As far as renowned sights in Saint Petersburg, the State Hermitage Museum, Peterhof Palace, Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood and the State Russian Museum are certainly four of the most famous places to visit in St Petersburg. Saying this, there are other notable places in St Petersburg that you wouldn't want to miss visiting while in the city. They include:
Peter and Paul Fortress (Petropavlovskaya Krepost), Petrogradskiy Rayon
Peter and Paul Fortress is one place in St Petersburg you really can't miss seeing because it’s the original fortified area of St Petersburg that was built back in the 1700’s. The walled area of Peter and Paul Fortress also houses some great sights such as the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which houses the tombs of many Russian Tsars and Tsarinas, a mint building, a huge bell tower (tallest in St. Petersburg), and the prison cells down below the bastions, which you’re allowed to tour.
Besides these, Peter and Paul Fortress is also the home of St. Petersburg Museum of History, which is one amazing place to learn about Russia’s ancient history and see old artifacts on display such as maps, work tools, silverware and paintings.
Saint Isaac's Square (Isaakiyevskaya Ploshchad)
Saint Isaac's Square is home to two other famous places in St Petersburg Russia that you have to visit: St Isaac's Cathedral and Mariinsky (Marie) Palace, which is easily recognizable because of its Pantheon-like columns and the famous Blue Bridge located right in front of the palace.
Having said this, Isaac's Cathedral is definitely the star attraction on Saint Isaac's Square because you’re allowed to climb to the roof of the cathedral and enjoy the best panoramic views of St. Petersburg ever!
Nevskiy (Avenue) Prospect
Nevskiy Avenue is one of the most trafficked pedestrian streets in Russia and it’s definitely the most famous street in St Petersburg. Nevsky Avenue runs literary through the heart of St Petersburg and it’s bustling with bars, cafes, nightclubs and a ton of shops.
Nevskiy Street an ideal place to come for a bit of shopping, a night out in the town and do a lot of people watching. Besides shopping, Nevskiy Avenue is a popular sightseeing spot because of the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood and Kazan Cathedral, which are two other popular tourist sights in St Petersburg.
Tsarskoe Selo Estate, Pushkin
Tsarskoe Selo estate used to be the summer residence of Russia’s former imperial rulers and it’s no doubt, one of the most famous places in St Petersburg Russia because of its palaces.
Tsarskoe Selo estate is home to two palaces (Catherine Palace and Alexander Palace), each of them with its own beautiful walk-able gardens. Catherine Palace though it’s the signature building that gives Tsarskoe Selo estate its notoriety. Catherine Palace is one impressive creation with an awe-inspiring exterior and spectacular interior room designs such as the Amber Room, which is beautifully decorated with amber panels, mosaics, and gemstones.
Mariinsky Theatre, Theatre Square
The Mariinsky Theatre is one of the most renowned entertainment venues in the country and it’s an absolutely must-do if you’ve never experienced a Russian ballet performance before!
The Mariinsky Ballet (Kirov Ballet) company is based at the theatre and it’s famously known internationally for their atmospheric venues and talented dancers renowned for performances such as Rome and Juliet, The Fountain of Bakhchisaray, and The Nutcracker.
Bronze Horseman, Senatskaia (Square) Ploschad
The Bronze Horseman statue is without a doubt, one of the most famous places in St Petersburg Russia and a place for history buffs to the come and see the monument dedicated to the founder of St Petersburg – Peter the Great. This statue is beautifully crafted and depicts Peter the Great valiantly on a hind-legs horse.
For some people the Bronze Horseman may be just an statue but it's worth visiting for the photo opportunity and because of its close location to another famous tourist sight in St Petersburg - St Isaac's Cathedral.
Erarta Museum, Vasilyevsky Island
Erarta Museum is another great place in St Petersburg where you can learn about Russian way of life during the days of the Soviet Union and after the break up. This museum is one of the largest of its kind in Russia and the the impressive artworks on display range from death portraying of Russians who went to labor camps, to contemporary Russian satire such as elephants living in Russia, which can't get more satirical than that!
In all, this museum does a very good job at showcasing art works that give you an interesting insight into Russian psyche.
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