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8 Major Landmarks and Tourist Attractions in Saint Petersburg, Russia

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Saint Petersburgor St. Petersburg, is the second largest city in Russia after Moscow. This city is also one of the favorite tourist destinations of tourists, especially in summer when the natural phenomenon of the midnight sun or white night occurs. Geographically, Saint Petersburg is located in the north-west of Russia, at the mouth of the Neva River and on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, a bay overlooking the Baltic Sea. The city’s population was about 5 million in 2012. The city’s name was changed to Petrograd, then Leningrad, and finally back to Saint Petersburg. Major landmarks in the city include the Hermitage Museum, Peter & Paul Fortress, Senate Square, Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, and the Church of the Savior on Blood. From Moscow, Saint Petersburg can be reached by train or airplane via Pulkovo International Airport (LED).

Here are some landmarks and tourist attractions that are often visited by travelers in Indonesia: Saint Petersburg:

1. Church of the Savior on Blood

Church of the Savior on Blood, Saint Petersburg
Church of the Savior on Blood – photo by Victorgrigas
Church of the Savior on Bloodor Church of the Resurrection, is a cathedral church located on the banks of the Griboyedov Canal, Saint Petersburg. Named the Church of the Savior on Blood because this church was built in the area where Emperor Alexander II was seriously injured in 1881. The church itself was built from 1883 to 1907 by the emperor’s family. Although it still has architecture as a church, this building has not been used anymore as a church since 1930, but as a museum. Together with Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Blood is managed by the National Museum of Saint Isaac.

2. Saint Isaac’s Cathedral

Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Saint Petersburg
Saint Isaac’s Cathedral – photo by Alex ‘Florstein’ Fedorov

Saint Isaacs Cathedralor Isaakievskiy Sobor, is a cathedral church located in St. Isaac Square, downtown St. Petersburg. It is the largest Orthodox cathedral in the city and the fourth largest in the world. Saint Isaac’s Cathedral was first built in 1818 and officially opened in 1858. The church building has a blend of Neoclassic – Byzantine Greek architecture and has a dome height of 101.5 meters. Saint Isaac’s Cathedral was built in honor of Saint Isaac Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great. What is unique about this cathedral is that the exterior of the dome is covered with pure gold, and is decorated with 12 statues by the artist Josef Hermann.

3. Hermitage Museum

Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
Hermitage Museum – photo by john

Hermitage Museum (The State Hermitage Museum) is an art and cultural museum located in the Palace Embankment, Central District, Saint Petersburg. This museum is one of the largest and oldest museum complexes in the world. The Hermitage Museum was first built in 1764, and has been open to the public since 1852. The museum complex is located right on the banks of the Neva River. Of the 6 buildings in the complex, only 5 are open to the public, namely the Winter Palace, Small Hermitage, Old Hermitage, New Hermitage, and Hermitage Theatre. The collection of artworks in the Hermitage Museum totals more than 3 million items.

4. Peter and Paul Fortress

Peter and Paul Fortress, Saint Petersburg
Peter and Paul Fortress – photo by Dmitry A. Mottl

Peter and Paul Fortress is a fortification complex located on Zayachy Island, Saint Petersburg. The fort was first built by order of Peter the Great, from 1703 to 1740. The entire fort complex was built according to the designs of architect Domenico Trezzini. Some of the main parts of the fort complex include the Peter and Paul Cathedral, a 122-meter-high belltower, and the Grand Ducal Mausoleum. Until 1920, this fort was still used as a prison and place of execution of prisoners by the Bolzhevik Government. Today, the Peter and Paul Fortress is part of the Saint Petersburg Historical Museum.

5. Winter Palace

Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg
Winter Palace – photo by Florstein

Winter Palace is one of the official residence palaces of the Russian Royal family located in the Hermitage Museum complex, Saint Petersburg. The palace is located on the banks of the Neva River, between the Palace Embankment and Palace Square. The building was first opened in 1711, and was used as the official residence of the royal family from 1732 to 1917. The current palace building is actually the 4th building. The first Winter Palace building, built by order of Peter the Great, had been destroyed in a fire. This palace complex was built with Elizabethan Baroque architecture, with a mix of white and green. It is estimated that in this palace there are 1,500 rooms, 1,786 doors, 1,945 windows, and 117 stairs.

6. Russian Museum

Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg
Russian Museum – photo by NGC 7070

Russian Museum is a Russian national museum located on Inzhenernaya Street, Saint Petersburg. This museum is one of the largest museums in Russia and has the largest number of art collections in Saint Petersburg. The Russian Museum first opened in 1895 to celebrate the coronation of Prince Nicholas II. The collections in this museum mostly come from the Hermitage Museum, Alexander Palace, and the Imperial Academy of Arts. The museum building itself is the Mikhailovsky Palace, a Neoclassical architectural palace building which is the residence of the Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich.

7. Palace Square

Palace Square, Saint Petersburg
Palace Square – photo by Andrew Shiva

Palace Square (Dvortsovaya Ploshchad) It is the main city square, as well as the center of Saint Petersburg. This square is located between the Winter Palace and the Building of the General Staff. Palace Square also connects Nevsky Prospekt and Palace Bridge, a bridge that connects to Vasilievsky Island. Since the time of the Russian Empire, Palace Square has become one of the areas that has an important role. In this field there have been several tragedies and important historical events, including the Bloody Sunday massacre in 1905 and the October Revolution in 1917. The name Palace Square itself is taken from the name of the Winter Palace which is located right next to this field. In the center of the field there is the Alexander Column monument which has a height of 47 meters. Today, Palace Square is the main location for any New Year’s Festival celebrations, Victory Day, Scarlet Sails, and White Night in the summer.

8. Petergof

Petergof, Saint Petersburg
Petergof

Petergof (Peter’s Court)or Peterhof, is a small town located in the Petrodvortsovy District, Saint Petersburg. The city is located right on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. Between 1944 and 1997, the city was better known as Petrodvorets. The population of this city is about 73 thousand inhabitants in 2010. In Petergof, there is 1 of 2 campuses of Saint Petersburg State University. This small town is famous for its palaces, gardens and fountains. Notable ones include Peterhof Palace, Lower Gardens, Alexandria Park, Grand Palace, and Upper Gardens. In this city there are 3 train stations, namely Novy Petergof, Stary Petergof, and Universitet.

So, those are the 8 main landmarks and tourist attractions that are often visited by travelers in Indonesia Saint Petersburg, Russia. Hope it is useful. See you on the next trip!

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