Walking tour along the Nevsky. "There is nothing better than Nevsky Prospekt": a walk along the main street of the city. Drawbridges over the Neva

Hello, friends! My name is Olga. I love St. Petersburg very much, and especially Nevsky Prospekt. It is best to start your acquaintance with St. Petersburg from Nevsky Prospekt, and I invite you to a fascinating walk along this street, one of the most beautiful in the world. Gogol wrote: "There is nothing better than Nevsky Prospekt, at least in St. Petersburg; for him it is everything."
I will tell you about how Nevsky lived, which is more than three hundred years old, what adventures happened to its inhabitants. Houses on our way will cease to be just beautiful monuments of architecture and will reveal their secrets.
What's in store for you?
The Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace, where the owners held balls and musical evenings in luxurious interiors. Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a frequent guest there.
You will cross the Anichkov Bridge and learn the secrets of its four horses, on which the sculptor Pyotr Klodt spent 20 years of his life.
You will see the oldest building on the main avenue of St. Petersburg - the Anichkov Palace. It was built when the city ended behind the Fontanka, and instead of Nevsky, a clearing turned green.
The shop of the Eliseev merchants is the main gastronomic point of the city. The luxury of modernity in the decoration of the halls is in harmony with the products on the shelves. Chocolate from England, nougat from Italy, cheeses and sausages that you can't buy anywhere else in St. Petersburg. And also - crystal chandeliers, a piano and live showcases that delight children and adults.
You will see the luxurious atriums, tower and attics of the House of the Singer Company. The 5 upper floors of the building are occupied by the VKontakte team, the 2 lower floors are occupied by the Book House.
Kazan Cathedral - according to the plan of Emperor Paul I, the Russian "brother" of St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican. Commander Mikhail Kutuzov is buried here.
The Stroganov Palace is a masterpiece of the architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the Russian Baroque style.
Let's walk through the courtyards, talk about tenement houses and how everything was arranged in pre-revolutionary apartments. You will feel like a resident of Nevsky Prospekt, get to know it better, and for sure fall in love!
We will go from Vosstaniya Square to the Admiralty. At the end of the walk, I will give you a direction on what else to see nearby, and these are the main sights of St. Petersburg - the Admiralty, the Bronze Horseman monument, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Palace Square, the Winter Palace (Hermitage), Palace Embankment, Palace Bridge, the spit of Vasilyevsky Island. I will answer all your questions and help you plan your acquaintance with St. Petersburg.
You will have time to take a photo for memory. If you want, we will stop at a coffee shop. No haste: the walk will take place at a pace that is comfortable for you.
Do not be afraid to walk in autumn and winter, this has its own romance! And Nevsky is beautiful in any weather. Dress warmly, take an umbrella, and you will enjoy the walk)

Note:
Standard start of group tours: at 9:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00.

You can choose another time that is convenient for you. Write before booking, we will agree. You can also order an individual tour for one person, at a convenient time. In this case, the cost of the tour will be 1000 rubles. We also agree on this in advance.

See you on Nevsky!

Author's excursion with our guide Olga. She loves Saint Petersburg and will show you its main thoroughfare. With Olga, you won't miss a single sight from Vosstaniya Square to the Admiralty. You will learn how Nevsky lived for three centuries, what happened to its inhabitants. You will see the Kazan Cathedral and the Anichkov Palace - the oldest building on Nevsky Prospekt, find out where the headquarters of VKontakte is located in the Singer House, look into the Eliseevsky department store. Olga will tell you where to drink coffee and help you take photos as a keepsake.

What's in store for you?

• The Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace, where the owners held balls and musical evenings in luxurious interiors. Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a frequent guest there.
• You will cross the Anichkov Bridge and learn the secrets of its four horses, on which the sculptor Pyotr Klodt spent 20 years of his life.

• You will see the oldest building on the main avenue of St. Petersburg - the Anichkov Palace. It was built when the city ended behind the Fontanka, and instead of Nevsky, a clearing turned green.
• The shop of the Eliseev merchants is the main gastronomic point of the city. The luxury of modernity in the decoration of the halls is in harmony with the products on the shelves. Chocolate from England, nougat from Italy, cheeses and sausages that you can't buy anywhere else in St. Petersburg. And also - crystal chandeliers, a piano and live showcases that delight children and adults.

• You will see the luxurious atriums, tower and attics of the House of the Singer Company. The 5 upper floors of the building are occupied by the VKontakte team, the 2 lower floors are occupied by the Book House.
• Kazan Cathedral - according to the plan of Emperor Paul I, the Russian "brother" of St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican. Commander Mikhail Kutuzov is buried here.

• The Stroganov Palace is a masterpiece of the architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the Russian Baroque style.
• Olga will take you through the courtyards, tell you about tenement houses and how everything was arranged in pre-revolutionary apartments. You will feel like a resident of Nevsky Prospekt, get to know it better and surely fall in love!

• Walk from Vosstaniya Square to the Admiralty. In the final you will find yourself at the Palace Square and the Hermitage and will be able to examine them on your own, and from there take a walk to St. Isaac's Cathedral.

You will have time to take a photo for memory. If you want, make a stop at a coffee shop. No haste: the walk will take place at a pace that is comfortable for you.

Note:

Standard start of group tours: at 12:00, 15:00, 19:00.

You can order an individual tour for 1 or 2 people. In this case, the cost of the tour will be 1000 rubles, and you can choose any time that is convenient for you, not the standard one.

• Type of excursion: individual walking tour
• Schedule: On days and times free in the schedule. Please confirm before booking.
• Duration: 2 hours
• Russian language
• Price: 550 ₽ per tour
• Meeting point: At the entrance to the metro station "Ploshchad Vosstaniya", at the memorial. boards
• Included:

  Guide services

• Not included:

  Coffee (optional), from 100 r.

My God, how I love, how I love to return home ...
Like a prayer to read the numbers of Leningrad cars,
And meet with the native Petrograd at the old mosque,
Flying through the white nights of an intoxicated soul.

