Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ing exhibition remains, describing the history of various world religions, including the
Russian Orthodox Church. Recent exhibits, such as one featuring Soviet anti-religious
posters, show that the museum has put its historic bias behind it.
EXHIBITION HALL
XHIBITION HALL
MANEGE CENTRAL EXHIBITION HALL
Isaakievskaya pl 1; admission R50-100; 11am-7pm Fri-Wed; Admiralteyskaya)
Formerly
the Horse Guards' Riding School, this large white neoclassical building was construc-
ted between 1804 and 1807 from a design by Giacomo Quarenghi. It now houses ro-
tating art exhibitions, often featuring contemporary and local artists. Particularly in-
teresting is the annual December retrospective of painting, sculpture and installation
pieces produced by St Petersburg artists.
MMUSSEUUM
ALEXANDER BLOK HOUSE- MUSEUM
11am-6pm Thu-Mon, 11am-5pm Tue; Sadovaya)
This museum occupies the flat where
poet Alexander Blok spent the last eight years of his life (1912-20). The revolution-
ary Blok believed that individualism had caused a decline in society's ethics, a situ-
ation that would only be rectified by a communist revolution.
The 4th floor has been preserved much as it was when Blok lived here with his
wife Lyubov (daughter of Mendeleev). After touring the simple but historic home,
descend to the 2nd floor, where Blok's mother lived. When the poet fell ill in 1920,
his family moved into this apartment where he finally died a year later. Here, a liter-
ary exhibition demonstrates the influence of Blok's work, as well as some original
copies of his poems. The room where Blok died contains his death mask and a draw-
ing of Blok on his deathbed, sketched on the last page of the poet's pad. Chamber
concerts are occasionally performed here - they're worthwhile for the subdued charm
of the flats and the lovely views out onto the Pryazhka River.
HIT
HITORIC B
ORIC BUILDING
UILDINGS
NEW HOLLAND
Morskaya ul;
Spasskaya)
This island has been closed to the public for the vast major-
