St. Petersburg is often referred to as the Venice of the North. Originally built on marshland and small islands, St. Petersburg is surrounded by water. It is interconnected by a complex structure of canals and bridges.
It is the second largest city after Moscow. St. Petersburg is situated on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea and is an important Russian port.
The name of St. Petersburg was changed to Petrograd in 1914, to Leningrad in 1924, and back to St. Petersburg after the citizens were given the opportunity to vote for a name change in 1991.
The name of St. Petersburg was changed to Petrograd in 1914, to Leningrad in 1924, and back to St. Petersburg after the citizens were given the opportunity to vote for a name change in 1991.
Smolny Cathedral
It was originally intended to be the central church of a monastery,
built to house Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great,
after she was disallowed to take the throne and opted instead to become a nun.
However, as soon as her imperial predecessor was overthrown during a coup
that was carried out by the royal guards,
Elizabeth decided to forget the monastic life
and happily accepted the offer of the Russian throne.
As Empress she is notorious for never having worn the same ball dress twice,
which has left an enormous collection of mid-18th century dresses.
Today, Smolny Cathedral is used primarily as a concert hall;
and the surrounding convent houses various offices and government institutions.
built to house Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great,
after she was disallowed to take the throne and opted instead to become a nun.
However, as soon as her imperial predecessor was overthrown during a coup
that was carried out by the royal guards,
Elizabeth decided to forget the monastic life
and happily accepted the offer of the Russian throne.
As Empress she is notorious for never having worn the same ball dress twice,
which has left an enormous collection of mid-18th century dresses.
Today, Smolny Cathedral is used primarily as a concert hall;
and the surrounding convent houses various offices and government institutions.
Smolny convent
The cathedral (right) is the centerpiece of the convent built by
Rastrelli, the Italian architect, between 1748 and 1764.
(Sam, lower right)
The cathedral (right) is the centerpiece of the convent built by
Rastrelli, the Italian architect, between 1748 and 1764.
(Sam, lower right)
Rastrelli also created the Winter Palace
and the Grand Palace in Peterhof
as well as many other major St. Petersburg landmarks.
One of two beacons located at the point where the River Neva splits in two.
At the base of the column sit statues of
four allegorical figures supposed to represent
four of Russia's major rivers,
the Volga and Dneiper at the northern column
and the Neva and Volkhov at the southern column.
(Narene)
A frequent site in St. Petersburg
as well as in Moscowwas to see brides and grooms
driving to photographic locations to take memorable photos
on their wedding day.
available for tourists to take a photo with them for a fee.
As St. Petersburg grew, the image of the theater changed constantly
and has undergone several reconstructions.
Tour on the river
There are 342 bridges inside the city limits
and 22 are drawbridges.
The boys in blue and red standing on the bridge
waved at us as we approached each of the bridges on our route,
and then they would run to be on the next bridge.
Of course, they were there at the last bridge
ready to receive their "earned tip," which we gave them.
Hermitage Museum,
a major art museum containing among its collections those begun
by Catherine the Great.
State Russian Museum
The world's largest depository of Russian fine art
and one of the largest museums in Russia.
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St. Isaacs Cathedral
St. Isaacs Cathedral
Named for the patron saint of Peter the Great
who had been born on the feast day of that saint.
Under Communist rule, all religious symbols were removed and
the cathedral was turned into an Antireligious Museum.
During WWII, the cupola was painted over in dull gray
to avoid it being a bombing target.
Today, the cathedral is a religious museum for the Russian Orthodox Church,
and a portion is open for worship.
Sam standing by one of the pillars
in front of the doors to St. Isaacs Cathedral
to show how large they are.
The cathedral is the largest one in the city
and the fourth largest cathedral in the world.
Cartier boutique with red awnings
opened on the banks of the Moyka River in 2010
with Demi Moore as a guest
accompanying Bernard Fornas, president and CEO
of Cartier International.
The Moyka River is a small river that encircles
the central portion of St. Petersburg, effectively making it an island.
The Peter and Paul Fortress
is the original citadel of St. Petersburg founded by
Peter the Great in 1703 and built as a star fortress.
In the early 1920s, it was still used as a prison and
execution ground for the Bolshevik government.
Peter the Great statue known as
the Bronze Horseman.
It was a gift to the city by Catherine the Great
to honor her predecessor.
Kazan Cathedral
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
is one of the main attractions in St. Petersburg.
The church was built on the site where
Emperor Alexander II was fatally wounded
for political reasons in 1881.
The church was built between 1882 and 1907.
The construction was funded by the imperial family.
View borrowed from the web.
Next four photos
Mosaics in the interior
Vendors near the church.
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Alexander Palace - Tsarskoe Selo
Our room at Belmond Grand Hotel
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August 19
Peterhof Palace, "Russia's Versailles"
Going up the beautiful staircase in
Peterhof Palace, "Russia's Versailles."
At the top of the staircase.
Catherine the Great
Red room with portrait of Peter the Great
Portrait Hall
Great Patriotic War of 1812
Hermitage Chapel
the principal throne room of the Tsars of Russia.
St. George's Hall
Pavilion Hall
One should look up in each and every room
to see the ceilings and chandeliers.
Peacock clock in the Pavilion Hall
It is the only 18th century automation in the world
to still be functioning in its original unaltered condition.
It also includes the figures of a cockerel and owl.
All three of the birds move.