Alexander Rosenbaum

How strange to come to your hometown as a guest. Look at houses and streets that are painfully familiar through the eyes of a tourist and see what was not striking before, get to know the city again after a long separation.
St. Petersburg is always beautiful for me. Neither the dilapidated facades of houses on Goncharnaya, Khersonskaya and Poltavaskaya, nor the crowds of Chinese on Nevsky Prospect, nor the chaotic crowd of cars can spoil my joy of meeting with my beloved city.
But most of all I rejoiced at the people on the streets. Like it or not, but Muscovites and Leningraders differ from each other in a fundamental way. What is the difference?
Let's look at St. Petersburg through the eyes of a man who has lived here most of his life, and now has become an ordinary guest of the Northern capital.

Like any normal Leningrader, I painfully perceive criticism of my city. But it's one thing to listen to unpleasant things from outsiders, and quite another to notice what visitors really may not like. Is it worth getting hung up on the shortcomings of the city, where there is Palace Square and the Alexandria Column, the Hermitage and raised bridges in the cool white St. Petersburg night?
Not worth it, of course, but it would be foolish to deny all this.

My first complaint about my hometown is, oddly enough, the traffic on Nevsky Prospekt and adjacent streets. Living in St. Petersburg, I rarely used public transport and even less often was a pedestrian, so the manner of St. Petersburg drivers quite calmly go to the zebras and stand there until I can complete the maneuver killed me. I immediately asked myself the question, “Is that what I did too?” It seems to be no))). To be honest, in Moscow I have not seen this and do not see it. Could it be the cameras? St. Petersburg drivers are completely unafraid so far

For example, the intersection of Marat and Nevsky streets. Pedestrians light green. How to get around this yellow car?

And this is the corner of Vladimirsky and Nevsky. Poor pedestrians have to maneuver between cars, risking their lives

Crowds of people on Nevsky! I always thought that this was how it should be and was immensely surprised by the wide Tverskaya in Moscow, where no one touches each other with elbows and does not push bags. Scooters and cyclists calmly ride along Tverskaya, but it’s impossible to ride a bike along Nevsky, so they try to ride along the roadway, creating problems for themselves and motorists.

Slowly but surely, Peter is turning into Amsterdam!

Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace. I love this Stackenschneider creation. The Atlanteans still stand imperturbably under the gloomy St. Petersburg sky, looking with surprise at the human anthill.

As a child, I sincerely sympathized with these Atlanteans, who were holding the heavy burden of times on their shoulders. I felt so sorry for them that dad came up with a fairy tale that at night, when there are no passers-by on the streets, the Atlanteans leave their pedestals and, together with Klodt's horses on the Anichkov Bridge and their tamers, rest from their unbearable work, gain strength and get up in the morning to continue to maintain the walls of the beautiful palace.

And life is in full swing on Nevsky Prospekt! Summer verandas, which for some reason they tried to ban a few years ago, are full of people. It seems to me that these verandas not only do not spoil the look of the city, but on the contrary, make it more comfortable. Only now it becomes crowded for pedestrians on the pavement.

Fontanka! I have already lost the habit of such movement along the river))), hundreds of river buses with tourists, barkers, guides ...

We approach the Anichkov Palace. Palace of Pioneers! Memories of childhood.

a street artist who creates amazing paintings with spray paint.

Rock band on the pavement, opposite the living room. .

Artists at the fence of Katya's garden

Tired Peter, sitting down to rest in the shade of an old lantern))

and Chinese tourists... It's all Peter, baby!

We are walking along the odd side of the Nevsky. Opposite is the famous Eliseevsky with a showcase "named after Shemyakin" and the former Lankom store, which opened in 1990. It was a whole event for us in those years, and every Petersburger had to come here to stand in line and buy the coveted mascara with a golden rose in a case.

Taking a photo against the backdrop of the monument to Catherine the Great is truly priceless!

Kazan Cathedral. This is a place of power for me. In all the most difficult moments of life, I come here to find a point of support and balance. It is enough for me to walk along the gallery of the colonnade, touch the rough surface with my hand and rise like a Phoenix from the ashes from any scrape. There is no such place for me in Moscow, and most likely there never will be.

At Gostiny Dvor we were attacked by a rabid squirrel and a bear. They danced, climbed to us with hugs and took away the camera, but we did not give up!))

A Petersburger... I continue to be convinced that people on the streets of St. Petersburg are much more beautiful and more elegant than those whom I see in Moscow. And this is a fact.

Griboyedov Canal. All the same trams))

Petersburg intelligent dog))

Tired passerby

And we now have Wi-Fi on buses

Moscow station. How many Chinese traveled with us to Moscow on the Sapsan? A million!))) We had to sit all 4 hours before the capital in a bistro car to hide from them.

My day ended as a guest in my hometown. He's still the same, my Peter. But how painful it is to look at the dilapidated facades of beautiful old houses (((. Traces of former greatness are especially clearly felt after Moscow, elegant and licked by Sobyanin.

Maybe the money will finally reach St. Petersburg and it will acquire the form that it deserves with its history and role in the life of the country. I hope so.
And you?

This journal is a personal diary containing the private opinions of the author. In accordance with Article 29 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, each person can have his own point of view regarding its textual, graphic, audio and video content, as well as express it in any format. The journal does not have a license from the Ministry of Culture and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation and is not a mass media, and, therefore, the author does not guarantee the provision of reliable, unbiased and meaningful information. The information contained in this diary, as well as the comments of the author of this diary in other diaries, do not have any legal meaning and cannot be used in the course of legal proceedings. The author of the journal is not responsible for the content of comments to his entries.
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Hello, dear residents and guests of St. Petersburg.

I invite you to walk along my favorite route: along and a little around Nevsky Prospekt. In this article, I tried to show the most interesting sights that this unique city can boast of.

This video is voiced in English, you will find a description of all the places in this article.

In order to gradually get acquainted with the beauties of the city, it is worth starting the path from the Rebellion Square. The route will be especially interesting if you reach this metro station of the same name.

This metro station belongs to the very first metro line both in terms of age (the first line was opened in St. Petersburg in 1955) and beauty.

