Unmissable - St. Petersburg's most beautiful bridges...
It's hard to move more than a few hundred meters in the centre of St. Petersburg without crossing a bridge. The network of rivers and canals that comprises the Neva Delta has made bridges and bridge-building a vital part of St. Petersburg's infrastructure since the founding of the city, and many of Russia's greatest architects and engineers have taken up the challenge over the last three centuries. Of the 342 bridges in the city, several of them are technical and aesthetic masterpieces. Our selection of unmissable bridges provides detailed information and beautiful photographs of ten of St. Petersburg's most beautiful bridges.
Connecting Palace Square with the Strelka on Vasilevsky Island, Palace Bridge spans the historic centre of St. Petersburg. When raised at night, it provides one of the most spectacular views in the city, as well as gathering point for thousands of revelers during the White Nights.
One of Nevsky Prospekt's most popular sights, Anichkov Bridge across the Fontanka River dates from the mid 19th century, and is particularly famous for the four equestrian statues - "The Horse Tamers" - which stand at each corner of the bridge.
Just a short walk from Nevsky Prospekt, this beautiful stone bridge across the Fontanka River dates back to the 1780s and is one of the few bridges from that era to have survived unaltered. With its distinctive pavilions and elegant symmetry, it is well worth a visit.
Probably the most famous of St. Petersburg's pedestrian bridges, Bank Bridge, which is just a few meters down the Griboedov Canal from Kazan Cathedral, owes its reputation to its four beautiful golden-winged griffons.
Second only to Palace Bridge for location, the vast Trinity Bridge is a glorious Art Nouveau structure that spans the Neva River between central St. Petersburg and the Petrograd Side. Panoramic views from the centre of the bridge are truly breathtaking.
