Discover Saint Petersburg: Water, Architecture and Culture

• The historic centre is shaped by the interplay of architecture and waterscapes.
• The network of canals, streets and embankments developed gradually from the reign of Peter the Great (1682–1725).
• Nevsky Prospekt became the city’s main east-west axis in 1738.
• Saint Petersburg’s cityscape rises from the mouth of the Neva, where it meets the Gulf of Finland.

The mouth of the Neva explains Saint Petersburg’s location; in the historic centre, water and architecture together shape its character. The network of canals, streets and embankments did not emerge all at once, but developed gradually from the reign of Peter the Great. This makes it possible to view the city both through its waterscape and through its historic urban planning.

Nevsky Prospekt offers a distinct point of reference: it became the city’s main east-west axis only in 1738. A walk along the avenue passes tall buildings that embody the spirit of the city of Peter the Great. The axis and the canal system shed light on different aspects of the urban fabric, without suggesting a particular walking route.

Saint Isaac’s Cathedral is Saint Petersburg’s largest Orthodox church. A building in the late Classical style, it features Neo-Renaissance, Byzantine and eclectic elements. The Peter and Paul Cathedral represents a different style: it is a monument of Petrine Baroque and is considered the city’s oldest church. A comparison leads from the varied features of Saint Isaac’s Cathedral to the Baroque of the Peter and Paul Cathedral.

The Peter and Paul Fortress also brings together the city’s history and architecture. Peter I founded it in 1703; it is a monument to fortification architecture from the 18th to the 20th century. The Menshikov Palace is considered Saint Petersburg’s first stone building and was built in the Petrine Baroque style. It was built for Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, a confidant of Peter I and Saint Petersburg’s first governor.

The Russian Museum contains more than 450,000 works of Russian art from the 10th to the 21st century and is considered the world’s largest museum of Russian art. Its main retrospective is housed in the Mikhailovsky Palace and the Benois Wing. This offers a broad timeframe, while individual historic buildings explore other themes.

The Hermitage Theatre was built between 1783 and 1789 by Giacomo Quarenghi on the orders of Catherine II. It was built on the site of Peter I’s former Winter Palace. On Vasilyevsky Island, the 6th and 7th Lines form a street partly intended for pedestrians—a different urban setting from a walk along Nevsky Prospekt.

The grounds of the Peter and Paul Fortress and its beach are open to visitors free of charge. Part of the underground passageways can be visited; the entrance to a poterna is in the Tsar’s Bastion. On a guided tour, you can climb the bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral and enjoy panoramic views over Saint Petersburg from a height of 43 metres. Before your trip, check the visitor information and, for the tour, whether it is available on your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Peterhof, Pargolovo, Metallostroy, Molodyozhnoye and Kolpino.

What role did the Summer Garden play in the city’s history?

Peter I had the Summer Garden laid out in 1704; it was intended to resemble the well-known Western European parks of its time, and Peter himself drew up the first plan. A few years later, the garden became a centre of political and official life, as well as court ceremonies and celebrations.

How is the “Anna Akhmatova. Silver Age” Museum laid out?

The museum has nine exhibition halls and a lecture and concert hall. The hall names include “Tsarskoye Selo”, “Slepnyovo”, “The Stray Dog (Petersburg 1)”, “N. Gumilyov’s Journey”, “Petersburg 2”, “Requiem”, “Komarovo”, “Poem without a Hero” and “Memory Room”.

What historical connection does the Kunstkamera have with Peter I?

The Kunstkamera is the successor to Russia’s first public state museum, founded by Peter I in 1714.

For the main travel overview: Saint Petersburg.