Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
middle of the Neva. Overlooking the park, the old stock exchange now houses
the
Central Naval Museum
.
The Museum of Anthropology & Ethnography,
Kunstkamera
was Russia's
first museum, set up by Peter to dispel common superstitions about illness and
disease. The collection of deformed foeti and animals is impressive, if a little dis-
turbing. Next door is the equally impressive
Museum of Zoology
.
At Peter's behest, Domenico Trezzini built the magnificent
Twelve Colleges
, now St Petersburg State University, in 1722. The emperor based his bureau-
cracy here; separate entrances for each ministry signified their independence,
while the unified facade highlighted collective goals. It is now part of the uni-
versity, housing the
Mendeleev Museum
among others. Behind these build-
ings, the grounds contain the beautiful university botanical gardens.
Peter originally gifted the entirety of Vasilyevsky Island to his best friend, Prince
Menshikov, who proceeded to build the fabulous
Menshikov Palace
on the
north bank of the Neva. Menshikov's humble origins gave him a taste for opu-
lence, and the interior is the best-preserved Petrine decor in the city.
Two Egyptian sphinx monuments mark the entrance to the institutional
Academy of Arts Museum
, which houses 250 years' worth of artistic expres-
sion. On display are works by academy students and faculty over the years, as
well as temporary exhibitions. A beautiful old library - lined with dusty volumes
and packed with dark wood furniture - is open for visiting researchers.
Pedestrian-friendly
6-ya liniya i 7-ya liniya
is one of the city's most pleasant
places to sit at a sidewalk cafe and watch the world go by. Check out the charm-
ing Church of St Andrew, before sampling the goods at one of the sweet side-
walk cafes.
MMUSSEUUM
KUNSTKAMERA
