St. Petersburg is an incredibly beautiful city rich in sights. Unusual atmosphere and picturesque image will forever remain in the memory of those who will visit it at least once. One of the most popular attractions of the city is Nevsky Prospect. It is about 4.5 kilometers long and up to 60 meters wide. It will take about an hour to walk the avenue from start to finish, but it will be one of the most unforgettable hours in your life.
Nevsky Prospect St. Petersburg
Nevsky Prospect is the main street of St. Petersburg. Its beauty was described in masterpieces of such famous Russian writers as A.S. Pushkin and N.V. Gogol. Literally, every square meter of this avenue has its own history. Nevsky Prospect got its name in honor of Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky.
The need for its construction appeared after the founding of the city to connect the industrial center — the Admiralty with the Novgorod highway. The founding of Nevsky Prospect would also mean that there would be a way leading to Moscow and Novgorod. Then it was decided to lay a direct road from the Admiralty to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
Since the roads from the Admiralty and the Lavra were laid at different times, it was not possible to precisely connect them. This explains the break in the street in the area of the modern Vosstaniya Square. The construction of Nevsky Prospect was completed in 1720. There are houses on both sides of Nevsky Prospect, most of which were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. The first name of this avenue — Nevskaya Perspektivnaya Street was given in 1838. And only in 1944, it received the name which is known nowadays — Nevsky Prospect.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the entire territory of the Anichkov Bridge was a wetland, and there was a checkpoint on it (at that time it was wooden). That exact point was considered the entrance to such a wonderful city. The famous Anichkov Palace is situated behind the Anichkov Bridge. For a long period of time, it passed from the property of one owner to the property of another, as it was a gift more than once, most often in honor of weddings. In this exact palace, a meeting of A.S. Pushkin with the Emperor about the upcoming duel took place.
Also, there is the Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace on Nevsky Prospect, which was erected around the middle of the 19th century. The decoration of the facade consists of figures of the Atlanteans who hold the columns going to the second floor. This place looks very sophisticated and stunning inside.
The most remarkable building on Nevsky Prospeсt is the Kazan Cathedral, which was built at the beginning of the 18th century. Initially, it was built to store a list of the miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God. During the 1812 war, it became a repository of relics. There are also monuments to the great commanders Barclay de Tolly and Kutuzov in front of the cathedral. In 1900, Kazan Square appeared near the Kazan Cathedral. Later, it became a great date spot. “Nevsky Prospect is a whole concept” — the famous literary critic Andronnikov wrote. Among the secrets of Nevsky Prospect, this talented storyteller noted not only its architectural “discipline”, a unique calculation of the harmony of buildings, but also an amazing synthesis of architectural solutions. After all, Nevsky Prospect was rebuilt a lot, its palaces and houses changed their appearance, adopting new aesthetics of styles. But the spirit of Nevsky Prospect and its beauty only blossomed, without impoverishing or destroying the greatness of the past.
