Saint
Petersburg
Three
Nights / Three Days (half-day on day one and half day on day 4)
Day One
Introduction to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg, a city that
started to build in 1703 with the construction of Peter and Paul Fortress on
Zayachi Island in the river Neva was Russian Capital for many years during
Tsar's regime. It is situated on the mouth of the Gulf of Finland and the Neva River
flows through it. City also has a canal network.
Initially, it grew around the
fortress and on the left bank of the Neva with the city centre at Vasilyevsky
Island with a grid of canals on the right bank of Neva River. However, soon the
planned construction started crisscrossing the present-day city. The capital of
Tsarist Russia moved to Saint Petersburg from Moscow in 1712.
It is the northernmost city with
over a million population in Europe. Saint Petersburg was built in various
architectural styles. Prominent among them were Baroque, Neo-Classical, Neo-Gothic,
and finally, the soviet style.
Saint Petersburg as a city looks as
if the whole city is a living museum, The architectural styles are preserved
with strict enforcement when buildings undergo renovations.
There is so much to see in Saint
Petersburg that it may take almost a week to see everything. The Hermitage
State Museum itself, if seen patiently and properly would take two to three
days.
Let us now travel to Saint
Petersburg.
How to Reach (Travel)
Saint Petersburg, the second-largest
city in Russia is very well connected with the rest of the world by Air, Rail,
and Buses. There are international flights from across the world, domestic
flights from all Russian cities. There are high-speed trains and other trains between
it and Moscow and also high-speed trains to Helsinki. There are also bus
services from Saint Peter to many destinations in Russia and some international
destinations.
As for our journey, we flew to
Moscow. Then to Kazan from there. If one has to travel from Kazan to Saint
Petersburg by train, first a regular train to Moscow which takes a long time
and then has to take a Sapsan (Russian high-speed train) which takes about four
hours to Saint Petersburg.
Another interesting thing worth
noting is, in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, there are multiple railway stations
and the trains leave from these stations in a particular direction. That means
one will have to change fro Kazansky Station to Leningradsky station once we
reach Moscow from Kazan to take a train to Saint Petersburg. The stations are a
few hundred meters but one has to carry his luggage across the street.
From our current destination,
Kazan, the most recommended method of travel to Saint Peterburg is by local
flight which goes from Kazan to Moscow and then to Saint Petersburg. This is
the fastest method.
Where to Stay (Accommodation)
With a city of Saint Petersburg’s
standing, there is plenty when it comes to accommodation. From super luxury
hotels, small Boutique hotels, Apartment hotels, holiday rentals, Homestays, B
& Bs and Hostels, These are
available from very close to the city centre to about a few kilometres from the
city centre, there would always be an accommodation to suit the individual
budget. Where one stays would depend on a combination of budget, convenience
(if budget is low, convenience has to be sacrificed a bit), duration of stay,
etc. The best area to stay is in and within two to three kilometres from Nevsky
Prospect.
What to do in Saint Petersburg
Day 1
Presuming that one has landed from
Kazan (or from an international destination) by around 1100 am local time, it
would take next two to three hours to settle down in your accommodation and
finish your lunch (in central Petersburg there are plenty of Indian restaurants
too, but you take your pick and may choose a nearby Russian or any other
outlet, many are available). On this day, you would be able to set out around
two to three pm.
Its time to soak in the beauty called Saint
Petersburg. Travel straight to Nevsky Prospect (Neva street) if you are staying
away. This, by and far is, the most beautiful
street in Saint Petersburg. Starting from Moscowvisky Vogzal (Station for
trains going to Moscow) till Admiralty, its something that should be covered by
foot and its sights, sounds and vibrancies should be fully absorbed.
Anichkov Bridge
On the main Navski Prospect,
walking from Moscowvisky Station to Admiralty (Yes, walking, because there is
no other better way of soaking in what Saint Petersburg is but to walk on Nevsky
Prospect), One comes across the Anichkov Bridge,
adorned with 4 striking equestrian statues called Horse Tamers.
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Busy Nevsky Prospekt (Street)
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Saint Petersburg Skyline from Anchikov Bridge
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| Saint Petersburg Skyline from Anchikov Bridge (the other side) |
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Gostinyy Dvor
As you walk down
further on this street, you will reach Gostinyy Dvor, the Largest departmental
store in Saint Petersburg with 250 years of History. It is a major landmark on
Nevsky. This was created by the order of Empress Elisabeth to make it the
biggest trading place in Imperial Russia. This place has seen both good and bad
days. Finally, it was renovated post-WW II as it had suffered major damage
during this war and converted to a departmental store.
Kazan Cathedral
The next major
monument that comes on this street is Kazan Cathedral (or Cathedral of Our Lady
of Kazan). The cathedral was named after the "miracle-making" icon of
Our Lady of Kazan. It was constructed between 1801 and 1811 as the country’s main Orthodox Church (the
branch of Christianity followed in Russia). Field Marshal Mikhail
Kutuzov, a famous Russian Military Commander instrumental in defeating Napoleon
in 1812 also has been buried in this Cathedral.
It is a major landmark on Nevsky Prospekt which
is not to be missed. It is one of the most revered cathedrals in Russia which
opened after a gap of 70 years in 1990 after the fall of communism. It is a
must-visit place.
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| Kazan Cathedral |
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| Kazan Cathedral |
Cathedral of Saviour on the Spilled Blood
The next place worth visit is a little away
from the Nevsky Prospekt on the banks of Griboyedov Canal. To go there, one has
to take a right turn at the first bank of the Canal when moving in the direction
of Hermitage, on the square just before Kazan Cathedral (which is after this square).
Walk approximately three blocks to reach this Cathedral of Saviour on the
Spilled Blood, however, the colourful and charming domes of this cathedral would
be visible even from the main road. It has been at the exact spot where the
then Tsar, Alexander II was fatally wounded in 1881 by those who opposed his
move to do away with slavery about five years ago. He eventually succumbed to
his injuries. His son, the next Tasr, Alexender III started the construction in
1883 and it was completed in 1907.
The cathedral is breathtaking and beautiful form
the outside. It is even more beautiful and breathtaking from inside. It must be
remembered that this is not a place of worship anymore but a secular museum of
Mosaic. This place has more than 7500 square meters of mosaic. Most of it is depicting
biblical themes. Another important fact is, this cathedral is built in Medieval
Russian architectural style (similar to Saint Basel’s Cathedral in Moscow)
unlike the other churches in Saint Petersburg which are built-in Neo-classical style
or in Baroque style.
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| Cathedral of Saviour of the Spilled Blood (Central Dome is Under Repair) |
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| Entrance |
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| Inside |
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| Beautiful Wall Painting |
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| One More |
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| See the inside Beauty |
By the time one soaks in the beauty of this
place, it would be evening. One can make a trip to Mikhailovsky Garden right
opposite the Cathedral of Saviour on the Spilled Blood. It’s a vast and
beautiful garden with landscaping and also has Mikhailovsky Palace inside it
which is now the main building of the Russian Museum.
In the Evening
It would be time to return to your accommodation
for getting small rest and then you can proceed to enjoy the nightlife and the
options are plenty, just look around what is nearby you on the internet and you will find many bars, discos, restaurants, etc.
Another option is to see a ballet at the famous Mariinsky Theater, the birthplace
of Russian ballets (don’t book any of your tickets through an aggregator,
always book through the original site. In this case at https://www.mariinsky.ru/en/).
There is
also, a very famous Circus which is good for adults and children alike. Its
called Bolshoi (Big) Saint Petersburg State Circus. It is on the embankment of the
Fontenka river. For booking of tickets, visit this official site - http://www.circus.spb.ru/eng.
That should be a good enough plan for this half
a day.