After leaving the station lobby, go down the stairs, turn left and go to Nevsky Prospekt (a wide street that is impossible to miss). Stand up so as not to interfere with pedestrians and start looking around. Turn around and look at the subway station - tall, beautiful, with a long dome and spire, reminiscent of a church.
The reason for this similarity lies in history - earlier there was a church on this place, it was called Znamenskaya. Under Stalin, it was demolished, and during the design of the metro station, they decided to take it as an architectural model. The square itself (and the metro station) is called "Ploshad Vosstaniya" in honor of the October Revolution (it is also called the "October Revolution" or the "Great October Socialist Revolution") - one of the largest political events of the 20th century, which took place in Russia in October 1917. During the armed uprising on October 25-26 (November 7-8, according to a new style), the main organizers of which were V.I. Lenin, L.D. Trotsky, the Provisional Government was overthrown. The government came to power, formed by the 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets, the absolute majority of whose delegates were Bolsheviks.

Behind the metro building there is a document printing center (Vosstaniya Street 1), here you can not only print documents, but also take and print photos.

Return to the square. On the right you see a pink building - this is the Moscow railway station (trains to Moscow departed from here. In the capital there is a station identical to this). Behind it, if you walk along the wide Ligovsky Prospekt, you can see the popular shopping and entertainment complex Gallery (Galeria), one of the largest in Europe.
The information stand usually contains maps of the city and discount coupons for visiting the sights of St. Petersburg. Be sure to take it! On different floors you will find cafes and restaurants, a food court, on the ground floor there is an Okey supermarket, where groceries are sold at average prices in the city.

An obelisk stands in the center of the square; it was erected in 1985 on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Leningrad title "Hero City" was awarded in 1945. On May 8, 1965, a decree was issued by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, according to which obelisks confirming this high title should be installed in all Hero cities of the country.

This obelisk is monolithic, like another obelisk on your way (the Alexander Column, which is located in front of the Hermitage). The base of the five-sided barrel is decorated with a bronze wreath of Glory and high reliefs depicting the events of the war years. The obelisk is crowned with a golden star. Earlier on this place there was a monument to Alexander 3 - one of the Russian emperors. At the moment, the monument is publicly available for viewing, standing in front of the Marble Palace, located a short walk from the Hermitage. Nevsky Prospekt continues behind the obelisk, but the part that goes to the ensemble of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra is called Staronevsky Prospekt.

To the left of the obelisk there is a small indoor information pavilion for tourists - here, during the opening hours of the pavilion, you can take information booklets, posters, maps, get advice absolutely free of charge. On your way, a similar pavilion will meet again - on Palace Square. Next to the first information pavilion is a large Nutcracker self-service cafe - if you are looking for something inexpensive and satisfying in the city center near the station, stop by to evaluate the choice.

We turn to Nevsky Prospekt, the main street of the city, which is certainly found in the literature about St. Petersburg. The most famous mention of the prospectus can be found in the story of the same name by N.V. Gogol: "There is nothing better than Nevsky Prospekt, at least in St. Petersburg, for him it is everything that this street does not shine - the beauty of our capital!"

Nevsky Prospekt was loved by many for its brilliant appearance and for the variety of leisure places located in the immediate vicinity of the avenue: theaters, palaces, museums, expensive restaurants, shops with rare goods. And now the avenue attracts the attention of residents and guests of the city, and especially on city holidays: it is here that solemn military parades and elegant processions in honor of the city day are held.

Let's start moving. If you do not cross the road, then continue walking along this even side, which is the sunniest and therefore most popular for walking.

You are crossing a small Vosstaniya street. There is a large Legal Center on Vosstaniya 6. At the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and this street, another shopping center rises - Stockmann (the same complex is sometimes called the Nevsky Center). As well as in the Gallery, here you can get a free map of the city and various coupons in Russian and English (if available ).
On the -1st floor there is a large Stockmann grocery store with imported and domestic products. Great selection but prices are above average. On different floors, as in the Gallery, there are cafes and restaurants.

After walking just a few meters from this building, on your left you will see public transport stops: trolleybuses, regular and commercial buses. On land transport for the price of travel, you can easily make an independent sightseeing tour of the city. For this purpose, trolleybuses No. 1, 5, 7, 10, 11, 22 are most suitable; buses 3, 7, 22, 24. For successful planning of your route, I advise you to use the sites rusavtobus and wikiroutes.

On your way you will come across different network establishments: souvenir shops,
book houses, as well as cafes and restaurants. To your right is the Teremok sign, ahead of you there will be a Teaspoon sign - these are two chains offering dishes and drinks of Russian traditional cuisine at the price of a bistro, where most of the food will be cooked in front of you (starting from pancakes with various fillings, ending salads). Also on the right you will see large elegant showcases of the Sever-Metropol cafe-confectionery. This is one of the oldest confectionery chains in the city.

Marata Street branches off to your left. At the end of it is the Oceanarium. Part of the building at the corner of Marat and Nevsky Prospekt is occupied by the station of the 2nd metro line - here is the lobby of Mayakovskaya station
(above the lobby of the shopping complex Nevsky Atrium). Through the underground passage of this station, you can go either to the lobby of the Vosstaniya Square (the starting point of our route), or to the Moscow railway station. Anyone who knows about this saves time and effort.

Continuing to walk along Nevsky Prospekt, on the right you will see Mayakovsky Street. Along it are small grocery stores and cafe-restaurants. Crossing the street, to your right you will notice the large windows of one of the Imperial Porcelain Factory branded stores.
This is not their only branded store on your way, you can visit any. Highly recommend to visit.

After the store of the Imperial Porcelain Factory, on the right side you will notice the brightly decorated windows of the folklore tavern "Tryn Trava". On weekdays they offer the so-called "cart" - an unlimited offer of Russian traditional salads, appetizers and side dishes (some establishments of the network also include hot dishes in the buffet).

On the other side of the Nevsky Prospekt, after the Nevsky Palace Hotel (noticeable building), a little further on, there is a sign “Soviet Cafe Apartment” – also one of the places with Russian/Soviet cuisine.

