Insider's Saint-Petersburg travel guide

Savior on Spilled Blood is the most picturesque church in St Petersburg. It’s hard to believe when you look at its colorful facade that it’s built on the site where the tsar Alexander II was mortally wounded   in 1881. The official name of the  building  is the cathedral of Resurrection of Christ, but it’s generally known as the Savior on Spilled blood. It has always been more a memorial to  Tsar the Liberator (a nickname given to Alexander II as he abolished serfdom in Russia) than a functioning church. Tsar Alexander III wanted the church to look as traditional old Russian churches, but it’s interesting that the architect whose project won the competition, Alfred Parland, had Scottish roots and some materials   like facing bricks were specially brought from Germany.  The construction works were completed in 1907 and inside the church has some traits of art-deco style like floral ornaments. All the walls and ceilings of Savior on Spilled Blood are covered with more than7000 square metersof mosaics created by the most prominent artists of the time.  The place where the mortally wounded tsar lied bleeding by the embankment of Griboedov canal is preserved inside the church.

 Today the Savior on Spilled Blood is open for visitors and administratively is a branch of St Isaac’s cathedral. It’s situated close to the Nevsky prospect metro station (exit to Griboedov canal which is closed till 31 December 2012) so at the moment the closest metro station is Gostiny dvor.

 The museum is opened daily except Wednesday. Working hours:

May 1 – September 15: 10.00 – 19.00
Booking-office closes at 18.00

May 1 – September 30: evening museum 18.15 – 23.00
Booking-office is closed at 22.00

 September 16 – April 30: 11.00 – 19.00
Booking-office is closed at 18.00

 Private walking tours of St Petersburg

Eliseevsky store situated right on the Nevsky prospekt is definately  the most beautiful grocery store you have ever seen. It was built in the beginning of the 20^th century in art deco style for wealthy merchants, Eliseev brothers. Its amazing interiors have recently been restored and now you can marvel at their beauty. Originally Eliseevsky store specialized in colonial produce, today the range of goods changed but you still can see various delicacies. Eliseevsky store is really famous in Russia and many citizens and tourists buy something there to remember St Petersburg in spite of the high prices. As for me, I would rather sit in a cafeteria inside and enjoy the charm and atmosphere of the beginning of the 20^th century.
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The season of fountains in Peterhof starts on April 29, 2012. The official yearly celebration will take place on May 19th, 2012.   The fountains in Peterhof will be functioning:

• On weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00
• On weekends from 10:00 to 19:00
• The Great cascade fountains start  daily at 11:00Related posts: How to get to Peterhof

  Private walking tours of St Petersburg