Historical center of St. Petersburg:
walking along the Petrogradskaya side

In most cases, the average tourist arriving in St. Petersburg, knowledge of the Petrograd side is limited to the Peter and Paul Fortress, the cruiser Aurora and the House of Peter I. But in fact, these islands keep a lot of stories on their land and they are amazing not only because here construction of the city on the Neva began.

Petrogradka is rightfully considered the most multifaceted and curious tourist area. Diverse architecture - from the splendor of Art Nouveau to the iconic cathedral mosque, houses of famous people, museum-apartments, Lenfilm film studio and many small private theaters. Here the walk will seem endless, because it can take an unusually long time to discover new places and everyone will find a place to their liking. Here are just some amazing places, just a small part of what can be found on the truly multifaceted Petrograd side.

Regular excursions involve walking along the streets and inside buildings, but those who “still have gunpowder in the flasks” have a more exclusive opportunity - excursions on the rooftops of St. Petersburg. Above, the city on the Neva is even more beautiful, details on the website roofburg.ru.

Trinity Bridge is an integral symbol of the Petrograd side, one of the most remarkable bridges across the Neva. Its design and details are made in the Art Nouveau style, and fancy lanterns and grilles will leave no one indifferent. During its existence, the bridge has changed a number of names - Petersburg, Equality Bridge, Kirovsky. The current name, which came from the 19th century, is given in honor of the Trinity-Petrovsky Cathedral, which was destroyed in 1932. Now there is a tiny chapel on the square, and in the center of the square there is a stone-monument to the victims of political repression of the USSR.

It is through this bridge that the Pulkovo meridian passes, which was actively used by cartographers during the time of the Russian Empire. The legendary story of the pilot Chkalov, who flew under its supports without touching the water, is connected with the Troitsky Bridge.

To the right of Troitskaya Square stands the House of Political Prisoners, made in the style of constructivism. It was built for those who suffered from the tsarist regime and the old regime, but after the assassination of S. M. Kirov and the beginning of the "Great Terror", most of the residents were sent to the Gulag, some were shot.

While visiting the Petrograd side, you definitely cannot pass by the Cathedral Mosque of St. Petersburg. It was built in 1920 in sky blue and gold, with Art Nouveau touches. An amazing architectural monument and a striking landmark today is a functioning Muslim temple.

Not far from the mosque is the mansion of the famous prima ballerina of the Imperial Theater and the beloved of Nicholas II - Matilda Kshesinskaya. After her emigration, the building was occupied by soldiers, and then the editorial office of the Pravda newspaper was located in it, and V. I. Lenin himself read his famous speeches from the balcony of the mansion. Since the 1990s, the house has hosted a museum of Russia’s political history.

Behind the Peter and Paul Fortress lies the greenery of the Alexander Park. This is not only a wonderful place for a leisurely stroll and relaxing on a bench, but you can also discover interesting sights here. Here is the only street miniature park in Russia. The composition included small copies of the most famous buildings of the city - the Admiralty, the Savior on Spilled Blood, the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, etc. In addition, here you will see the composition "Architects" - images of great architects cast in bronze that created the appearance of St. Petersburg…

Amazing buildings are scattered throughout Petrogradka. For example, E. A. Lidval’s Apartment House, which embodied all the main features of northern modernity. Its sculptural reliefs depicting birds, plants and other interesting details can be viewed for a very long time. Another famous building in this area is the so-called "House with Towers" or the Rosenstein-Belogrud House, not far from the Petrogradskaya metro station. The building surprisingly combines elements of Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Gothic and Romanesque architecture. Today the theater "Russian Entreprise" named after Andrei Mironov is located there.

The Petrogradskiy District of St. Petersburg is a place for endless walks. Even the locals, who have lived here for more than one year, constantly discover the history of such different and contradictory islands.