More sights of the city

Here is the final posting of out weekend away. We had four very interesting days, walking miles and seeing amazing things. We had been warned that St Peterburg can be cold, wet and windy, but we had three sunny days. The only gloomy day was the day we were in the Hermitage, and by the time we came out it was getting lighter. Perfect.

One of most unusual buildings is The Church on the Spilled Blood, built to mark the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. Though not destroyed after the revolution, it was badly damaged in WW2 - a shell went through the dome, and using it as a theatre storeroom did it no favours. Apart from the doors to the Sanctuary which are waiting to be restored, it has been restored to its former glory. It is now a museum, but services are held occassionally.

Another over the top building we visited was the Yusupov Palace. In some ways it is even more extravagant than the Hermitage. It was here that 'The mad monk' Rasputin was lured by here by Prince Felix Yusupov where he was poisoned and shot, but he finally died only when he dumped into the canal outside.

The Yusupov Palace

Top of the grand staircase

Ceiling of the white salon

The green salon - there is a red salon but the picture didn't come out.

The stage of the family theatre built in the house. It is still used for concerts. It has a tiny orchestra pit in front of the stage.

Moorish room - sadly most of the features are covered up for restoration

A hidden bath in the corner of the dressing room.

And so to the final few pictures. There are so many wonderful sights in St Petersburg that I couldn't take them all.

Church of St Nicholas

Statue of Tsar Nicholas (I think)

A fence made of captured Turkish guns around a cathedral built to celebrate the victory.

And so to the beginning of St Petersburg. Peter the Great didn't waste time building huge palaces. They came much later, built by other members of his family. His modest winter palace has been incorporated into the Hermitage Theatre, but his Summer Palace survives. The gardens are under restoration at the moment so we couldn't go in, but the palace is very modest, just 2 storeys.

Peter and I had four lovely days and hope to go back to explore further. We didn't make it to the Peterhof  this time, and there are lots of museums we didn't go in. We had good weather but a chance to go in the spring when the nights are longer would be wonderful.