Saint Petersburg, Russia

Cathedral of the Savior on Spilled Blood

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ on Blood was built on that very spot where, as a result of an assassination attempt, Alexander II was mortally wounded. On March 1, 1881, the Narodnaya Volya member Ignatiy Grinevitsky threw a bomb at the emperor’s feet. This happened on the embankment of the Catherine Canal as the “Tsar-Liberator” returned from the Mikhailovsky Palace. Some compare the Savior on Blood to St. Basil’s Cathedral, while others believe that the five-domed massive structure resembles a manor house in the spirit of Torzhok or Yaroslavl: richly decorated with mosaic and stone, with colorful domes in enamel and gilding. The interior decor is entirely executed in a mosaic style: it is one of the largest collections of mosaics in Europe. Everyone can see the place where the tsar was killed-the section of the pavement that has been preserved is cordoned off with a fence.

St. Isaac’s Cathedral

Squeezed between neighboring streets, Isaac is always seen in view suddenly. Just a moment ago you were walking along Malaya Morskaya, and suddenly you’re blinded by the radiance of the golden dome crowning the cathedral. The dome, which took more than 100 kg of gold, protected the building during the Second World War: the Germans used it as a landmark, so the cathedral-along with its vast collection of treasures-survived the bombings. The church’s interior is a continuous feast of gilding and stone: lapis lazuli, malachite, and rare varieties of marble. The dome fresco is especially impressive, recreating biblical scenes. And the main reason people usually come to Isaac is its high colonnade. By climbing the narrow spiral staircase, you reach a height of 43 meters: this is the best viewing platform in all of St. Petersburg.

Kazan Cathedral

The stone bulk of St. Petersburg’s Kazan Cathedral is the first thing that greets visitors to the city as they exit the “Nevsky Prospekt” metro station. Unlike other churches in the city, it looks strict and gloomy-befitting its role in history. The cathedral is named after the icon of the Kazan Mother of God, which once belonged to Ivan the Terrible and is believed to be the patroness of Russian warriors. When the Kazan Cathedral was built, the icon was brought to it from Moscow. In 1812, soldiers departed from the cathedral’s walls for the war against Napoleon. The cathedral is the burial place of Mikhail Kutuzov, the commander-in-chief of the Russian forces in that war against the French.

Palace Bridge

One of the main bridges of Saint Petersburg and its symbol, which is often seen on postcards. Palace Bridge links the city center and Vasilyevsky Island. It is still raised, so even today, in the late-night hours, the late and carefree citizens are still-just as they were almost a hundred years ago-forced to wait until morning to get back home.

Hermitage

The name of this colossal museum complex, oddly enough, translates as “a secluded corner.” Its history truly began with a small private collection of Catherine II, but over the course of two and a half centuries the museum has grown into one of the largest in the world. To carefully explore all of its halls, you’ll need more than a single week. The Hermitage complex consists of several buildings located close to one another along the Palace Embankment. The Winter Palace is the heart of the museum. In the Small Hermitage, among other treasures, there are the “Peacock” clocks made by London craftsman Cox: at a certain time, the gilded peacock, rooster, and owl not only sing convincingly, but also move as if they were real. The New Hermitage is famous for its sculptures of Atlantes-figures that hold a powerful stone portico on their shoulders.

Griboyedov Canal

Griboedov Canal - a route through St. Petersburg on its own, crossing half the city: from the center and almost all the way to the Gulf of Finland. A stroll along it on a small boat is an incredible pleasure: here, every building is a landmark. For example, in house No. 69 lived Gogol, and in house No. 61 - Dostoevsky. By the way, the latter also placed some of his characters here. One of the main decorations of the canal is its two dozen bridges. The Bank Bridge with griffins - winged lions - is located opposite the former Assignee Bank (houses No. 30-32). The Lion Bridge is located not far from Theatre Square. The Demidov Bridge is also fascinating, with its amazing, almost jeweler-like lattice, as well as the unique water intersection of the Griboedov Canal with the Kryukov Canal.

