Saint Petersburg

Tauride Palace

Tavrichesky dvorets, Таврический дворец

Firstly commissioned by Prince Grigory Potemkin of Tauridia to his favourite architect, Ivan Starov. Empress Catherine the Great gave Potemkin the land and the title of Prince of Tauridia for his services in conquering ancient Tauridia (now the Crimean Peninsula). Catherine II later bought the Palace, to be used as her summer townhouse. Much later yet (1906), it was transformed into the seat of the first Russian parliament, the Imperial State Duma. Immediately after the February Revolution of 1917, Tauride Palace housed the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet. The abortive Russian Constituent Assembly held its meetings there in 1918. Since the 1990s, Tauride Palace has been home to the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS). Take a Parliament tour in Tauride Palace: During the tour, guests will make a walk in three state rooms and other spaces of the Tauride Palace, learn the history of its inhabitants, visit the magnificent Duma Hall - the place of the State Duma of the Russian Empire, to see an exhibition on the history of Russian parliamentarism. Duration: 60 min. Only possible by prior arrangement with a passport.

Mon-Fri from 10:00 to 16:00 only by prior arrangement (2-3 days earlier)·RUB 3000/group; for locals RUB 2000/group max 20 person · Heritage listed · Built 1789

State Hermitage Museum

Государственный Эрмита́ж, gosudarstvenny ermitazh,Зимний дворец, zimniy dvorets, Winter Palace

A massive palace-museum showing the highlights of a collection of over 3,000,000 pieces of international art, primarily western European art. Hosted in the Winter Palace, the former main residence of the Russian tsars. The Hermitage is truly one of the world's great museums, with an imposing setting displaying priceless works by Rembrandt, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Rubens and more, including many pieces that were looted from Central and Eastern Europe by the Red Army during World War II. Getting a tour guide is recommended: the additional information they impart can be well worth the price, and they can readily take you directly to the items you want to see. Large bags aren't allowed in the museum, and a massive cloakroom downstairs (no charge, as usual in Russia) exists to assist with jackets and bags. Drinks or liquids are not allowed in the museum after an incident in 1985 when a protester vandalized Danaë, a Rembrandt painting, with sulfuric acid. In some rooms and in all temporary exhibits, photography is prohibited. However, at other times the museum can limit the admission rate because of the numbers already in the museum. In this case having purchased your tickets in advance won't save you as much time. There are also ticket machines just before you get to the cash desk which have much shorter lines. The museum has a cafe and large shop near the entrance, and numerous small shops throughout the galleries. Audio guides are available in English, and most signs in the gallery are in English and Russian.

Tue-Sun 10:30–18:00 (Wed till 21:00)·Tickets can be purchased online with accepted forms of payment. Scan the QR code at the stated turnstile for entry. Students of all nationalities get in for free with student photo ID. Entry fee is RUB 500 to RUB 700, depending on the museum; free for students of all nationalities with student photo ID; free on the first Thursday of the month. Guide books: RUB 300 · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible

Saint Isaac's Cathedral

Isaakievskiy Sobor, Исаа́киевский Собо́р

It was built in 1818, in the style of transition from classical to modern, and is a major attraction in the city. This is the most significant creation of Auguste Montferrand. The plan is a huge square building with a four-columned portico crowned by a large dome and four small bell towers at the corners. Three sculptures, depicting each of the 12 apostles, stand on the pediment portico. The building is interesting in technical terms too - it was the first use of a metal dome unit, and also the first time electroplating was applied to sculptures. Some scientists believe that the dome of St. Isaac's Cathedral was the archetype of the dome of the White House in Washington, D.C. St. Isaac's Cathedral is a now museum-monument, open to visitors daily, except Wednesdays (ticket office closes at 18:00). For an additional fee you can visit the colonnade of the central dome (ticket office closes at 17:00). Photos and videos are charged separately. The view from the colonnade (observation deck) is one of the best views of the city, for those who are willing to climb 400 steps.

