Nevskiy prospect

The Nevsky Prospect is the main thoroughfare of St.Petersburg that starts from the Admiralty Prospect and ends at the Alexander Nevsky Square. It is 4.5 km long and 25 - 60 meter wide. The part between the Square of Insurrection and the Alexander Nevsky Square is traditionally called Old Nevsky Prospect. The Moyka River (the Narodny Bridge), the Fontanka River (the Anichkov Bridge), and the Griboedova Channel (the Kazansky Bridge) cross Nevsky Prospect. The Nevsky Prospect appeared in 1710 as two roads in boggy forest leading from the Admiralty and from the Alexander Nevsky Monastery to the Old Novgorod high road. The part from the Admiralty to the present Square of Insurrection was known as a Big Prospect, which was the main entrance to the city. In the thirties of the 18th century the road was called the Neva Prospect. In the sixties of the 18th a single thoroughfare was formed which acquired the present name of Nevsky Prospect from the end of the 18th century.

Embankment

The Palace Square is the most grandiose among the squares of the city. The facade of the Winter Palace forms its northern border. The semi-circular facade of the General Stuff and Ministries Building is its southern border. The General Stuff Building is a genius creation of the architect K.Rossi. The building of the Guard Stuff closes the Square from the eastern side. The Alexander Column was erected in the center of the Square to commemorate the victory over Napoleon in the war of 1812, and to honor Emperor Alexander I. The building of Admiralty faces the western border of the Palace Square. The facade of the Admiralty and the Alexander Garden that is in front of it, link the Palace Square to the Decembrist Square (the Senate Square). The equestrian monument of Peters the Great towers up in the center of the small decorative garden. The monument sculptured by E.Falconet is also known as the Copper Horseman. The facade of Senate and Synod buildings stretches along the whole Western border of the square. From the Square you can see the magnificent St.Isaac Cathedral that is a dominating building linking the Decembrist Square with the St. Isaac Square. Peter the Great conceived the ensemble of the Summer Garden (1704-30) as his summer residence. The Summer Palace of Peter I, 1710-14, was designed by D. Tresini. Here are the coffeehouse , and the teahouse .

Vasilievskiy ostrov

It comprises the following buildings. The Kunstkamera (1718-34 G.I.Matternovi, N.F. Gerbel, G.Ciaveri; 1754-58 S.O.Chevakinsky) which is one of the most original example of the baroque of the first third of the 18th century. The main building of the Academy of Science (1783-89 J.Quarenghi), a perfect monument of strict classicism. The House of Twelve Boards (1722-42, D.Tresini), one of the most characteristic and unique buildings of the epoch of Peter the Great. The Principal Wing of the University (1794, 1840-42, A.F. Shchedrin), an example of stylization of the Peter the Great baroque.The Palace of Menshikov (1710-14 D.M.Fontano, 1720-21). The Western Building (G.I.Shedel); in 1730-40 the facades and interiors were partially modified. The Palace is an architectonic and historical monument of the Peter the Great's epoch of an exclusive importance. The jetty with sphinxes of Amencotep III (1455-1414 BC, E.A.Ton 1832-34). The Building of the Academy of Arts (1764-88, A.F.Kokorinov, J.-B.De la Moth). It is one of the first monumental buildings of St.Petersburg clearly marked with the features of classicism.