Squares of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg's public squares, of which Palace Square in front of the Winter Palace is undoubtedly the most famous, were designed on the grand scale, many by the Italian-born master of high neoclassicism Carlo Rossi. Punctuating the architectural oration of St. Petersburg's magnificent avenues and embankments like dramatic rhetorical pauses, these spaces impress with their vastness and their decorum, offering splendid vistas onto the columned facades of the city's most striking buildings.
The main square of St. Petersburg and the former Russian Empire, it was the site of many important events in Russian history, and today it enraptures tourists with its grandeur, splendor and harmony.
The unique architectural design of the island is complemented by the majestic Neva River. The Rostral Columns, situated on the eastern point of the island, were originally built in the 19th century as beacons to guide ships during the night, and have become a symbol of St. Petersburg.
Located in the center of the city it was once known as the "womb of St. Petersburg" and was described in the novels of Dostoevsky. It remains to this day a bustling area of commerce.
One of the oldest areas of St. Petersburg. Like its well-known counterparts in Rome and Paris, it was a site for military parades and an army training ground. Today it is a memorial park.
This magnificent space stretches between St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Mariinsky Palace, crossing the Blue Bridge, the widest bridge in St. Petersburg.
The largest square in St. Petersburg and second largest in Russia. Found here is Stalin's monumental building the House of Soviets and a series of musical fountains.
One of the most picturesque areas of St. Petersburg, it was conceived by the talented architect Carlo Rossi as a single architectural ensemble comprising around the magnificent Mikhailovsky Palace.
Another grand public space in St. Petersburg designed by the prominent Italian architect Carlo Rossi, comprising the Catherine Garden, Anichkov Palace Garden, and the Alexandrinsky Theater.
A picturesque space in the city center, this square teems with historic structures like the Mikhailovsky Manege, the Radio House and the House of Cinema.
One of the main public spaces of St. Petersburg, this square is adorned by the Bronze Horseman, the famous 1250-ton equestrian statue of Peter the Great.
Situated near the Finland Station, the square boasts a large and very famous monument to Vladimir Lenin, open views of the Neva River, and musical fountains.
The area is famous as the location of the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Izmailovsky Column of Glory in honor of the victory in the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878.
Known as the "southern gateway" of St. Petersburg, where the panoramic Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad stands.
A testament to St. Petersburg's musical life, this square is home to both the Mariinsky Theatre and the St. Petersburg State Conservatory.
Located at the eastern end of Nevsky Prospekt. With its monument to Alexander Nevsky this square unites ancient and modern St. Petersburg.
Nestled in the middle of Nevsky Prospekt in front of the Moscow Railway Station, this square serves as the gateway to St. Petersburg for the hundreds of thousands of travelers arriving by rail.
The magnificent curved colonnades of the Kazan Cathedral embrace this green square and fountain located on Nevsky Prospekt.
This calm island of greenery juxtaposed against the vibrant city blocks surrounds the beautiful buildings of St. Nicholas Cathedral.
The large, semicircular space is a superb example of 19th century high neoclassicism and forms an organic ensemble with Ploshchad Ostrovskogo and Ulitsa Zodchego Rossi.
The ornate Narva Triumphal Arch is juxtaposed with bombastic Stalinist-style houses on this vast square.
The form of this small square on Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt showcases a unique architectural ensemble of early 20th century retrospectivism.
A typical example of the colossal, symmetrical structures of the Stalinist Empire style: three identical curved buildings forming a perfect circle.
