The first front embankment of the Northern capital

What can you expect?

The route begins on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. This classic architectural ensemble, the creation of Toma de Thomon, is perhaps the most popular place for tourists and residents of St. Petersburg, especially photographers and honeymooners. Rostral columns, the Exchange building, an impressive view of the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Palace Embankment and the Palace Bridge - all this is here. But if you want to admire the most beautiful panorama of the Neva in our city, go to the middle of the Birzhevoy Bridge and, facing the Strelka, look first to the left, and then to the right ... 

Going down from the bridge back to Vasilyevsky Island, pay attention to the building of the former Customs House on the right - now there is the Institute of Russian Literature (the Pushkin House), and it has a Literary Museum. From Customs, you can walk to the Kunstkamera, bypassing Strelka - you have already seen it. Delve into the bizarre alleys, saturated with the unique atmosphere of the island: Tiflis lane, Birzhevoy passage, Customs lane.

Visit the Kunstkamera and the Zoological Museum, or one of these museums, or just look into the courtyard of the Kunstkamera, where sculptures of ancient idols of South Colombia are exhibited.

Your path lies along Universitetskaya Embankment, past such famous monuments of the 18th century as the Academy of Sciences and the Twelve Colleges building (by the way, do you know why it does not stand along the embankment, but with the back to the Neva?), The Arena of the First Cadet Corps and the palace of the first St. Petersburg mayor - Alexander Menshikov. Now in the halls of the palace is a branch of the State Hermitage Museum, which exhibition will introduce you to the culture of Russia in the first third of the 18th century.

On this stretch of the embankment there are several modern monuments that may interest you, and the most curious of them is a memorial sign on the site of St. Isaac's Bridge. It was here that for almost 200 years they were building a floating bridge across the Neva, to Senate Square, until in 1916 it burned down from a spark of a tugboat passing by.

Having passed the Cadet line, relax on the bench of the Rumyantsevsky Garden, and at the same time examine the obelisk of Vincenzo Brenna, dedicated to the victories of the Russian military commander P.A. Rumyantsev-Zadunaysky (did you know that at first this monument was not here, but on the Field of Mars?) Another garden worthy of your attention is located behind the Academy of Arts - this is the oldest garden on Vasilievsky Island. Here stands the column “Notable Arts”, which was originally created as a spare column for the interior of the Kazan Cathedral.

If you still have energy, visit the Museum of the Academy of Arts, and then cross the road. On the granite parapet of the embankment you will find the famous Sphinxes, which have become symbols of St. Petersburg, and right below them are two bronze Griffins.

From here, from the steps of the descent to the Neva, you will see in an unusual perspective the first permanent drawbridge across the Neva - the Annunciation. And here your journey ends on the first front embankment of the Northern capital.