Russia 2019 (61) SAINT PETERSBURG - City Panorama Part 1

Rather than an email, go here for a better view of this blog entry: www.TrippingWithMikeAndDeb.blogspot.com. To follow, sign-up at the bottom of this page to receive email notices when new blogs are posted.

From the fortress we continued our city tour--a little of this and that. This town encompasses 101 islands, 66 canals, and 342 bridges. It is a mix of Russian and Western European architecture.

We crossed numerous bridges throughout our stay in SP. All but one bridge (the Big or Bolshoi Obukhovsky) along the River Neva must open to allow water traffic passage. This is only done between 02:00-05:00-ish during the early morning. The Finland Railway bridge is a lift bridge. The bridge surface moves up and down vertically on towers to let ships and boats pass under.

The Peter the Great is a drawbridge. See the towers on the back side which operate the "gates." Double gates are located between the two arches.

This is one of two Greek Revival Rostral Columns (a kind of victory column). They are located where the River Neva spits in two. Atop, torches (like lighthouses) originally warned of the dangerous change in the river. Today they are only lit (with gas lines) on holidays and special occasions.

Rostra, or prows of captured ships, are mounted on the columns. Other nautical themes are displayed.

So many of the bridges, especially the older ones, were beautifully decorated.

From the bus I took this shot of the monument to the first 54-gun Russian battleship, the Poltava. It first set afloat in 1712 from the shipyard of SP Admiralty. PtG personally took part in building it. It was named in honor of the victory by the Russian Army over the Swedes in the Poltava Battle. From 1712-1732 it was part of the Russian Baltic Navy.

It is a bronze casting. The size is 8 m long ( 26.25 feet), 2 m wide (6.5 feet), and weighs 1,964 kilograms (2.2 tons). It is quite detailed. From the ground you cannot see the steering wheel or gangway, but they are there.

Traveling through the city we spotted many wonderful architectural details. Here are a few:

Alexander Kiken Hall, one of the oldest buildings in SP. It has had many uses--a personal mansion, original "cabinet of curiosities" later transferred to the Kunstkamera Museum (blogged about previously), office of the Horse Guards, and currently a music school.

Not sure what this was, but nice architecture. I'm thinking Russia Revival style.

Details.

Most of the gold you have seen throughout this blog was originally gold leaf, but now just gold paint.

Modern advertising.

Many renovation projects had colorful, artsy "dresses."

Continued...