Great Attractions in Central (St Petersburg)

Prachechnyi Most (Laundry Bridge)

This bridge is positioned where Palace and Kutuzov embankments meet at the source of the Fontanka river. It was built in the 1760s and was one of the city's first stone bridges. The granite-covered bridge is one of the most important elements along the Neva's showcase embankments. Granite steps lead down from the bridge to the pavements. The bridge's humpedness is due to the softening up of the embankments while they were being built. The wooden pile supports were well past their sell-by date when they finally got replaced at the start of the 20th century but repairs didn't affect the bridge's historical appearance.

Tserkov' vo imia Sviatogo Panteleimona (Church of the St Panteleimon)

In 1718 a chapel was founded for shipyard workers and was replaced by a church on the same spot in 1721. The church was dedicated to the holy martyr Panteleimon in memory of victories by the Russian fleet at Gangut on July 27th 1714; St. Panteleimon Day and at Grengam in 1720. The building has one dome and a bell-tower. Flat pilasters and marble bas-reliefs by sculptor A.V. Loganovskii adorn the facade. The bulbous glass cupola is topped with a cross.

Pevcheskii Most (Pevcheskii Bridge)

This is a one-section arched bridge 17.7 meters long and 72 meters wide crossing the river Moika in front of the Glinka State Kapella building. In 1834 a wooden bridge was erected on this site to allow troops to pass in the opening ceremony of the Alexander Column on Palace Square. Montferrand the architect was behind the project and had the bridge painted yellow, hence the nickname. Between 1839 and 1849, it was replaced with a cast-iron structure. Its main attraction is the cast-iron lattice railings.

Potseluev Most (Bridge of Kisses)

This bridge is 35.8 meters wide and 23.5 meters long and crosses the river Moika at Ulitsa Glinki. From 1738, there had been a wooden pedestrian bridge on this spot on stone supports with a drawbridge section to allow masted ships to pass. In 1768, the bridge was rebuilt to accommodate transport as well as pedestrians. In 1808, construction began of a cast-iron bridge to replace the decrepit wooden one. Each end of the bridge is decorated with obelisks housing lamps like those on Red Bridge. Lamps were added and the spheres atop the obelisks were gilded in 1969.

Ioannovskii Most (Ioannovskii Bridge)

This bridge linking Zaiachii Ostrov to Troitskaia Ploshchad' is the oldest in the city and became necessary once the Peter and Paul Fortress had been founded on the island in 1703. Originally it was a pontoon bridge but in 1706 was rebuilt as a wooden drawbridge. In 1738, the bridge was moved to in front of the Ioannovskie Vorota but it only took the name Ioannovskii in 1887. Only in 1953 were all the bridge's wooden components finally fully removed under A.L. Rotach and replaced by metal ones.

Most Aleksandra Nevskogo ('Alexander Nevskii' Bridge)

This bridge is 905.7 meters long and 35 meters wide and connects Ploshchad' Aleksandra Nevskogo with Zanevskii Prospekt. It was built between 1960 and 1965 to answer a need for high-speed links between new developments on the right bank of the river Neva and the city center. The city's longest bridge was opened amid pomp and circumstance in late 1965. It is not really much of a beauty but is remarkable, at least for its impressive dimensions.

Moskovsky Rail Terminal

Of St Petersburg's five central train stations, this is the main one. It is situated in the centre of the city and as the place of departure and arrival of trains to and from Moscow it has been called a little piece of Moscow in St Petersburg. However, trains from here depart in a variety of directions: northwards to Murmansk, or to Sevastopol in the distant south. The major destination is Moscow, and express trains can get you to the nation's capital in a minimal four hours. Apart from the common attributes of the train station (ticket offices, waiting-rooms, restaurants) there's something to surprise you. In one of the rooms you can find a real terrarium, which you can visit for about one dollar.

Ioannovsky (St. John) Monastyr'

The convent was established to mark the death of pious Father John of Kronshtadt, in his time (the latter part of the nineteenth century) one of the one of the most honored holy men in Russia. He is buried in a tomb located in the lower floor. The convent complex is Byzantine in style. Sanctified in 1901, the convent's activities were curtailed by the anti-religious activity of the Bolsheviks. The building itself survived however, and the convent is now under the special patronage of the Patriarch (Orthodox church leader).

Serafimovskoie Cemetery

The first burial at this cemetery took place in 1905. At that time this area lay in the countryside, and the original occupants of the graves were local peasants and village-dwellers. In 1907, the wooden church in the name of the saint Serafim Sarovskii was built in just 87 days. This church is one of those lucky few not to have their doors slammed shut by the coming of atheist communism in 1917, and is also notable for holding divine services during the horrors of the blockade during the Second World War.

Garden Street

Garden Street, also known as Sadovaya Street, is one of the main shopping streets in St Petersburg. The best stores are around Sennaya Square and when the street intersects with Nevskii Prospekt. You can find a lots of shops here as well as several markets.

Astoria Spa

At Astoria Spa, located in the up-class Astoria, it is advisable to come early and consult with the staff to have a tailor-made treatment just for you. The staff will guide you through the numerous packages available and help you choose one that suits your needs perfectly. The professional masseurs will give you massages to soothe your body and soul. Try the amazing Payot facial which will leave you glowing.