Thu-Tue 11:00-19:00·RUB 450 · Limited wheelchair access

Russian Museum

Государственный Русский музей, Mikhailovskiy Palace, Михайловский дворец, former Ру́сский Музе́й Импера́тора Алекса́ндра III

An extensive collection of Russian paintings and sculpture, works by Andrei Rublev, Dionisius, Fedot Shubin, Dmitry Levitsky, Vladimir Borovikovsky, Karl Brullov, Fidelio Bruni, Orest Kiprensky, Alexander Ivanov, Ilya Repin, Arkhip Kuindzhi, Ivan Shishkin, Valentin Serov, Mikhail Vrubel, Pavel Antokolsky, Boris Kustodiev, Kazimir Malevich, Wassily Kandinsky, Pavel Filonov, Marc Chagall, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin and many other artists. The main building, the Mikhailovskiy Palace houses the main exhibits, and the Russian Museum also oversees the permanent and temporary exhibits, tickets to each can be purchased separately or as a universal pass.

Wed-Mon 10:00-18:00·From RUB 450, depending on museum

Kunstkamera

Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, Кунсткамера, Музей антропологии и этнографии

This museum, hosted in the Baroque building constructed in 1714-1728, is primarily famous for its one-room freak show collection of 300 year-old deformed foetuses in formaldehyde (of which you are not allowed to take pictures). But the Kunstkamera is also an etnography museum, and most of its collections display the artifacts of indigenous peoples from various parts of the world. It also hosts a collections of historical scientific instruments,like compasses and experimental generators. It is the oldest state museum in Russia, established by Peter the Great in 1704 to host his personal collection,with objects collected during his travels across Europe. A significant part of it has been purchased from Dutch merchants.

Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00, closed every last Tue of the month·RUB 400

Mariinsky Theater

Мариинский театр

The Mariinsky Theater (formerly the Kirov, which is the name the troupe still uses when touring abroad) is world-class for both opera and ballet. There are English supertitles for operas sung in Russian; operas in other languages have Russian supertitles. Performances are offered in three halls: the main theater located in the historical building, Mariinsky-2 (the new scene that is located in a futuristic building across Kryukov canal) and the newly-built Mariinsky Concert Hall. Tickets can be purchased on the theater's website. Cavos rebuilt it as an opera and ballet house with the largest stage in the world. With a seating capacity of 1,625 and a U-shaped Italian-style auditorium, the theatre opened on 2 October 1860 with a performance of A Life for the Tsar. The new theatre was named Mariinsky after its imperial patroness, Empress Maria Alexandrovna.

Closed · opens 11 am tomorrow·price=RUB 600-15000

Peter and Paul Fortress

Петропа́вловская кре́пость, Petropavlovskaya Krepost

The Fortress, occupying the entire island, is the original citadel of Saint Petersburg, built during the first half of the 18th century, now a museum. It is dominated by the Peter and Paul Cathedral (1712-1732) with its 123 m high spire. Regular guided tours to the belltower and the viewing platform are provided from May to September.

Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow·You can go to the complex for free, but to enter the church and exhibitions you need tickets. Combo ticket costs RUB 1000; Tickets to individual attractions cost RUB 200-RUB 700 each

Mikhailovsky Castle / St. Michael's Castle

Mikhailovsky Castle or the Engineers' Castle, Миха́йловский за́мок, Mikhailovsky zamok, Inzhenerny zamok

Each one of its façades is different. Surrounded by a moat with drawbridge, built by Paul I who feared for his life - in fact he was murdered here inside, in his bedroom. Nowadays a branch of the Russian Museum, its Portrait Gallery, is housed here.

Closed · opens 10 am Wednesday

The Bronze Horseman

Медный всадник, mednii vsadnik

Statuesque symbol of the city, homage to Peter the Great, opened in 1782, the theme and title of one of the most important poems of the Russian language, written by Alexander Pushkin. Its pedestal is reputed to be the largest stone ever moved by human effort.

Open now · open 24 hours·Wheelchair accessible

Alexander Column

Алекса́ндровская коло́нна, Aleksandrovskaya kolonna) also known as Alexandrian Column Александри́йская коло́нна, Aleksandriyskaya kolonna

Dedicated to the Russian victory over Napoleonic France in the Patriotic War of 1812. This work holds second place, in importance, on the biography of architect Auguste Montferrand, after the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral. The Angel sculpture was executed by talented sculptor Boris Orlovsky. The Column was inaugurated in 1834. A distinctive feature of the Alexander Column is that it's a granite monolith height 25.6 m, standing only by gravity. The total height of the monument is 47.5 m, taller than similar monuments: the Vendome column in Paris (in honor of the victories of Napoleon), the ancient Trajan's column in Rome and Pompaeus Magnus's one in Alexandria. Alexander Column is the tallest solid granite monument in the world, and the third highest after the Grand Army Column in Boulogne-sur-Mer and Trafalgar column (Nelson's Column) in London.

