, and in a city like St. Petersburg that is quite a title! It was commissioned by Tsar Paul I and took over a decade to build. It was completed in 1811.
The Name of the church comes from the icon of Our Lady of Kazan that is believed to work miracles, literally.
Unlike many churches and cathedrals in Russia, the interior of this one is much more subdued. The most impressive feature of this church is a 262-foot high dome and the massive pink columns.
During the communist era, the Soviets designated this as yet another museum of atheism (Are you seeing a pattern yet?). It was returned to strictly religious use in 1999.
Alexander Nevsky Monastery
It’s not the monastery but the cemetery that is the can’t miss attraction here. But as long as you are here, go in and look around in the Church of the Annunciation, the oldest building in the complex and only recently reopened to the public. Yes, this was yet another religious site that was designated a museum during the Soviet era.
Then wander around to the cemetery and see the intriguing sight of many noted communist leaders buried here. Interesting that they opted to be buried at a museum. More importantly are the historic tombs of noted writers and composers. Both Dostoevsky and Mussorgsky are buried here. There are also many non-ruling members of the royal family with tombs located within the walls of this cemetery.
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral
Located in the heart of the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Cathedral was built in 1712 and commissioned by Peter the Great. Until the 1960’s, when the television tower was built, its spire was the tallest structure in St. Petersburg.
The Cathedral is unlike most Russian churches owing to the desire of Peter the Great to become more western. As a result, the cathedral is an outstanding example of Baroque architecture.
The most interesting feature is that this cathedral is the final resting place of all but two tsars, Peter II and Ivan VI. In a somewhat controversial decision, Tsar Nicholas II was buried here along with his family and the servants who died with them. This was controversial because until that point, the family members of the Tsars were buried elsewhere. Since the end of the 19th century, family members of the Tsars have been buried in the Grand Ducal Mausoleum that was added to the northeast of the cathedral.
The Hermitage
Plan a great deal of time for this stop. A week would be good. The Hermitage is a massive conglomeration of buildings and parks. The museum itself contains hundreds of thousands of works of art. There is a theatre that hosts exhibitions and concerts and the hanging gardens are known around the world for their exquisite beauty.
Also located on the grounds is the magnificent Winter Palace, home of the imperial family before the revolution.
One sight you don’t want to miss is the Raphael Loggias, canvas copies of the Raphael engravings that Catharine the Great had commissioned after being impressed by the originals in the Vatican.
There is also the numismatic collection. This collection, only part of which is on display, boasts over 1 million coins and medals.
That concludes my Top Ten list for places to visit in Saint Petersburg. Take a raincoat and enjoy your visit!
