Buildings on the Neva
The Second St Petersburg Gymnasium
Rostral Columns
The red columns are called Rostral Columns. A fire was lit on top of
the columns to help ships find their way. Many years ago this was a
port. People came from other countries by sea to buy and sell products such
as cheese. Today a fire is lit on special occasions.
Peter and Paul Fortress
Founded in 1703 - the official date of starting the city - the
Peter and Paul Fortress was the first stone building at the city.
All the tzars since Peter the Great are buried in the cathedral
in the fortress. The height of the spire is 122 metres.
Winter Palace (Hermitage)
The Hermitage is a big palace which consists of 13 museums, including
ancient people, the middle ages and the picture gallery. It was founded in
the 18th century and was a winter residence of Russian tsars. A theatre
was built in the Hermitage to amuse them (during Catherine II).
There were 2 fires that burned the whole palace to the ground.
Nowadays the Winter Palace is called the Hermitage. It is the
biggest museum in the city and has more than 5 million exhibits.
You can find all kinds of paintings. The
Hermitage is famous for paintings by famous artists including
Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinchi and Van-Gogh.
ESCP: February 1996
