22. City Day - St. Petersburg's birthday
St. Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter the Great on May 27, 1703. What better way to celebrate the city's 314th birthday than to visit several of the earliest buildings? In that spirit, my "City Day" celebrations started on Petrogradsky Island at the cabin of Peter the Great. This was the first official "palace" in the brand-new town as well as the first house in St. Petersburg. This modest four-room log cabin is now fully enclosed by a brick building constructed decades ago. Some of Peter the Great's personal effects are displayed inside.
I then took a short walk to the Peter and Paul Fortress on Hare Island, the city's first permanent building. This is certainly known as one of the must-see tourist destinations in St. Petersburg, due to its historical importance, great views of the Palace Embankment across the Neva river, high concentration of museums, and sand beach below the battlements.
Inside the battlements is the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the tallest building in town - and the bell tower is the the tallest in the world for an Orthodox church. A private service of some kind was going on when I arrived so my visit inside to see the final resting place of the Tsars will have to wait until another excursion. I was able to enjoy a carillon concert from the large courtyard in front of the church. There are a variety of museums in the fortress, ranging from serious to touristy (judging by subject matter and exterior appearance). I saved these for a future trip, as well. I then went over to the beach where a sand sculpting festival was going on, and then to the north battlements where there was a medieval fair, "Legends of the Norwegian Vikings". Costumes and activities were much more of the rough-and-tumble variety than what one might see at a Renaissance fair in the United States.
The same night, the City Day celebration at Palace Square involved a massive opera and ballet performance - "Classics at the Palace". Thousands of spectators enjoyed the work of many world-class singers and dancers. I can't imagine that kind of turnout in the United States for an opera show, even for a free event like this one. I guess that's one of the reasons that St. Petersburg is considered the cultural capital of Russia.
I then took a short walk to the Peter and Paul Fortress on Hare Island, the city's first permanent building. This is certainly known as one of the must-see tourist destinations in St. Petersburg, due to its historical importance, great views of the Palace Embankment across the Neva river, high concentration of museums, and sand beach below the battlements.
Inside the battlements is the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the tallest building in town - and the bell tower is the the tallest in the world for an Orthodox church. A private service of some kind was going on when I arrived so my visit inside to see the final resting place of the Tsars will have to wait until another excursion. I was able to enjoy a carillon concert from the large courtyard in front of the church. There are a variety of museums in the fortress, ranging from serious to touristy (judging by subject matter and exterior appearance). I saved these for a future trip, as well. I then went over to the beach where a sand sculpting festival was going on, and then to the north battlements where there was a medieval fair, "Legends of the Norwegian Vikings". Costumes and activities were much more of the rough-and-tumble variety than what one might see at a Renaissance fair in the United States.
The same night, the City Day celebration at Palace Square involved a massive opera and ballet performance - "Classics at the Palace". Thousands of spectators enjoyed the work of many world-class singers and dancers. I can't imagine that kind of turnout in the United States for an opera show, even for a free event like this one. I guess that's one of the reasons that St. Petersburg is considered the cultural capital of Russia.
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