Wheelchair accessible · Built 1834

Marble Palace

Мраморный дворец, Constantine Palace

This is an architectural monument of the 1760s. There is the combination of sumptuous ornamentation with rigorously classicizing monumentality. The palace takes its name from its opulent decoration in a wide variety of polychrome marbles. A rough-grained Finnish granite on the ground floor is in subtle contrast to polished pink Karelian marble of the pilasters and white Urals marble of capitals and festoons. Panels of veined bluish gray Urals marble separate the floors, while Tallinn dolomite was employed for ornamental urns. In all, 32 disparate shades of marble were used to decorate the palace. The plan of the edifice is trapezoidal: each of its four facades, though strictly symmetrical, has a different design. The palace court is dominated by a sturdy equestrian statue of Alexander III of Russia, or Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov (10 Mar 1845–1 Nov 1894) who was Emperor of Russia, King of Poland and Grand Prince of Finland, the most famous work of sculptor Paolo Troubetzkoy; formerly it graced the obelisk's spot at Vosstanya Square, before the Moscow Railway Station. In 1843, Grand Duke Constantine Nikolayevich decided to redecorate the edifice, renaming it Constantine Palace. An adjacent church and other outbuildings were completely rebuilt, while the interior of the palace was refurbished in keeping with the eclectic tastes of its new owner. Only the main staircase and the Marble Hall survived that refacing and still retain the refined stucco work and elaborate marble pattern of Rinaldi's original decor. Former Lenin Museum, now, the palace accommodates permanent exhibitions of the Russian State Museum, notably "Foreign Artists in Russia (18th and 19th centuries)" and the "Peter Ludwig Museum at the Russian Museum", featuring canvases by Andy Warhol and other Pop Art idols.

Closed · opens 10 am Wednesday

The General Staff building of the Hermitage

Здание Главного штаба, Zdanie Glavnovo Shtaba

Designed by Carlo Rossi and built in 1819-1829, this is a building laid out in the shape of an arch, with an arch, in Palace Square. The building consists of two blocks, forming a 580-meter arc. There is a triumphal arch, dedicated to the victory in the War of 1812, decorated with a sculptural composition in the form of a chariot drawn by six horses. In the chariot is the winged goddess of Fame, holding a standard in his left hand, and a laurel branch in the right. The composition is made by sculptors Stepan Pimenov and Vasily Demuth-Malinovsky. Inside is a museum where paintings of many famous artists such as Van Gogh, Matisse, Renoir, Monet, and Cézanne each have a separate room.

Closed on Mondays·RUB 500 · Wheelchair accessible · Built 1829

Mariinsky Palace

Мариинский дворец

Also known as Marie Palace. Built in 1839—44, by architect Andrei Shtakenshneider. In the 18th century, the plot belonged to Zakhar Tchernyshov and contained his mansion. In 1825-39, the Tchernyshov mansion housed a military school. Emperor Nicholas I conceived as a present to his daughter Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia on the occasion of her marriage. Although the reddish-brown facade is elaborately rusticated and features Corinthian columns arranged in a traditional Neoclassical mode, the whole design was inspired by the 17th-century French Baroque messuages. Other eclectic influences are apparent in the Renaissance details of exterior ornamentation and in the interior decoration, with each main room designed in a different historic style. Until 1917, housing the State Council of Imperial Russia, State Chancellory, and Soviet of Ministers. After the October Revolution, the palace housed various Soviet ministries and academies. Later served as a hospital. From 1945 became the residence of the Leningrad Soviet (Ленсовет), succeeded by the Saint Petersburg Legislative Assembly in 1994.

Menshikov Palace

Меншиковский дворец

This Baroque palace, built for a close associate of Peter the Great in 1710-1714, became the first stone building of the city. Now it is home to a museum run by the Hermitage, which displays art and culture of the early 18th century.