Peter and Paul Fortress

This is the heart of St. Petersburg-the structure where the city’s construction began. The fortress’s six bastions are named after Peter the Great’s associates, who oversaw their construction. Positioned symmetrically, they look their best from the sky. The fortress has never taken part in battles; instead, it served as a political prison-people were sent here without a court decision, by order of the Tsar alone. And today, the Trubetskoy Bastion houses a museum-prison. Other interesting places within the fortress grounds include the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Boat House, and the Mint, where absolutely all Russian coins were struck until the end of the 20th century. There is also the famous cannon that, for time immemorial, fires precisely at noon, marking the hour.

Nevsky Prospect

The city’s main thoroughfare is not a place for misanthropes: all day long, movement never stops. It is a scaled-down model of the city, combining luxury and its unglamorous back side. Starting at Palace Square and crossing the Griboedov Canal, the Moika and the Fontanka, it alternately showcases cathedrals, boutiques, upscale hotels and shops filled with souvenirs from Khokhloma. In the former Singer building-with a glass globe-there is the “House of the Book,” one of the main cultural venues in St. Petersburg. Nearby are “Gostiny Dvor” and “Passage,” old-school department stores that once held the thoughts of fashion-conscious women in Soviet times. Playful statues standing on the sidewalk invite you to museums of chocolate and wax figures.

Kunstkamera

The Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography in Saint Petersburg is still called, as in the old days, the Kunstkamera-that is, a “cabinet of curiosities.” The idea of creating the Kunstkamera belongs to Peter I, who, during one of his trips abroad, saw similar collections in Holland. Under his reign, they began collecting items of everyday life from different corners of the world. The museum also has samurai armor, tools of labor from African tribes, and a Mongolian yurt. However, above all, the Kunstkamera is known for its collection of “freaks”-anatomical abnormalities. They appeared at the same time, under Peter, and were shown to the public with the aim of education.

Summer Garden

Akmatova’s lines about the best in the world from behind the fences are not just a tribute to her beloved city, but an obvious truth: the Summer Garden’s wrought-iron grille is gilded lace, resting on granite columns-one of the most beautiful not only in St. Petersburg, but also throughout the entire world. The Summer Garden was planned by Peter I as a place where decent citizens could enjoy a cultural pastime. In the early 18th century, the garden featured aviaries, greenhouses, and fountains. The creators of the garden filled it with sculptures specially brought from Italy-some are still here today, bravely withstanding the harsh climate, while others have been replaced by replicas. Today, the Summer Garden still remains one of the best places for a walk, especially on sunny days of Indian summer.

Panoramic tour of Saint Petersburg

You will see all the main sights that have earned the city its reputation as an open-air museum: the Hermitage and Palace Square, Saint Isaac's Cathedral, the Admiralty, the Bronze Horseman, the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, the Peter and Paul Fortress, Nevsky Prospekt, Kazan Cathedral, Savior on Spilled Blood... enjoy the harmony of the Northern capital and take beautiful photos!

Peterhof. Capital of Fountains

The excursion will begin even on the way there-the route to Peterhof runs along the Old Peterhof Road, the grand departure route from the capital to the king’s country residence, which is still rich in architectural and historical monuments, as well as palace-and-park ensembles of the 18th-19th centuries. These are the estates of the great princes, the sons of Nicholas I, the Sheremetevs, the Naryshkins, E.R. Dashkova, etc. In the Lower Park of Peterhof there are several artistically complete architectural-and-park ensembles, each of which includes a palace, parterres, fountains, and so-called “service corners.” The central ensemble is the Grand Palace with a cascade, a canal, and flowerbeds; the “Grand Orangery” with an orchard and greenhouses; the Monplaisir Palace with a garden and the “for culinary herbs” glasshouses; the Marly Palace with vegetable gardens, gardens, and fish ponds. Monplaisir is Peter the Great’s favorite palace. It was Peter the Great who determined the location of the palace-it is located just a few steps from the restless waves of the Gulf of Finland, as well as the interior layout and some decorative elements of the finish. If the soul of Peterhof is its magnificent fountains, then the heart of Peterhof can rightfully be called the “Monplaisir” Palace.

You can view a more detailed list of excursions and their prices after booking the cruise in your “Client Personal Account.”