ST. PETERSBURG - St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Tallinn - page 34

• Coming up on the right is the Kazan Cathedral, with its stately semicircular colonnade
and grand dome.
Kazan Cathedral to Griboyedova Canal
Built in the early 1800s and named for a revered Russian icon, the church was later con-
verted into a “Museum of Atheism” under the communists. It's since been restored to its
former glory, and is free to enter. To find the main entrance, go down Kazanskaya street
(which runs perpendicular to Nevsky, just before the church). Go in through what looks
like a “side” door, and soak in the mystical Orthodox ambience. Inside you'll find a dim
Neo-Romanesque interior, a much-venerated replica of the icon of Our Lady of Kazan,
a monument to the commander who fended off Napoleon's 1812 invasion, and lots of
candles and solemn worshippers (for details, see here ) . You'll exit through the left tran-
sept, which pops you out into a delightful little grassypark facing Nevsky Prospekt. This
is a good spot to sit, relax, and maybe buy a drink from a vendor.
It's appropriate that Nevsky Prospekt is lined with so many important churches. It's
named for Alexander Nevsky (1220-1263), an esteemed Russian saint who, as an influen-
tial prince, fought off encroaching German and Swedish foes—including in a pivotal 1240
battle on the Neva River, near what would later become St. Petersburg.
• Leaving the park, head to the intersection and cross over Nevsky Prospekt.