Tue-Sun 10:30-17:30·Limited wheelchair access

Stroganov Palace

Строгановский дворец

Now the palace is a branch of the Russian Museum. The palace was built to Bartolomeo Rastrelli's designs for Baron Sergei Grigoriyevich Stroganov in 1753-1754. The interiors were remodeled by Andrei Voronikhin at the turn of the 19th century. The main façade of the Stroganov palace faces Nevsky Prospect. Here, Rastrelli rejects the cour d'honneur in the French manner. By this time, Rastrelli has developed his own style based on exploring the impressive façade, which implies the presence of three risolites, the subordination to a single center, rejection of verticalization, and stretching the building horizontally. Rastrelli gives the building a single mass movement toward the center. He skillfully emphasizes this by subordinating the lateral risolites to the central, imposing group of columns of purely decorative, not architectonic, function, deliberately building up tension toward the center of the sculpted front. Rastrelli uses the giant order, the method of visual fusion of the second and third floor windows, typical for the Baroque, and the differentiated arrangement of columns closely adjacent to the wall in order to create a masterful effect and an impressive Baroque façade facing St. Petersburg's main thoroughfare. The facade carries an entrance arch supported by two Corinthian columns. The arch is crowned with a pediment bearing the Stroganov coat of arms. The spaces under the windows on the facade feature a man's profile. There are two practically anecdotal versions regarding this man's identity. According to one version, the man is the first owner of the palace, Baron Stroganov, whom Rastrelli wanted to surprise. However, many historians claim that the famous architect in fact left his own profile on the palace walls.

Wed-Sun 10:00-18:00 and Mon 10:00-17:00 (ticket office closes an hour earlier).

Summer Garden

Летний сад / Letny sad

The Summer Garden (Russian: Летний сад, romanized: Letny sad) is a historic public garden that occupies an eponymous island between the Neva, Fontanka, Moika, and the Swan Canal in downtown Saint Petersburg, Russia and shares its name with the adjacent Summer Palace of Peter the Great. Its inception dates back to the early 18th century when Russia took these lands from Sweden in the Great Northern War. Being a monument of landscape architecture featuring original and copied sculptures of classical mythology characters, a former royal palace and a monument to the fable author Ivan Krylov, the garden is now a branch of the Saint Petersburg-based national art treasury Russian Museum.

Closed · opens 10 am Wednesday·Free · Built 1704

Russian cruiser Aurora

Крейсер «Аврора»

Early 20th-century protected cruiser (extensively repaired after WWII and in the 1980s), most famous for her symbolic role in the Russian Revolution of November 1917. It took part in the Russo-Japanese war in 1905. It has long been a museum ship open to the public, moored in front of the Nakhimov Naval School.

Mon-Fri 10:30-16:00 only for groups·Adults – RUB 300, Students – RUB 100, Photo RUB 50, Video filming RUB 100 · Built 1900

Botanical Garden

Ботанический сад

With an arboretum, flower garden, botanical museum and a large complex of greenhouses (greenhouses can only be accessed with a guided tour).

The greenhouses are open all year round, but are closed on Mondays. The park is open daily from May to October

Mikhailovskiy Theater

Михайловский театр

Designed by Alexander Brullov to match the existing ensemble of then Mikhailovsky Square, now Arts Square, its curtain rose on 8 November 1833 for the first time. Officially, it's the St Petersburg Mussorgsky State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre — Mikhailovsky Theatre. The exterior is not as recognizable as the Mariinsky, but the interior is nearly as grand, and the theater hosts both Russian and foreign headliners in opera and ballet.

RUB 600-15000

Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, Museum of Mosaics

Церковь Спаса на Крови, Tserkovʹ Spasa na Krovi, or Собор Воскресения Христова, Sobor Voskreseniya Khristova, Храм Спас-на-Крови

A traditional style Russian church built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. Built in 1883-1907, in style of Romantic Nationalism. Architecturally, the Cathedral harks back to medieval Russian architecture in the spirit of romantic nationalism. It intentionally resembles the 17th-century Yaroslavl churches and the celebrated St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. The interior is elaborately decorated with over 7000 m² of mosaics. The walls and ceilings inside the Church are completely covered in intricately detailed mosaics — the main pictures being biblical scenes or figures — but with very fine patterned borders setting off each picture.