Then you will be blocked by a wide street, which, in fact, consists of two: to the right of Nevsky Prospekt, Liteiny Prospekt branches off, and on the left, Vladimirsky Prospekt. Vladimirsky Prospekt ends with Vladimirskaya Square, on which the cathedral of the same name is located (according to information on the official website of the cathedral, the iconostasis of the 18th century, transferred in 1809-10 from the church of the Anichkov Palace, was preserved in the upper church).
In addition, there are metro lobbies of two different lines on this square: 1st - station "Vladimirskaya", 4th - "Dostoevskaya". On weekends and holidays, entrance to and exit from Dostoevskaya station is possible through the vestibule of the Vladimirskaya station, be careful.

The next street branching from Nevsky Prospekt on the left is Rubinstein. It is considered one of the most restaurant streets in the city (almost every second building is either a cafe, or a pub, or a restaurant). The street ends with the unique Five Corners Square, the only place in St. Petersburg where five corners of buildings face the square.

Continuing to walk along Nevsky Prospekt, on the left side you will see a pink building, this is the Beloselsky-Belozersky Grand Duke's Palace, the last private palace built on Nevsky Prospekt.
The palace of Count A.S. served as an architectural prototype for this building. Stroganov, also located on Nevsky Prospekt (you will see it on your way), built according to the project of F. B. Rastrelli in the middle of the 18th century. In accordance with the Baroque style, the facade also has numerous columns, figures of Atlanteans, and the facades are elegantly painted in three colors. From the middle of the 19th century, the Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace became the venue for famous balls and other social events. Now the palace hosts performances and concerts. In the front halls on the 2nd floor, the decoration of the mid-late 19th century has been preserved.

The bridge that is on your way is called Anichkov. According to one version, the etymology of the word is explained by the name of Lieutenant Colonel-engineer Mikhail Anichkov, whose battalion in the time of Peter the Great was located beyond the Fontanka in the so-called Anichkova Sloboda.
On the bridge you see 4 sculptural groups, united by the common theme "Taming the Horse". Sculptures reflectfour stages of conquering a horse by a person, each of which, of course, looks different. Walking around the city, be sure to consider each of them. Pay attention to the second pedestal in the course of your movement: on the stone you will see a trace left by a bomb during the Great Patriotic War. A young city with a considerable history carefully preserves the memory of all the events taking place in it.

The bridge was erected over the Fontanka River, the morphology of the word determines the connection of the name of the river with fountains: the river used to irrigate the fountains of the Summer Garden, which runs along the river. After one of the floods of the city, it ceased to function in this way, but the name did not change. Don't forget to stop and look at the lattice of the bridge - St. Petersburg is famous for its original lattices, fences and even lanterns.

On the left side of Nevsky Prospekt, immediately after the bridge, there is a bright building in the early Baroque style - another palace, its name is the same as that of the bridge. The facade of the building does not face Nevsky Prospekt, but the river, since the entrance to it was supposed to be from the water. After the construction in 1753, the palace was the imperial palace, passing from one royal family to another as a wedding gift. In Soviet times, the palace became the Palace of Youth Creativity and to this day serves as an institution of additional education.
Children from 3 to 18 years old can find something to their liking from more than 200 circles, visiting which can determine their further professional development. I myself attended several circles, including an excursion one - the club was called Petropol (one of the literary names of Petersburg), we were taught lead tours of the palace itself. Believe me, there is something to see there: both the unique red glass invented by the genius Lomonosov, and the Winter Gardens, of which there were only two in Imperial Russia (the other is located in the Winter Palace). Before the new year, a festive tree is put up in the palace and festive events for children are held.

Continue moving along Nevsky Prospekt. The first street that branches off from it on the right is called Karavannaya, and there are a large number of restaurants, including folklore ones, on it. The street runs past the beautiful building of the Circus, as well as the Cinema House - a place where film festivals are held, films are shown, including in the original language (they must include subtitles). Also, on the right along Nevsky Prospekt, you can see an arch with the word "Aurora" - there is another cinema in the courtyard, which also shows films in foreign languages. The interior of the VIP hall of the cinema is very close to the theatrical: comfortable chairs, a curtain, sculptures - all this is conducive to watching movies.

Passing by the palace and the garden adjacent to it, you will see a square in the center of which stands a monument to Catherine II.
Come closer to view the monument: the Empress is surrounded by her associates, among whom there is a woman - Princess Dashkova, known for helping Catherine 2 ascend to the throne as a result of a coup d'état, and also subsequently was the director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Behind the monument you can see a beautiful two-tone building in the Empire style, decorated with a chariot on top.
This is the building of the Alexandrinsky Theatre, the first Russian theater that has offered some of the best performances in the city since its inception. One of the most beautiful streets of the city lurks behind the theater - the street of the architect Rossi

(it is known for being symmetrical and proportional: its width is equal to the height of the buildings forming it (22 meters), and its length is exactly ten times greater - 220 meters). The square and the theater are located on Ostrovsky Square (Ostrovsky is a Russian playwright), it is from here that the red double-decker city tour bus departs. Moreover, fairs and festivals are periodically held here.

To the right of the square rises another building with sculptures - this is the National Library of Russia.
Currently, in addition to the reference rooms and electronic resources, several library rooms, the library houses the Faust study or the Gothic room. The study was built and equipped in a medieval style in 1857. In the center of the room is a statue of Gutenberg, the first European book printer. Also in this room are books published before 1501.

Turn back to Nevsky Prospekt. In front of you is an interesting building in the Art Nouveau style, the shop of the merchants Eliseevs. Your attention will surely be attracted by large windows with moving rat figurines (author M. Shemyakin)
inside and partially visible interior. The interior has been recreated, however, I advise you to go inside and feel like a representative of the beau monde, who got into the decoration of the store at the beginning of the 20th century.
Surprisingly, the prices for the products offered are not as high as you might think. With the help of multilingual staff, you can choose a delicacy that will be a pleasure to eat in the luxurious atmosphere of the store.

Leaving the atmosphere of the 20th century, going around the building, you will find yourself on Malaya Sadovaya Street, full of sculptures that grant wishes.
Right in the center is a granite ball-fountain, a favorite place for photographing tourists and locals, which during the operation of the fountains rotates due to the pressure of water. To make your wish come true, you just need to go to the fountain and touch it. It is not necessary to spin the ball itself - this spoils the internal mechanisms and harms the fountain. Among other original sculptures, I can also mention the sculptures of the cat Elisha and the cat Vasilisa,
located on different sides of the street at the level of the second floor opposite each other. To fulfill a wish, you need to throw a coin to the pedestal so that it stays on it. You can learn more about the sculptures by reading this article. A little further down the street on the left side you will be pleased with the sculpture of a photographer with a dog. You can take a picture with the photographer, you can touch the bulldog's tongue - plus two fulfilled wishes are provided to you!

Continuing along Nevsky Prospekt, you will cross an underground passage with a variety of souvenirs. Some souvenirs are cheaper than store ones, some are more expensive, but the quality is about the same.

The passage is located under Sadovaya Street, if you go along it to the left, you will see the Engineering Castle, the Moika River, the Summer Garden.

Without turning in the underpass, continue the intended path along the avenue.
To your left will be a long yellow building - this is the Gostiny Dvor, a shopping complex created in the 18th century as the largest commercial premises in the Russian Empire. By the beginning of the twentieth century, Gostiny Dvor continued to be the largest trading center for industrial goods in St. Petersburg. Nowadays, more than three thousand Russian and foreign firms present their products in its 2-kilometer trading halls; in the range of about 170 thousand varieties of goods, and on sale about two million units of goods (according to the official website of Gostiny Dvor). This building also has a free public toilet located in the part of the building located on Sadovaya Street (after the Lego store).

A little further from Gostiny Dvor you see the pinkish pointed tower of the Duma.
After construction, it was used for optical telegraph communication (a mirror telegraph connected the Winter Palace with Tsarskoye Selo) and as a fire tower. Now the building houses the Children's Philharmonic, Music School. N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov, Institute of St. Petersburg, and since 1998 - the North-Western and St. Petersburg branches of the Savings Bank of Russia.

On Dumskaya Street (between Gostiny Dvor and the Duma Tower) there are sightseeing buses that take you around not only St. Petersburg and its suburbs, but also other Russian cities. Ticket offices are located nearby, they can book a tour in a foreign language.

Let's go back to the side of the Nevsky on which we are. Turn around to face the buildings - one of them is decorated with a Passage sign. This is the real Passage - a covered street of boutiques and various shops.

I advise you to look into a slightly hidden shop on the right side, which is called the Chocolate Museum. Here you can see and buy multi-colored chocolate busts of Lenin, trophies, souvenirs, and other handicrafts. In the center of the Passage, at the level of the second floor, there is a bridge where in the evenings you can listen to music with a cup of aromatic drink from the cafe. The passage periodically becomes a platform for fairs with handmade goods. As a rule, this happens during the holidays: the New Year and Christmas fair, the fair in honor of February 23 and March 8, the fair on the occasion of the City Day.

The next building after the Passage houses a large round-the-clock bookstore Bukvoed. Here you can find souvenirs, books in different languages, maps, guides, on the second floor a part of the store is reserved for kits for self-creation.

A little further on Nevsky Prospekt you will see a staircase leading to the Sever confectionery - one of the very first cafes of this confectionery network in the city. In the depths of the cafe, not only delicious branded desserts are sold, but also hot dishes.

Further on your way, almost one after another, you will see several churches of St. Catherine - this is explained by the fact that they were approved and built during the reign of Catherine 2. The first church - the Armenian Church of St. Catherine, was built in the classicism style using blue and white tones.
After the construction, the church became the center of Armenian culture in St. Petersburg: a printing house and an Armenian national school were opened under it, which still operates to this day.

The next street blocking your way on the right side is called Mikhailovskaya. Without crossing the road, look at the square with the square and the beautiful light building behind it.
The building is the Grand Duke's Mikhailovsky Palace, open to the public since 1898 as the Russian Museum. It contains paintings and sculptures by world famous Russian artists, sculptors, if you have free time - be sure to visit! On the square there is a monument to the great Russian poet and writer Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, widely known not only in Russia but also abroad. By the way, the same sculptor (Anikushin) created another monument to Pushkin, which stands at the station of the first branch of the St. Petersburg metro - Pushkinskaya.

Keep in mind that when you cross Mikhailovskaya Street, there is an underground passage under you, which leads not only to the opposite side of Nevsky Prospekt, but also straight to the Nevsky Prospekt station of the second metro line.

The second cathedral on the right side is the Catholic Church of St. Catherine. In front of it there is usually an exhibition and sale of paintings (artists start coming after 10.30 and stay until late).
Even if you don't plan to buy anything, be sure to check out the contemporary art pieces.

Go ahead. Right in front of you, a grandiose Art Nouveau building begins to rise, ending with a composition in the form of a globe.
This building is definitely higher than those that you have already seen. You probably noticed during the walk that all the houses are about the same height. There is a historical explanation for this: by decree of Nicholas 1, it was not allowed to build houses higher than the Hermitage (22.5 meters to the cornice). This building meets the required standards, since the decorative part with the globe is not a living space - surprisingly, the diameter of the globe is 2.8 meters, people can fit in it! The building was erected for the Joint Stock Company Singer, a manufacturer of sewing machines. Now the first two floors are occupied by the Book House, which offers a wide range of various literature in different languages, including souvenir items. On the second floor there is a panoramic cafe - worth a visit if only for beautiful photos of the city! As far as I know, the upper floors of the building belong to the headquarters of the Vkontakte social network. They say that the color of the globe illumination (red, blue, green) is determined by the mood of the company's management!

Cross the small road that crosses your path and stop at the bridge.
In front of you rises the pearl of cathedral-museums - the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.

Alas, the creation of this festive design of the cathedral was a tragedy - in the place where the cathedral was erected, Emperor Alexander 2 was killed, the one who abolished serfdom. The cathedral was built on donations. During the Soviet era, when the authorities got rid of everything religious, there was a warehouse of costumes for the theater inside, which caused significant damage to the artistic and decorative decoration. In 1997, the restored cathedral was opened to the public. Be sure to take the time to walk up to the cathedral, explore it from the outside, and get to know the stunning interior.