Huge Malachite vase
Leonardo da Vinci's "Madonna"
More historical paintings
St. Isaacs Cathedral
Named for the patron saint of Peter the Great
who had been born on the feast day of that saint.
Under Communist rule, all religious symbols were removed and
the cathedral was turned into an Antireligious Museum.
During WWII, the cupola was painted over in dull gray
to avoid it being a bombing target.
Today, the cathedral is a religious museum for the Russian Orthodox Church,
and a portion is open for worship.
in front of the doors to St. Isaacs Cathedral
to show how large they are.
The cathedral is the largest one in the city
and the fourth largest cathedral in the world.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
opened on the banks of the Moyka River in 2010
with Demi Moore as a guest
accompanying Bernard Fornas, president and CEO
of Cartier International.
The Moyka River is a small river that encircles
the central portion of St. Petersburg, effectively making it an island.
is the original citadel of St. Petersburg founded by
Peter the Great in 1703 and built as a star fortress.
In the early 1920s, it was still used as a prison and
execution ground for the Bolshevik government.
the Bronze Horseman.
It was a gift to the city by Catherine the Great
to honor her predecessor.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
is one of the main attractions in St. Petersburg.
The church was built on the site where
Emperor Alexander II was fatally wounded
for political reasons in 1881.
The church was built between 1882 and 1907.
The construction was funded by the imperial family.
Next four photos
Mosaics in the interior
* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *
August 19
Peterhof Palace, "Russia's Versailles"
Peterhof Palace, "Russia's Versailles."
Every room is unique and beautiful.
This bed did not look very comfy.
I took lots of photos during our tour of Peterhof Palace;
so, of course, I would want to share one displaying
some of the royal dishes.
Peterhof Fountains
There are 150 fountains on the grounds.
Each gets its water from natural reservoirs on the upper level,
and the natural slope of the terrain creates the pressure and force necessary
to reach all the fountains, from upper level to lower level.
Much of the system was planned by Peter the Great.
The fountains are shut down in winter and turned back on in May.
The Grand Cascade has a total of 64 different fountains
and over 200 bronze statues and other decorations.
Our tour inside the palace ended just in time
to see the impressive fountains
beginning to show off their splendor.
Grand Cascade
Looking back at Peterhof Palace
with the fountains and golden statues in the foreground.
All of these fountains generate their power naturally
from downhill momentum,
and there are no pumps on any of the fountains at Peterhof.
The Chapel at Peterhof
All always, we enjoyed listening to Michael Wilcox's
presentation before we continued on our tour
to see more of the fountains.
Chess Hill or Dragon Hill Fountain (in the background)
The diversity of the fountains includes
joke fountains that spray unwary passersby.
Due to the limit of time,
we only got views of a few of the other fountains
as we walked toward our departure
on the hydrofoil back to St. Petersburg.
On our previous visit when we were here during our mission,
we especially enjoyed seeing the many fountains.
Hal and Christy
at Peterhof Gardens
Sam and Narene
Hydrofoil back to St. Petersburg
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Hermitage
The main building of the Hermitage is the Winter Palace,
which was home to the Russian Tsars from 1760.
The Hermitage Museum
The second largest art museum in the world,
including the largest collection of paintings in the world.
The Hermitage collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display,
comprise over three million items
(the numismatic collection accounts for about one-third of them).
The museum was founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great acquired an
impressive collection of paintings from the Berlin merchant
Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky.
It has been open to the public since 1852.
Great Patriotic War of 1812
the principal throne room of the Tsars of Russia.
St. George's Hall
One should look up in each and every room
to see the ceilings and chandeliers.
It is the only 18th century automation in the world
to still be functioning in its original unaltered condition.
It also includes the figures of a cockerel and owl.
All three of the birds move.
The Raphael Loggias
Copies of the famous gallery created during the 16th century
in the Vatican Palace by Raphael Lanzio da Urbino.
Created by request of Catherine II.
Conestabile Madonna
by Raphaello Santi, 1504
The painting is still in its original frame.
Madonna with Beardless Joseph and Baby Jesus
Raphael, the artist - 1506
Michelangelo's Crouching Boy
This is the only work by Michelangelo in the Heritage Museum.
Rembrandt's "Flora" or "Saskia as Flora"
Huge vase,
reportedly the largest in the world.
Since 1940, the Egyptian collection is on the ground floor.
The collection dates back to 1852.
Having entered the Hermitage through an entrance for groups,
the Grand Staircase was one of the last things we saw.
After climbing the Grand Staircase,
these girls are having their photo taken.
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Our last evening in St. Petersburg
We had dinner at the Taleon Club
in the Taleon Imperial Hotel.
Yussopov Palace on the Moika River
It is one of the few aristocratic homes in the city to have
retained many of its original interiors.
In 1830, the palace was purchased by Prince Nikolay Borisovich Yusupov;
and it remained in the ownership of the family until it was
seized by the Bolsheviks in 1917.
The murder of Grigory Rasputin reportedly took place
in the basement of the palace in 1916.
After dinner, we had a special private tour
of the Yussopov Palace.
We were greeted with harp melodies
as we began our visit to this interesting home.
Our local tour guide holding the Fun For Less Tour flag
is standing by a unique piece of musical furniture.
A Moorish Bath Room.
More musical entertainment, as the lady played the organ.
There were many interesting rooms we visited,
but I chose this red room to include here.
The entertainment continued with a talented soloist.
The finale was a beautiful ballet.
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The next day, we flew to Tbilisi, Georgia.
I will continue our trip in the next blog.
