Orthodox Cathedrals
St. Petersburg's Orthodox Cathedrals include some of the most magnificent churches in Russia. Built at the height of the Russian Empire's wealth and power, when the capital's churches were as important as palaces to show the eminence and prestige of Russia's rulers, these impressive buildings were designed by the city's greatest architects, and no expense was spared in their construction or decoration.
One of St. Petersburg's most famous landmarks, the spire of this beautiful baroque cathedral is the center of the Peter and Paul Fortress, the historical heart of the city. Inside, the cathedral contains the tombs of most of the Romanov Tsars.
St. Petersburg's largest church took forty years to build, and was the life's work of French-born architect Auguste Montferrand. Alongside lavish interiors, St. Isaac's boasts superb views of the city from its colonnade.
Commonly referred to as the Savior on the Blood Church because it was built as a memorial on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated on March 1, 1881. Restorers say the church contains more mosaics than any other church in the world.
Once part of the Smolny Convent, this is one of the most beautiful churches in St. Petersburg, and its dazzling cupolas and blue-and-white Baroque spires rise majestically above the banks of the Neva River.
Historic and revitalized Alexander Nevsky Monastery is a beautiful complex of churches and prestigious cemeteries that shelter the graves of many Russian cultural giants including Tchaikovsky, Dostoevsky, Glinka and others.
Standing close to the Peter and Paul Fortress, this gleaming white late 18th century cathedral is one of the most important in St. Petersburg, and has survived almost unaltered since its consecration in 1789.
A late baroque masterpiece, this beautiful pink-and-white cathedral dates back to the very first years of the city, and is one of the finest buildings among the many architectural treasures on historic Vasilevskiy Island.
One of St. Petersburg's oldest and most revered churches, this beautiful azure-and-white cathedral was built to commemorate Russia's victory at the Battle of Poltava, and has been beautifully restored as part of the State St. Isaac's Cathedral Museum.
Just a few steps from the Mariisnky Theater, this superb Baroque church, the spiritual home of the Russian Fleet, adorns one of the most picturesque and secluded areas of central St. Petersburg with its golden domes and spires.
This elegant neoclassical church, once the home church of the Transfiguration Guards, is one of St. Petersburg's most revered, thanks in part to the fact that it remained open throughout the Soviet Period.
Currently being restored after a major fire in 2006, this enormous neoclassical church with its distinctive blue and gold domes is one of St. Petersburg's most imposing, enjoying a superb position on the banks of the Fontanka River.