Thu-Tue 10:00-20:00·Adults/students RUB 250/RUB 150

Our-Lady-of-Kazan Cathedral

Kazansky Sobor, Казанский собор, Каза́нский кафедра́льный собо́р, Собор Казанской иконы Божией Матери

One of the largest cathedrals in St. Petersburg. Impressive neoclassical exterior, richly decorated interior. The temple was built by Andrew Voronikhin in the years 1801-1811 and is the best of his creations. Paul I has set the task of the architect to build a cathedral, like the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. This is what the prototype he owes his great colonnade facing the Nevsky As planned Voronikhin same Colonnade was to be on the other side, but it was never implemented. By fate just built in 1811, the cathedral became a monument of Russian victories over Napoleonic France in the Patriotic War of 1812. Includes the tomb of Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov, hero of the war of 1812. And in 1837, statues of Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly, by Boris Orlovsky, were installed on the square in front of the temple. It is also interesting to note that on the north side of the cathedral (leaving on Nevsky) there is a bronze copy of the "Gate of Paradise" by Lorenzo Ghiberti in the Florentine Baptistery. A copy was made by caster Basil Ekimov. In 1930 the cathedral was closed, and in 1932 a unique museum of the history of religion and atheism was set up here. Now the museum moved into the building on Post Office Street, and once again this is a cathedral church.

Mon-Fri masses 10:00, 18:00, Sun 07:00, 10:00, 18:00. Kazan Cathedral library Mon-Sat 11:00-16:00·Free entry

The National Library of Russia

Imperial Public Library 1795-1917; Russian Public Library 1917-1925; State Public Library from 1925-1992 (since 1932 named after M.Saltykov-Shchedrin); abbr. NLR, Российская национальная библиотека

Founded in 1795. Built by architect Yegor Sokolov specifically to be the Imperial Public Library. The library was opened in 1814 and since 1810 received a specimen copy of all domestic publications. It did not close even during the Leningrad blockade. The library is one of the largest in the world, its pool of more than 33 million books and documents. It has the largest collection of books in Russian in the world. There are such masterpieces as Ostrom Gospel 11th century (the oldest surviving book in Old English), fragments of the Codex Sinaiticus 4th century (in ancient Greek), Petersburg Code XI century (in Hebrew). Other units at Krylov House, Information Center, Bookshop M-Sa 10.00-20.00 (20, Sadovaya Street) & at New Building (165/2, Moskovsky Prospekt, hours=Newspapers M-F 09.00-21.00, Sa Su 11.00-19.00) & at The Building on the Fontanka Embankment (36, Fontanka Embankment; hours=Newspapers M-F 09.00-21.00, Computer Center M-F 13.00-21.00, Sa Su 11.00-19.00 ) at Liteyny Prospect's Asian & African Collection (49, Liteyny Prospect, hours=M-F 12.00-20.00) at Plekhanov House (1/33, 4th Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, hours=M-F 09.00-17.00)

Universal room, Manuscripts Mon-Fri 09.00-21.00, Sat Sun 11.00-19.00. European Books (-1940), Library Science Mon-Fri 09.00-21.00, Sat 11.00-19.00, Sun closed. Exhibition of Recent Acquisitions, Manuscripts Mon Wed-Fri 09.00-21.00, Sat Sun 11.00-19.00. Prints Mon Wed Fri 13.00-21.00, Tue Thu 09.00-17.00; Sat 11.00-19.00. Rare Books Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00. Computer Center Mon-Fri 09.00-21.00; Sat Sun 11.00-19.00. Archive Tue Thu 12.00-17.00; Wed Fri 10.00-15.00. Maps, Legal Information Center Mon Wed 13.00-21.00, Tue Thu Fri 09.00-17.00, Sat 11.00-19.00. Xerocopy Service Counter Mon-Fri 10.00-16.00 & 16.30-20.00, Sat Sun 11.00-15.30. Copy Desk for External Customers (separate entrance in Sadovaya str.) Mon-Fri 10.00-12.00, 13.00-17.00

Faberge Museum

Established by Viktor Vekselberg and his Link of Times foundation in order to repatriate lost cultural valuables to Russia. Contains more than 4,000 works of decorative applied and fine arts, including gold and silver items, paintings, porcelain and bronze. A highlight of the museum's collection is the group of nine Imperial Easter eggs created by Fabergé for the last two Russian Tsars. Vekselberg purchased the eggs from Malcolm Forbes in 2004 for $100 million.

Daily 10:00-20:45·RUB 500; Guided tours RUB 1000 · Wheelchair accessible

Museum of Zoology

Зоологический музей

One of the largest natural history museums in the world. It's in a 19th-century warehouse, and hosts an enormous collection of animals preserved in various ways, stuffed and mounted, pinned, stored in alcohol or as skeletons, with about 30,000 specimens on display. A must-see for any natural history buff, though perhaps not for defenders of animal welfare. It began as a part of the Kunstkamera and steadily grew into its enormous state. Particularly rich are the collections of insects (6,500 species) and birds (2,500 species). There is a complete blue whale skeleton (27m/ 89 feet long) as well as the world's only stuffed mammoth, recovered from permafrost in 1901.

