Historic Singer Company Building (Dom Knigi) on Nevsky Prospekt

The site at the intersection of Nevsky Prospekt and the Griboedov Canal, opposite Kazan Cathedral, was the location of the riding school of Duke Ernst Johann von Biron, the powerful favourite of Empress Anna. When this building burnt down, it was replaced by three-storey residential building, where St. Petersburg's first photographer, Sergey Levitskiy, had his workshops in the 1850s. In 1902, the plot of land was bought for a million rubles by Singer Manufacturing Company, the world-famous maker of sewing machines.
The company wanted a building similar to the skyscraper that was then being constructed for them in New York. However, St. Petersburg's strict building codes dictated that no building could be higher than 23.5 meters at the cornice. Despite these limitations, the architect Pavel Syuzor managed to create a supremely elegant building that captured the spirit of the age, and featured a number of technological innovations. It was the first building in St. Petersburg to use a metal frame, which made possible the huge windows on the ground floor. Another first for St. Petersburg was the glass-roofed atrium, and the building was equipped with the latest lifts, heating and air-conditioning and an automatic system for clearing snow from the roof.

Smolny Cathedral, St. Petersburg

Smolny Cathedral is one of the best architectural ensembles in Russian Baroque style. It is located on the shore of the river Neva, on a place, where pitch yards that delivered pitch for ship building were located. In spite of stopping the pitch works on that place soon after St-Petersburg's foundation, this area took name "Pitch Yard" (in Russian - Smolny dvor).

In XVIII century near this picturesque place a small Smolny Palace was constructed, where, during a short period of time, Peter's daughter Elisabeth used to live.

Construction of the magnificent Smolny Cathedral was begun by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the reign of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna and was completed by V.P. Stasov under Emperor Nicholas I.

The Cathedral is rightfully recognized as the gem of St Petersburg baroque. By the royal decree, it was named the Cathedral of all educational establishments. It was in the period when the cathedral construction started that the Empress Elizaveta issued a decree reestablishing in the northern capital a five-domed structure – a characteristic feature of the Orthodox church. 

The cathedral’s spectacular appearance, expressive design and external decor make it one of the highest achievements in world architecture.

The center of the convent complex was a magnificent white and blue Smolny Cathedral, which architecture smoothly combines the styles of Old Russian and European architectural elements. It is located in the center of convent yard and has the height of 93, 7 meters. A splendid frontage's decoration, an abundant usage of gold, ornate combination of blue walls and white-stone modeling give the Cathedral its festivity and solemnity. Around the Cathedral Rastrelli designed four churches and monastery's building.

Rastrelli, who died in 1771, hadn't seen the ending of construction works that stopped in the late XIX century. Architect V. Stasov resumed the church's decoration works in 1830. Big church hall was marbled, three majestic iconostases were constructed. Among preserved treasures of the Cathedral we should name icons of A. Venetsianov "The Resurrection" and "Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple".

Monument to Alexander Nevsky, St. Petersburg

Alexander Nevsky Plaza . Nevsky is often heralded as uniting the Russian people when he pushed the Swedes back to the Baltic Sea in 1240.

Weighing nine tons and standing almost nine meters high, this impressive equestrian statue, erected in 2002, honours one of the symbolic protectors of St. Petersburg and provides a symmetrical counterpoint to the Bronze Horseman, the famous monument to Peter the Great at the opposite end of the historic centre.

The Admiralty, St. Petersburg, Russia

The Admiralty building is the former headquarters of the Admiralty Board and the Imperial Russian Navy in St. Petersburg, Russia and the current headquarters of the Russian Navy.The building was re-built in the nineteenth century to support the Tsar's maritime ambitions. The original design was a fortified shipyard which was later surrounded by five bastions and further protected by a moat.

The Empire Style edifice visible today lining the Admiralty Quay was constructed to Andreyan Zakharov's design between 1806 and 1823. Located at the western end of the Nevsky Prospekt, The Admiralty with its gilded spire topped by a golden weather-vane in the shape of a small sail warship (Korablik), is one of the city's most conspicuous landmarks and the focal point of old St. Petersburg's three main streets - Nevsky Prospect, Gorokhovaya Street, and Voznesensky Prospect - underscoring the importance Peter I placed on Russia's Navy.

Vladimir Nabokov, writer and native of St. Petersburg, wrote a short story in May 1933 entitled "The Admiralty Spire."

Griboyedov statue in St Petursburg, Russia

Aleksander Sergeyevich Griboyedov (Griboedov, January 15, 1795 – February 11, 1829) was a Russian diplomat, playwright, poet, and composer. He is recognized as a writer of one book,  Woe from Wit (or The Woes of Wit). He was Russia's ambassador to Qajar Persia, where he and all the embassy staff were massacred by an angry mob. The statue was opened in 1959. It was made by V.Lishev.

Statue of the 1812 war hero General Piotr Bagration in St. Petursburg, Russia

Prince Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration (1765 - 1812) was a General of the Infantry of the Russian army, hero of The Napoleonic Wars. He was a descendant of the Georgian royal family of the Bagrations.

Temple of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God in St. Petursburg

The construction of the temple was started in August 5, 1911 in the presence of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich; The 1st service was led by Archbishop Anthony Volyn (Khrapovitsky).