You will be surprised to know that the mosaic exposition of the Savior on Spilled Blood is one of the largest collections in Europe, its area is 7065 square meters!

At the corner of Nevsky Prospekt with the Griboyedov Canal embankment, there is a lobby of the Nevsky Prospekt metro station, which has a certain opening hours. If you cross the avenue and continue along the Griboyedov Canal on the even side, you will reach the Bank Bridge, on which there are magic griffins.
They look great in photos!

We continue to walk along Nevsky Prospekt. On the opposite side of the House of the Book is the functioning Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan.
This cathedral is a cathedral, contains a miraculous list (that is, a copy) of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. The burial place of the Russian commander M.I. Kutuzov, above it are the captured banners of the defeated French regiments, the keys to the fortresses and cities of Europe, taken by the Russian army. There are commanders on both sides of the cathedral: Kutuzov on the right, Barclay de Tolly on the left. With their help, Russia defeated the French in the War of 1812.

By the way, about the bridge. Have you seen the bridge fence on the other side of Nevsky Prospekt? You have crossed one of the widest bridges in St. Petersburg - its width is already 95 meters ! Moreover, this is the lowest bridge in St. Petersburg.

Continue following the assigned route. To your right, the pedestrian Malaya Konyushennaya Street branches off. There is a monument to N.V. Gogol (one of the classics of Russian literature), at the end of the street there is a monument to the policeman.

Also on your right will be the Lutheran Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
There were no original products left in the decoration of the church - under the Soviet regime, this church suffered no less than others: in addition to the fact that the decoration of the church, which was of artistic value, was confiscated and ended up in the storerooms of museums, a warehouse of theatrical scenery was arranged in the church building, then a warehouse of vegetables, and later a swimming pool was built in the church! In 1990 the church was restored.

After the church, also on the right you will see the wide Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street, in the center of which there is a pedestrian square. On this street is the Finnish Church of St. Mary , as well as modern sculptural compositions of fountains with pegasi.

Ahead to your left on Nevsky Prospekt will be the building of the Stroganov Palace - the prototype of the Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace, which we passed earlier. This building was built in the Russian Baroque style and is currently a branch of the Russian Museum. Now the Great Hall is open to visitors here - the only interior in St. Petersburg that has preserved the original decorations of Rastrelli and the unique ceiling of G. Valeriani "The Hero's Triumph". Also, two suites of ceremonial halls on the second floor, designed by the most famous Russian architects of the 18th-19th centuries - F. Demertsov, A. Voronikhin, P. Sadovnikov, I. Kolodin (information taken from the official website of the Russian Museum) were restored in the palace.

Behind the palace building you will see another river, the Moika. For Russian people, the building at the corner of 18 Nevsky Prospekt and Moika is very symbolic - it was here that the poet Alexander Pushkin drank his last cup of coffee and went to a fatal duel. At the moment, the same Wolf and Beranger restaurant is located on this site, only it occupies a smaller area (part of the first floor is the Orange flower shop).

Keep going, on the right, after 40-50 meters you will see a beautiful arch of the General Staff building,
examine it, go through it to the center of the Palace Square. Now you can look around again. You are in the so-called "Golden Triangle" of the city, an architectural ensemble inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Ahead you see the Winter Palace - the residence of the emperors, the palace, which houses part of the museum, containing more than 2 million exhibits.

In the center of the square is the Alexander triumphal column, erected in honor of the victory in the Russian-French war of 1812. This is a monolithic column, supported by its own weight, it is completed by an angel with the face of Alexander 1 - the emperor under whom the war was won. Turn to the side through which you entered: on your right side of the General Staff building is the command of the Western Military District, on the left side is part of the Hermitage Museum (this is where the creations of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, which were previously located on the third floor of the Winter Palace) are now located) . On the arch connecting the eastern and western wings of the building rises a chariot with the goddess of victory Nike.

Next, I propose to go along the Winter Palace to the right. On your way you will meet Atlanteans who courageously hold part of the palace. One of the Atlanteans fulfills wishes - for their fulfillment, it is enough to touch the little finger of one of them.
Continue walking until the Winter Canal (this is the name of the canal in the Central District of St. Petersburg, connecting the Bolshaya Neva and the Moika near the Winter Palace). Above it you will see an arch-transition connecting two buildings of the palace: the Hermitage Theater and the building of the Big (Old) Hermitage. Behind the archway you can see the Hermitage bridge, and behind it the main river of the city - the Neva.

The Hermitage Bridge offers an extraordinary view of the Hare Island with the Peter and Paul Fortress on it.
At this place, the first stone of the city was laid, designed to protect the Russian border from the Swedes (Russia fought the Swedes since 1700 and eventually emerged victorious from the war). To the right you see the Spit of Vasilevsky Island (the eastern tip of Vasilyevsky Island in St. Petersburg) with the majestic Stock Exchange building located between two rostral columns.
Rostral columns (they owe their name to rostras - parts of boats decorating columns) served as beacons, fire was lit on them. Now the fire can be seen only on holidays: the Day of the complete lifting of the Blockade (pictured) and Victory Day.

The Palace Bridge, which is located to your left, is the most recognizable among travelers coming to St. Petersburg - it is on it that both spans are parted during the navigation period (at other bridges, only one span rises).

Further, I would advise you to go from the left side of the Promenade des Anglais (you are on it) to the right and look around. On the other side of the Neva, you see the bluish-turquoise building of the Kunstkamera (this is the first building that was built specifically for the museum. Unusual exhibits were shown here: rarities and anomalies of nature. The museum also had and still has a large collection of antiquities that reveal the history and life of many peoples), yellow building of the Zoological Museum.

From this side of the Neva you will see a yellow building - the Admiralty, here, at one time, shipyards were built, now the Main Command of the Russian Navy is located here. The building is crowned with a spire with a ship - a weather vane, firmly included in the list of recognizable symbols of the city on the Neva.

