Islands: from Petrogradsky to Kamenny

What can you expect?

Starting from the Petrogradskaya metro station, you turn to Maly Prospekt of PEtrograd side. On the way, you will meet two monuments: the inventor of the radio, Alexander Popov, and the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.

An interesting constructivist building, which occupies the quarter between Maly Prospekt and Ordinarnaya, Vsevolod Vishnevsky and Plutalova streets, is the house of Svirtstroi workers, erected in the 1930s for the specialists of the Svirskaya hydroelectric power station.

Vishnevsky Street starts under the arch of this building. Before turning there, remember the phrase that will help you never to confuse the streets crossing Maly Prospekt between Kamennoostrovsky and Lenin Street: "The orderly Vishnevsky cut the horseshoes and runners to the rogue Barmaley" (Ordinary, Vishnevsky, Plutalova, Barmaleev, Podrezova, Podkovova) ...

At the intersection of Vishnevsky Street with Chkalovsky Avenue, there is a building whose architecture resembles northern Russian monasteries. This apartment building is one of the brightest creations of A.L. Lishnevsky. The architect was inspired by the opposite church of Alexy the Man of God (in the 1930s it was rebuilt into a factory building).

At the end of Vishnevskogo Street, near the embankment of the Karpovka River, take a look at the Toy Museum, which contains a rich collection of toys and games of different peoples and eras. For example, there are 5th century Chinese toys and a collection of designer Christmas tree decorations from the 1930s.

On the right bank of the river, near the Karpovsky Bridge, there is a neo-Byzantine temple. This is the current Ioannovsky stavropegic convent, founded in 1900 by St. John of Kronstadt.

Walk along Vyazemskaya Street to Pesochnaya Embankment. There, pay attention to the elegant two-story mansion, where the International Mathematical Institute named after Leonard Euler is now located, stroll through Vyazemsky Garden and look into the studio of the sculptor Mikhail Anikushin - the State Museum of Urban Sculpture.

A picturesque view of Kamenny Island opens from the Pesochnaya Embankment, where your path lies through the Kamennoostrovsky Bridge. At the beginning of the 19th century, the first wooden arch bridge in Russia was built here according to the design of the engineer Augustine Betancourt, which became an outstanding achievement of engineering. For almost 100 years, the bridge was called Betankurovsky, then it was renamed Kamennoostrovsky, and in 2018 this name was inherited by the modern cable-stayed bridge across the Malaya Neva.

Turn left on Kamenny Island and admire the wooden architecture monument of the 1830s, the dacha of Prince Dolgorukov - Prince of Oldenburg. Stand by the water between two figures of sphinxes, and then cross Kamennoostrovsky prospect. The eastern part of the island is occupied by the ensemble of the Kamennoostrovsky Palace, a monument of Russian classicism, a country imperial residence built by Catherine II for the heir to the throne Pavel Petrovich. Today the palace is occupied by the Academy of Talents.

Back to Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, go through the narrow alley that starts at house 77. It has an unusual name - Lunny Cats Street! At first it was unofficial, but then a sign was hung in the alley and even put this name on some maps.

The final point of your route is the Orthodox Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, reminiscent of a Protestant church. Once upon a time the Maltese knights prayed in it, Kutuzov asked God for help in commanding the Russian army, Alexander I received news of the outcome of the Battle of Borodino, and Pushkin baptized his three children here.

Here the journey ends and you can continue your walk through the Kamenny Island park or take a bus and head to one of the metro stations.