Aerial panoramic view of Saint Petersburg city center with historic buildings, a bronze angel statue, green park gardens, and a broad skyline under a clear sky

Saint Petersburg Part 2

Saint Petersburg - Part 2

24.8.2018
Places, Russia, Cities
Saint Petersburg

Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Panoramic view of Saint Petersburg from Saint Isaac's Cathedral rooftop featuring a bronze statue, the Neva River, and the city skyline under a clear blue sky

**Outlook from Saint Isaac's Cathedral**

Smolny Cathedral in Saint Petersburg with blue and white baroque facade, golden domes, and a wide green lawn

The blue and white Smolny Cathedral is the heart of Smolny Convent.

The complex is located on the banks of the Neva River and was built for Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great. After she could not take the throne, she wanted to become a nun. However, she did not become one.

In 1741 Elizabeth, member of the House of Romanov, became Empress of Russia. She took over the sceptre from Ivan VI, who was proclaimed emperor at the age of only two months, but was overthrown in a coup not one year later.

Blue and white baroque cathedral with golden onion domes under a clear sky in Saint Petersburg

The church of the convent was designed by the Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli. He was also responsible for the design of the Winter Palace, Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg and Saint Andrew's Church in Kiev.

Ornate bronze church bell with Cyrillic inscriptions suspended from a wooden belfry frame, Smolny Cathedral in background

Blue and white Baroque cathedral facade with tall white columns, ornate stucco decorations, and visitors at the grand wooden entrance under a clear sky

In 1923 the churches were closed by the Soviet authorities. 92 years later it was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church and is being used as a church again.