If you stand facing the Admiralty, then to the right you can see an interesting monument to Peter the Great, absorbed in the work of a carpenter. The monument is called "The Carpenter Tsar".
The fact is that Peter the Great was an outstanding person: he knew perfectly more than 20 crafts of his time, was fluent in several foreign languages, was very energetic and active, preferred active participation in the construction of the city. You can also make wishes at this monument.

Return to Nevsky Prospekt, enveloping Palace Square. To your right will be the Alexander Garden,
in which there is a fountain with an original arrangement of pipes, a monument to the Russian traveler and naturalist N.M. Przhevalsky (at the foot of the bronze bust of the traveler there is a camel) , a monument to M. Yu. Lermontov, M. I. Glinka (world famous Russian composer), A. M. Gorchakov (head of the Russian Foreign Ministry under Alexander II, comrade A. S. Pushkin), N. V. Gogol, V.A. Zhukovsky (Russian poet, academician), sculpture "Flora Farnese", "Heracles Farnese", a memorial plate on the site of the first line of the St. Petersburg tram.

To the left of the park you will see the huge St. Isaac's Cathedral - the largest Orthodox cathedral in St. Petersburg.
This is the creation of the hands of the architect Montferrand, for whom the creation of the cathedral became a matter of life and lasted for 40 years! The cathedral is surrounded by 112 monolithic columns, each of which could be hoisted into place by 19th century engineers in less than 10 minutes. How? You can find out about this in the museum itself. The colonnade of the cathedral for a bird's eye view of the city is available for visiting for an additional fee.

If you want to continue your route along Nevsky Prospekt on foot, continue walking along its even side until the beginning of our route. If you want to use public transport to return to a certain point on the route, I advise you to go to the bus and trolleybus stop located next to houses 7-9, or walk to Malaya Morskaya Street (the first street branching off to the right), turn onto it, walk to complex "Admiral" and go around it on the left side - you will see the sign of the subway. Here is the station of the 5th line of the metro "Admiralteyskaya".

*You may have noticed that on Nevsky Prospekt, the duration of the green light for pedestrians to cross can be 3-5 seconds. By default, pedestrians can complete their movement and walk to the opposite side. gate, Blue bridge and St. Isaac's Cathedral – a wonderful mix!

in St. Petersburg and the world - 97.3 meters. This bridge is called Sinim (seen in the photograph), is located in the Admiralteisky district of St. Petersburg, is thrown over the Moika River and connects the Kazan and 2nd Admiralteisky islands.

This spectacle is accessible both from the embankments and from sightseeing boats and boats.

To the question: "Where to walk in St. Petersburg?" no one can give you a definitive answer. And this is understandable. Peter, as Saint Petersburg is called in a friendly way, is not an ordinary city, it is a metropolis in which every building, every street, every square and every courtyard remembers the events of some century. It's Peter! It is all woven from grandiose events, it breathes with eternity and grace...

To feel this city with your heart, you need to start walking around St. Petersburg from Nevsky Prospekt, which, according to Andrey Bely,

"like any avenue, there is a public avenue, that is, an avenue for the circulation of the public (not air, for example) ..."

Where to walk in St. Petersburg - the best beautiful places and unusual routes

1. Nevsky prospect

Nevsky Prospekt is a large communication highway of St. Petersburg. There is no way to bypass it if you have already found yourself in the city - neither from east to west, nor from west to east.

Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg, photo

There are as many as four metro stations on Nevsky Prospekt, which contributes to the filling of the street with tourists, visitors, the public seeking fame, attention, communication ... Do you want to see some celebrity? Come to Nevsky Prospekt and you will definitely meet her there. Nevsky is the most popular place for a promenade if you haven't decided yet where to take a walk in St. Petersburg.

2. Catherine's garden

If you are looking for where to take a walk in St. Petersburg and we are talking about Nevsky, it is worth remembering the Catherine Garden, the entrance to which is also located on Nevsky, just opposite the Eliseevsky store on Ostrovsky Square. Photos, on the monument to Catherine II, the authors shot it in the Catherine Garden, the sculptor, who captured the greatness of the Empress - Mikhail Mikeshin.

Interesting places of St. Petersburg, where you should take a walk - Catherine's Garden and a fragment of the monument to Catherine II

The general composition of the monument will certainly be interesting: at the feet of Catherine the Great there are sculptures of her faithful subjects:

• Field Marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky
• Field Marshal Grigory Potemkin
• generalissimo, great commander Alexander Suvorov

This great trio faces Nevsky Prospekt;

• poet Gabriel Derzhavin
• Head of the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy of Sciences Princess Ekaterina Dashkova

Their sculptures face the Anichkov Palace;

• Chancellor of the Russian Empire Alexander Bezborodko
• President of the Imperial Academy of Arts Ivan Betskoy

These great figures are addressed to the public library;

• Admiral Vasily Chichagov
• Count Alexei Orlov-Chesmensky

To the facade of the Alexandrinsky Theatre.

• Address: pl. Ostrovsky, art. Metro Gostiny Dvor"

3. Gostiny Dvor

Gostiny Dvor was built back in the time of Catherine the Great, in 1757-1785. On the territory of this largest shopping complex in St. Petersburg, there were as many as nine markets.

If you decide to go around the perimeter of the Gostiny Dvor building, prepare comfortable shoes - the total length of the building is about one kilometer. From Gostiny Dvor you can get to one of the four nearby streets - Nevsky Prospekt, Dumskaya, Lomonosova and Sadovaya.

Gostiny Dvor in St. Petersburg

There are also four metro stations near Gostiny Dvor:

1. Nevskaya
2. Perinnaya (exit to Dumskaya street)
3. Lomonosovskaya
4. Sadovaya

• Opening hours of Gostiny Dvor: daily, 10:00-22:00.
• Address: Nevsky prospect, 35, st. Metro Gostiny Dvor"

4. Drawbridges over the Neva

Since St. Petersburg is located on islands lying at the mouth of the Neva River, a special infrastructure is needed for the normal functioning of river and sea transport - drawbridges. In total, there are more than 800 bridges on the territory of the northern capital, including 21 drawbridges.

Navigation on the Neva lasts from April to October, during this period it is necessary to draw bridges, the procedure is carried out by special services. Bridges are drawn up at night, you can see this picture with your own eyes.

