Travel bucket list idea:
St Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
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When Peter the Great inaugurated St Petersburg in 1703, it was the beginning of two centuries of building, which saw some of Europe’s most impressive churches and cathedrals rise up alongside the ornate palaces created for the Romanov dynasty.
Building churches and cathedrals had long been a way of gaining prestige since Russia was converted to Orthodoxy in 988 AD. Dukes from different areas competed with each other to see who could create the most extraordinary and beautiful church.
For Peter the Great, the challenge was even greater; to build churches and cathedrals that would become the most impressive in the world. Many were a product of the Baroque era, and have ornate frontages with onion bulb domes and facades in vivid colours; powder blue, rose-pink and yellow.
Throughout the Romanov era, increasingly ambitious churches were built, leaving the city with the legacy Peter the Great had wished for – a city with some the most extraordinary religious architecture in the world.
St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia
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One of the city’s only traditional Russian churches, built on the spot of the assassination of Tsar Alexander II 1881, it is also the most beautiful, with jaw-dropping gold-leaf interiors.
Adult price: £5
Best for ages 14+
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
Considered by some to be St. Petersburg’s most impressive single church, Chesme has a unique candystripe frontage, in pink and white, and an elegant, rose-hued interior.
Best for ages 18+
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
Looming over Nevsky Prospekt, the scale of Kazan is breathtaking. Modelled on St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the church took ten years to build between 1801-11 and is famous for its impressive stone colonnade.
Best for ages 18+
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
A huge, Baroque confection, Kronstadt served as the main shrine for the Russian navy until the revolution in 1919. The Cathedral is actually two churches on separate floors, with opulent, gilded interiors.
Best for ages 18+
St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia
The burial place of Russia’s Romanov tsars from Peter the Great to Nicholas II, the Cathedral was the first landmark to be built in the city, and is thus the oldest – dating back to 1733.
Adult price: £7
Best for ages 18+
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
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Dominating the city’s skyline, St Isaacs is magnificently decorated with Orthodox icons and frescoes, and offers panoramic views from the alfresco colonnade.
Adult price: £3
Best for ages 18+
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
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An exquisite Baroque cathedral designed by St. Petersburg’s favourite architect, Bartolomeo Rastrelli.
Adult price: £3
Best for ages 18+
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
Instantly recognisable by its bright blue domes, Trinity was a former regimental church of the Russian Imperial Army, and is famous for its icons, dating back to the 18th century.
Best for ages 18+
Most of the major churches and cathedrals are located in the centre of the city, which is easily walkable. Many visitors pre-book a day tour of St. Petersburg, which offer transport between two sites and a guide throughout. Russian churches don’t always have a huge amount of signing in English, so booking a guided tour is a good option if you want to know more of the history.
Many of St. Petersburg’s better-known churches get extremely busy with tourist groups in the spring and summer months; if visiting then, go first thing in the morning to avoid the words of the crowds if you can.
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Northwestern Region, Russia
On the shores of the Baltic, Russia’s dazzling cultural capital – and former home of its lavish Tsars – is a treasure trove of art, music, literature, and history. Home to one of the world’s greatest museums, the State Hermitage.
