Petersburg is an enchanted city. And this is confirmed in each of our visits here. Because here opens not only the second, but also the third and tenth wind.
Hello!
When in St. Petersburg at the end of the day you come to a hotel (or a rented apartment ), full of impressions, with buzzing legs, then there is only one thought: take off your shoes, stretch out on the couch … chew what you have to, and — rest …
But an hour passes, I look out the window, and I understand: I can lie on the sofa at home, but outside the window is Peter! Fatigue disappears, as it never was. As if it wasn’t me who had already visited museums and marched 15 km through the streets during the day. Again — feet in sneakers, and — walk around the evening city. My husband, just like me, is easy-going, and is always happy to keep me company.
We rented an apartment in the very center, on Millionnaya, next to the Palace Bridge, together with another married couple, our friends. Therefore, the views from the window were such that they would lure anyone for a walk.
We took different routes every day. Sometimes we walked along the embankment from the Palace to the Trinity Bridge and beyond. Sometimes they crossed the Neva along the Palace Bridge, walked along Vasilyevsky Island, and returned through the Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge. Sometimes they went out onto Nevsky, and then turned into the adjacent streets, just walked where their feet led …
Sunset over the Neva. Photo of the author. Sunset over the Neva. Photo of the author. View from the Laundry Bridge. Photo of the author. View from the Laundry Bridge. Photo of the author. Griboyedov Canal. Photo of the author. Griboyedov Canal. Photo of the author. View of the Rostral Columns. On the left is the Palace Bridge. Photo of the author. View of the Rostral Columns. On the left is the Palace Bridge. Photo of the author. View from Vasilyevsky Island. Photo of the author. View from Vasilyevsky Island. Photo of the author.
Alexandrinsky Theatre. The building is 190 years old. Photo of the author. Alexandrinsky Theatre. The building is 190 years old. Photo of the author. Street Architect Rossi. Photo of the author. Street Architect Rossi. Photo of the author. These sphinxes were brought from Egypt, from Thebes. Photo from personal archive. These sphinxes were brought from Egypt, from Thebes. Photo from personal archive. Griffin on the University embankment. Photo of the author. Griffin on the University embankment. Photo of the author. On the Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge. Photo of the author. On the Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge. Photo of the author.
The Winter Palace in the evening, from different angles:
View of the Winter Palace from the Palace Bridge. Photo of the author. View of the Winter Palace from the Palace Bridge. Photo of the author. A little bit of snow on the green grass is a common thing for St. Petersburg in early May. Photo of the author. A little bit of snow on the green grass is a common thing for St. Petersburg in early May. Photo of the author.
On this visit to St. Petersburg, we finally walked along the Bank Bridge, greeted the restored winged lions. Before that, I saw them for the last time just a few days before they were dismantled for restoration — in November 2016. The lions have become prettier: they have become black, not swamp-colored, the bullet wounds on their bodies have healed, their wings sparkle with fresh gilding:
On the bank bridge. Photo from personal archive. On the bank bridge. Photo from personal archive. Kazan Cathedral. Photo of the author. Kazan Cathedral. Photo of the author.
But the building on Konyushennaya Square is very close to our rented accommodation. It can be seen that the building is old. But what is it? They approached, read what was written on the tablet: it turned out that this was the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands — the same one where Pushkin was buried. After all, not far away is the apartment where Pushkin died from a mortal wound — on Moika Embankment, 12. This church is also called Spaso-Konyushenny.
Spaso-Konyushenny Church. A. S. Pushkin was buried here. Photo of the author. Spaso-Konyushenny Church. A. S. Pushkin was buried here. Photo of the author.
Independent walks around St. Petersburg are, of course, great. But I have recently begun to love excursions: because when a living person who was born and raised in this city tells, such a story cannot be compared with an audio guide.
On our next visit to St. Petersburg, we decided to take an excursion to see the drawing of bridges from the roof at night. We were already on a rooftop afternoon tour last year. And now I want to look from above at the night city.
You can also book a boat trip under the bridges. And there is even a nightly informal tour of St. Petersburg bars with connoisseurs of the nightlife of the northern capital!
Another route, very romantic, but requiring good weather: a cabriolet ride through the city at night. How do you like this option? I would love to ride!
View night tours in St. Petersburg
And you can find cheap tickets to St. Petersburg here .
Health to everyone!
I would be glad if you share your opinion about our photos of St. Petersburg at night in the comments.
#petersburg#st petersburg#excursions in petersburg#self-tourism#village traveler