Wed-Mon 11:00-18:00·Limited wheelchair access

Russian State Arctic and Antarctic Museum

Музей Арктики и Антарктики

It was established in November 1930 as part of the Soviet Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, but was not opened until six years later. The museum is located in Avraam Melnikov's Neoclassical church from the 1820s and remains the largest museum dedicated to polar exploration in the world.

Tue–Sat 10:00–18:00, Ticket office -17:30; Sun 10:00–17:00- Tickets -16:30·RUB 200 · Wheelchair accessible

Belosselsky-Belozersky Palace

Дворец Белосельских-Белозерских; Palace of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fyodorovna, Sergei Palace, Dmitry Palace

This is a Neo-Baroque palace. Built on Nevsky Prospekt in 1747 for Prince Mikhail Andreevitch Belosselsky. The original building far smaller than it is today, was designed in the French style with a large private garden and a launch onto the canal, stuccoed and painted in imitation of Parisian limestone. The present palace is said to look similar to the nearby Rastrelliesque Stroganov Palace which is further up the Nevsky Prospect, on the corner of Moika canal. After their major renovations in 1847-48, the palace — complete with piano nobile, concert hall, Van Loo paintings, and palace church — acquired a dazzling Rococo appearance. In 1883, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich bought and gave the palace its present red exterior. During the First World War, the palace was the base of the Anglo-Russian Hospital. In 1907, it was nationalised and went on to house a regional Soviet until 1991, when it was designated a municipal cultural centre. Now host chamber concerts for small audiences. It today also hosts a large wax work.

Suvorov Museum

Музей Суворова

Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov (1730-1800) was one of Russia's most outstanding generals, a military strategist and army commander during the reign of Empress Catherine the Great and Emperor Paul I. The museum features military memorabilia from Suvorov's times: weapons, banners, uniforms, models and large graphic recreations of historic battlefields. Two large mosaics decorate its façade. Both are based on historical events; the left-hand one features "Suvorov Crossing the Alps" and the right-hand one illustrates "Suvorov leaving home for the campaign of 1799".

Thu-Tue 10:00-18:00, closes Wed

Alexandrinsky Theatre or Russian State Pushkin Academy Drama Theater

Александринский театр, Российский государственный академический театр драмы им. А. С. Пушкина

The Alexandrinsky Theatre (Russian: Александринский театр) or National Drama Theatre of Russia is a theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The Alexandrinsky Theatre was built for the Imperial troupe of Petersburg (Imperial troupe was founded in 1756). Since 1832, the theatre has occupied an Empire-style building that Carlo Rossi designed.

12:00-14:00 & 15:00-19:00·Limited wheelchair access

The Admiralty

Зда́ние Гла́вного Адмиралте́йства

Not open to visitors, but worth seeing from the outside. One of the oldest buildings in St. Petersburg, it was laid down November 5, 1704 and was built as a shipyard for ships of war and as a fortress to protect the nascent city. The shape of the Admiralty spread-eagled like the letter "U" facing the Neva. The central building is cut by a large arch, crowned by a monumental tower and spire, which ends with the famous ship, one of the symbols of St. Petersburg. The side wings of the building, facing the Neva, are decorated with statues of dolphins flagpoles. In its present form, it was constructed in 1806-1823 by the architect Andreyanov Zakharov, who fit perfectly, in the restructuring, the spire tower by Ivan Korobov from the former Admiralty building. Around the building there is the little Alexander Garden. The Admiralty building is an important dominant center of St. Petersburg. It is included in ensembles of three central areas of the city: the Palace, Senate and St. Isaac's. The three city-"rays" depart from the tower of the Admiralty: northern - Nevsky Prospekt, the central - Gorkhovaya Street, and south - Voznesensky Prospekt.

Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater

Большой драматический театр имени Г. А. Товстоногова

Formerly known as Gorky Bolshoi Drama Theater (Russian: Большой Драматический Театр имени Горького) (1931–1992), often referred to as the Bolshoi Drama Theater and by the acronym BDT (Russian: БДТ), it is considered one of the best Russian theaters.

Daily 11.00-15.00 & 16.00-19.00·Limited wheelchair access