Page 14 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - St. Petersburg

12 ❯❯ Top 10 St Petersburg Highlights

Nevskiy Prospekt 9

A stroll along Nevskiy prospekt is a journey through time, from NAB R EK MOYKI Gostinyy
tsarist-era splendours to the cafés and chic boutiques of modern- NEVSKIY PR Dvor
Nevskiy
Prospekt
day St Petersburg. Immortalized in Russian literature, this 4.5-km SADOVAYA NAB R EKI FONTA N KI
(3-mile) stretch has been the hub of the city’s social life since the UL
18th century. Home to numerous fine churches and monuments,
this is an ideal starting point for an exploration of the city. Many of
St Petersburg’s most famous sights, such as the unforgettable
Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, are just a short walk away.
Russian
3
National
Library
Russia’s oldest state
library houses around
33 million items, and
also boasts the oldest
handwritten book in
the Russian language,
which dates from
1057 (left).
Cathe rine the
Gogol Statue
Beloselskiy-
1 2 4
Great’s Statue
Belozerskiy
Many of Nikolai
Catherine the Great Palace Gogol’s stories are set in
(see p16) was a German The Beloselskiy- the city (see p40). This
princess who came to Belozerskiy Palace, statue (1997), by Mikhail
power in Russia after an housing offices and a Belov, is a fitting tribute
imperial coup in 1762, concert hall, was once to his troubled genius.
during which her home to one of Rasputin’s
husband, Peter III, was murderers (see p80).
mur dered. This is the It later served as the
only statue of her in Soviet-era head quarters
St Petersburg. of the Communist Party.
NEED TO KNOW Church of St Catherine:
MAP L3–P4 • www. 9am–9pm
nevsky-prospekt.com Stroganov Palace Russian
Beloselskiy-Belozerskiy Museum:
Palace: 10am–6pm Mon; 10am–
Tours by appointment; 6pm Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun;
open for concerts
(1–9pm Thu)
Russian National Library:
Armenian
9am–9pm Mon–Fri, Adm: adults ₽300; 5
11am–7pm Sat & Sun children ₽150 Church
Armenian Church: • There is a lot of heavy This pretty church (1780)
9am–8pm (above) was designed by
Cathedral of Our Lady traffic on Nevskiy prospekt, the court architect of
of Kazan: and pedes trians should Catherine the Great, Yuriy
8:30am–end of evening use the perekhodi Velten. A ruin during the
service (from 6:30am Sun) (under passes). These are Soviet period, the “Blue
Gostinyy Dvor: indica ted by street signs Pearl of Nevskiy prospekt”
10am–10pm showing a flight of steps. now serves the Armenian
community (see p67).

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