St. Petersburg was the first Russian city that was created on a regular planned manner. Proof of this is the magnificent ensembles of the central part of St. Petersburg, including not only buildings but also water spaces, parks and squares, streets and prospectuses which perfectly harmonized with each other.
Sightseeing tour will introduce you with the main architectural ensembles of St. Petersburg, which were built from the mid 18th century to the first half of the 19th century. In the final part of the guided tour through the historical center of St. Petersburg you will visit of the State Russian Museum which is located on the Square of Art. The monumental building Russian Museum (formerly Mikhailovsky Palace) is the compositional center this precious architectural ensemble.
Main points to visit during the guided tour
Architectural Ensembles of St. Petersburg
Nevsky Prospect is the most lively and architecturally impressiv street in all St. Petersburg.
Many remarkable exhibits of Russian architecture of the XVIII-XXth centuries are erected along the Nevsky. The most splendid among these are the Stroganov Palace built by B. Rastrelli, Kazansky Cathedral, Gostiny Dvor (Merchant's Yard), State Public Library, Anichkovsky Palace, Wawelberg's house, House of the Singer Co., Yeliseyev' house and several others.
The three central squares of St. Petersburg - Palace Square (Dvortsovaya), Senate Square with the monument to Peter the Great (Bronze Horseman) and St. Isaac's Square - form a unity of great spatial extent. They are united by the building of the Chief Admiralty one of the architectural masterpieces of the Russian classicism.
Arrow of the Vasilevsky Island - the eastern point of Basil island is one of the best vantage points for a panoramic view of the city. The most spectacular of them is the House of the Exchange with two Rostral Columns at both sides. The Exchange - the centre of the ensemble - was designed by Thomas de Thomon in 1805-1810.
The ensemble comprises the Peter the Great's Kunstkammer (Museum of Natural History), the so-called Main Building of the Academy of Science (Giacomo Quarenghi architect, 1783-1789).
When you look at the ansemble you clearly see how closely it is tied to the vast water expranse of the Neva and what an outstanding part the mighty northen river plays in the perception of the architecture of St. Petersburg.
Ensemble Square of Arts is one of the best ensembles of St. Petersburg, was created by the architect C. I. Rossi in the first third of the XIXth century.
This ensemble consists of three main parts - the building of the State Russian Museum with its outbuildings and park, area with a small garden in front of the Mikhailovsky Palace (Russian Museum) and houses around the perimeter, Mikhailovskaya street linking the Square of Art with Nevsky Prospekt.
