Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
complete with Dutch tiles and parquet floors, and are used to exhibit some of Peter's
personal items from the Hermitage collection. The admission price includes a useful
audio-guide in the language of your choice.
HIST
HISTORIC
ORICAL B
AL BUILDING
UILDING
ADMIRALTY
(
Адмиралтейство
; Admiralteysky proezd 1; closed to the public; Admiraltey-skaya)
Across the road from Dvortsovaya pl, the gilded spire of the old Admiralty is a prime
St Petersburg landmark. It is visible from Gorokhovaya ul, Voznesensky pr and
Nevsky pr, as all of these roads radiate outwards from this central point. Despite the
spire's solid gold appearance, it's actually made from wood and was almost rotted
through before restoration efforts began in 1996. From 1711 to 1917, this spot was the
headquarters of the Russian navy; now it houses the country's largest military naval
college and is currently undergoing much-needed exterior restoration.
The Admiralty was reconstructed between 1806 and 1823 to the designs of Andrey-
an Zakharov. With its rows of white columns and its plentiful reliefs and statuary, it is
a foremost example of the Russian Empire style. Get a close look at the globe-toting
nymphs flanking the main gate. The green gardens, laid out from 1872 to 1874, are
dotted with statues of Glinka, Lermontov, Gogol and other cultural figures, as well as
a refreshing fountain that dates to 1877.
It's a lovely place to sit and stroll, but the building itself is closed to visitors.
BRIDGES IN THE BURG
The never-ending network of canals and waterways in St Petersburg has resul-
ted in some innovatively designed bridges over the years. With the exception of
the new Big Obukhovsky, all of the
mosty
(bridges) across the Neva are draw-
bridges. They are raised every evening at designated times to let the ships pass,
a spectacle that draws starry-eyed lovers and stranded night birds (
CLICK HERE
for the schedule). But some of the most charming bridges are the smaller struc-
tures that span the canals around the city. Of St Petersburg's hundreds of
bridges, here are a few of our favourites:
