To see the city from its earliest period may I recommend:
1. Peter & Paul Fortress - the oldest structure in SPb which contains a complex of buildings such as the Trubetskoi Bastion, Peter's boat
(botik) and the Imperial Burial vaults.
2. Peter the Great's original Cabin (
Domik) on
Petrovskaya Nab. Nearby is
Kshesinskaya's Mansion and further along are some fascinating Russian
art deco buildings.
3. Peter's Summer Palace (
Nab. Kutuzova) and his adjoining Summer Gardens (
Letni Sad) which contains a magnificent promenade of sculptures + an intriguing statue of the fabilist Krylov which depict all his animal fables.
3. All the buildings along the
University Nab. - are early examples of Russian architecture: the Naval museum is supurb, the
Kunskammer (Peter's collection of oddities and curiosities), the attractive University building (12 Colleges) and
Menshikov's Palace. 4. The
Anichkov Dvoretz which was the second palace to be constructed in SPb.
If you are interested in Russian literature then I can recommend the following:
1. Dostoyevsky's Appartment
2. Pushkin Museum - his appartment.
Then of course there are the spectacular raising of all the bridges along the Neva, which occur after midnight. They permit the sea traffic to pass thru in the early night and effectively closing off the city center.
The spectacular Kazan Cathedral on Nevsky Prospect which contains Kutuzov's remains.
Spend a few hours walking the back streets and discover the fascinating bridges crossing the various canals, such as the
Bankovsky Most with its gryphons, the
Anichkov Most with its 4 horses all in different poses and the Lion bridge.
For Russian Art in addition to the Hermitage the Mikhailovsky Palace on
Ploshad Iskusstv is excellent.
The Field of Mars with its Eternal Flame, The Admiralty building with its spire + park, the Smolny complex and Tauride Palace with its park.
The intriguing statue of Catherine the Great with all her lovers positioned at its base on
Ploshad Ostrovskogo with its surrounding buildings - the
Pushkin Library and the adjacent
Alexandrinsky Theater are wonderful. If you venture behind the theater walk down the unique
Ulitsa Zodchevo-Rossi is a fine mathematical achievment - its precise dimensions are best viewed from
Lomonosov Pl. In my opinion to complete your SPb experience a cruise on the canals by small boat is worth it!
If you can go during the White Nights in June, SPb is at its festive best.
My roots are here. I try and visit as often as I can. Its a beautiful city full of history and culture. I sincerely hope you enjoy your experience.
