Night walk along the city

Saint Isaac's Cathedral is the biggest Orthodox church in Saint-Petersburg, has the museum status. It is the prominent monument of Russian classicism style. Wonderful panorama opens over the city from the colonnade.

Saint Michael’s Castle is the prominent architectural monument, wrapped in mysteries and legends, connected with the personality of its former owner the Emperor Paul I, who was killed in the castle. Interesting and unusual planning of the building rises it above the other sights of Saint-Petersburg.

Tauride Palace is one of the prominent monuments of the Russian classicism of the XVIII century. The palace was built in 1783-1789 by architect I. Starov by the decree of the empress Catherine II for her minion Prince G. Potemkin, who in 1787 joined Crimea to Russian Empire and was awarded with the title of Duke of Tauride. That is why the palace was called Tauride. After Potemkin’s death the palace became one of the favorite residents of Catherine II. In 1906-1910 the State Duma was situated here. During the Soviet times the Third All-Russian Congress of Soviets, the 7th Congress of the RCP(b) and the Second World Congress of the Comintern were held in the Tauride Palace. Nowadays here the headquarters of the Inter-parlamentary Assembly of CIS is situated. Also there is the Saint-Petersburg branch of the International TV and radio company “Peace”.

The building of the Tauride Palace is the central two-storey edifice with six-columned portico topped with the flat cupola on the not high drum. The smooth walls with high windows are decorated with entablature of the strict design with the frieze from triglyph. The central part of the building is joined with the two-storey buildings, bounding the wide main entrance, by one-storey galleries. The inner decoration amazes with its beauty: behind the main hall there is the richly decorated rotunda joined with the White Column Hall by the wide doorway, behind the opened double colonnade there is the winter garden. The main rooms of the palace, such as Gallery Hall, Gobelin living room, Sofa room, China Hall, preserved their polychrome decoration of the walls, plafonds, fireplaces and figured stoves.

In 2010 the project “Potemkinskiye Nights” was represented in the Tauride Palace. Regularly the classic music concerts by outstanding musicians are held here. You may enjoy the performances of such ensembles as “Soloists of Catherine the Great”, “Musica Petropolitana” and “Prattica Terza”. In 2011 specially for this project the 24-register organ was placed in the Cupola Hall of the Tauride Palace.

Bronze Horseman on Senate Square - is the monument to the great Emperor Peter the First, which was glorified by famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. This monument is one of the main symbols of Saint-Petersburg.

Church of Saint Pantaleon was built in 1735-1739 by the design of architect I. Korobov in Baroque style. The history of this church originates in 1718 when Peter I ordered to build the chapel of Saint Pantaleon for the workers of shipyard. On 27 July 1714 (day of memory of Saint Pantaleon) Russian Fleet won a victory over Sweden in Gangut Battle. The new stone church had the belfry and wooden hipped cupola. Russian artists G. Ipatov and A. Kvashin worked on the inner decoration of it.

In 1834-1835 the building was reconstructed by the architect V. Beretti in Empire style: the facades were decorated with marble bas-reliefs by sculptor A. Loganovsky.

In 1912 restorations works were carried out here. In 1914 the marble memorial boards with the names of the regiments, which took part in Gangut and Grengam Battles, were fixed on the facades of the church. There honored icons of Saint Pantaleon, one of which was from the original chapel, were also placed.

In 1936 the church of Saint Pantaleon was closed, some icons were transferred to the Church of the Transfiguration. In 1980 there was an exhibition of the Museum of History of Saint-Petersburg “Gangut Memorial”. In 1991 the church was returned to eparchy. Since 1994 the regular services are held here. Since 2002 the restoration works are carried out here, the results of which we can see today and enjoy the beauty of the church.

Palace bridge – is one of the thirteen draw-bridges in the city, which became one of the symbols of Saint-Petersburg. Unique views, which open from the bridge won’t let anyone indifferent.

Field of Mars is the biggest memorial and park complex, which is located in the centre of Saint-Petersburg. The park ensemble with the monument to the victims of the revolution of 1917, in the centre of which the Eternal Flame burns in honor of the dead for more than 50 years, is one of the prominent ones in the city.