Drawbridges of St. Petersburg

The most colorful divorce pictures are shown by the Palace, Liteiny, Trinity and Bolsheokhtinsky bridges.

Many types of St. Petersburg bridges are depicted on greeting cards and business cards of the city. The most photogenic is the Palace Bridge, which is usually photographed against the backdrop of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Following the Palace Bridge, you can get from the Winter Palace to the spit of Vasilyevsky Island.

If you lay out a travel route along the Troitsky Bridge, which is located next door, you will get from the Palace Embankment to the Petrograd side. The Trinity Bridge is being raised only halfway - that span, which is located on the left bank of the Neva, near the Palace Embankment, is being raised.

Another route where you can take a walk in St. Petersburg is a pedestrian walk from the Palace to the Liteiny Bridge and further - the transition to the Vyborg side of St. Petersburg.

The foundry drawbridge just serves to connect the Vyborg side with Liteiny Prospekt. In the area of ​​Liteiny Neva makes a turn. A walk along the route Palace Bridge - Liteiny Bridge (you can walk either along the Palace Embankment or along the Moika Embankment) will last about 40 minutes.

5. Kazanskaya Square and Kazan Cathedral

It is worth stopping by to see the monuments to the great Russian generals - Mikhail Kutuzov and Mikhail Barclay de Tolly. Both famous military leaders commanded the Russian army in difficult times for Russia, in the Patriotic War of 1812, during the period of opposition to the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Where you can walk in St. Petersburg - Kazan Cathedral, photo

• Address: Kazanskaya square, st. metro station Nevsky prospect

6. St. Isaac's Cathedral

If we talk about the famous St. Isaac's Cathedral, then in the history of St. Petersburg there were several of them: the first is wooden, Peter I got married in it. The second is stone, which was built on the site of a dilapidated wooden one. But even he did not stand for a long time - the Neva eroded the foundations and the temple had to be rebuilt. The third is the result of a forty-year period of construction completed under Emperor Paul I. The architect of the cathedral was a young Frenchman, Auguste Montferrand, who died almost immediately after the completion of construction.

However, the skill of the author of the majestic building has not sunk into oblivion - St. Petersburg has adorned a magnificent temple, its decoration contains sculptural compositions, mosaics, stained-glass windows, paintings, the cathedral makes an indelible impression on the guests of northern Palmyra.

St. Isaac's Cathedral, photo

Currently, Isaac is used as a museum, only in rare cases worship is held here.

As soon as the white nights come, tourists rush to St. Isaac's Square - just at this time the main tourist attraction of the temple - the colonnade - is available until dawn.

• Ticket price: 250 rubles, visiting the Colonnade - 150 rubles.
• Opening hours: daily, except Wednesday, 10:30 - 18:00, evening programs (April 27 - September 30): daily, except Wednesday, 18:00 - 22:30
• Address: St. Isaac's Square, 4 st. metro station "Admiralteyskaya"

7. New Holland

New Holland is a man-made island, a monument of industrial architecture, created in the 18th century in the Neva Delta. The project envisaged the construction of a large maritime transport and storage facility behind the island formed by the Moika, the Admiralteisky and Kryukov canals, in which they could store the ship timber needed by the shipyards of St. Petersburg.

Man-made island New Holland, photo

The project was completed at the end of the eighteenth century. According to historical documents, the small palace of Peter I was located on the territory of New Holland.

The symbol of the island is a magnificent arch-portal, made in the classical style, its photo and design can be found in almost all architecture textbooks in the world.

Buy train tickets to Saint Petersburg

• Free admission
• Opening hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 - 22:00, Friday - Sunday 9:00 - 23:00
• Address: Admiralteisky Canal Embankment, 2, st. metro station "Admiralteyskaya"

8. Central Park of St. Petersburg

Central Park of St. Petersburg. CM. Kirov is located near the St. Petersburg stadium, where the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches are played.

It is located on Elagin Island, in the north of the city. Once there was a residence of Russian emperors, now the object is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Elaginoostrovsky Palace is located in the very center of the park; two museums are currently operating here:

• museum of Russian arts and crafts
• glass art museum

Central Park is the most beautiful place where you can take a walk in St. Petersburg, there is a rental of river boats and catamarans, you can go rollerblading, go on excursions in a mini-zoo.

• Opening hours: daily, 6:00 - 00:00
• Address: Yelagin island, st. metro station "Krestovsky Island"

9. Summer garden

The Summer Garden is the idea of ​​Peter I embodied in reality. It was conceived as a regular park - all lines had to be clear, geometrically correct - the paths met at right angles, the landscape of the park should be decorated with sculptures of ancient gods. However, time has made its own adjustments, the garden is a little distracted from regularity.

Summer garden in St. Petersburg - the idea of ​​Peter I, embodied in reality

Near the Neva is the Summer Palace of Peter, which, unfortunately, is now under restoration.

When you look into the Summer Garden, look for a monument to the fabulist Krylov; children's theatrical performances are regularly shown near it.

• Free admission
• Opening hours: May-September 10:00 - 22:00, October - March 10:00 - 20:00, daily except Wednesday
• Address: Palace embankment, st. metro station "Nevsky prospect", "Chernyshevskaya", "Gostiny Dvor"

10. Spit of Vasilievsky Bridge

The spit of the Vasilyevsky bridge is part of the Vasilyevsky Island, modified in order to locate a commercial port here. However, all the ships could not fit here, so they were eventually redirected to the neighboring city of Kronstadt and Gutuevsky Island, and the port area was transformed into a semicircular cape-square, at the point where the Bolshaya Neva meets Malaya. Opposite the arrow rises the building of the stock exchange, in which the Museum of Russian Guards and Heraldry, located in the structure of the Hermitage, will soon settle down.

The Strelka has an amazing decoration - Rostral columns, located between the cape and the Stock Exchange building. Rostras are the prows of enemy ships, taken as a trophy, and they are also allegorical figures of the largest and most historically valuable rivers - the Volga, Neva, Dnieper and Volkhov. In the past, the Rostral Columns were used as beacons, but now the fire on them can be seen during city holidays.