Good afternoon dear friends. Probably everyone who has ever been to St. Petersburg walked along Nevsky Prospekt – its heart. If you want to feel the spirit of the old capital, Nevsky is the right place.
Nevsky Prospekt, or simply “Nevsky” as the locals call it, is undoubtedly the main road of St. Petersburg. Planned since the beginning of the 18th century as part of the main road from Moscow to Novgorod, Nevsky is today one of the main tourist centers of the city.
The avenue received its present name in 1781. But earlier it was simply called “the road to the Nevsky Monastery”, which today is known as the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. At the beginning of the Soviet period, its name was changed to “Ulitsa 25 Oktyabrya”.
However, Nevsky has always been the central and especially important street of the city with many remarkable and historical buildings. Who hasn’t heard of the magnificent Kazan Cathedral or the impressive Church of the Resurrection? But there’s still a lot more to see, so we’ll take a stroll down the avenue today to take a look at some of the lesser-known sights that are also worth noting.
Singer – House of Books (Nevsky 28).
In 1902, the Singer Company purchased a site on the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and the Griboyedov Canal, on which they decided to build the company’s headquarters in Russia. The design of the skyscraper is innovative and bold for St. Petersburg. At that time, the American company was growing rapidly both at home and abroad, and in fact the Russian Empire was one of its largest markets.
Singer spares no expense for its luxurious headquarters in St. Petersburg, which was originally planned to be the tallest building on the Nevsky, with at least 11 floors, in violation of the imperial decree that limits the height of buildings to 23.5 meters). Despite numerous protests from local authorities about traditional architecture, Emperor Nicholas II gave permission for the construction of the Singer building in the Art Nouveau style, but only 7 floors. However, the architect Pavel Suzor completed the look of the building with a steel and glass tower topped with a huge globe and the American coat of arms.
Even today, the Singer House is one of the most impressive sights of Nevsky. In Soviet times, the building was called the House of Books, and today it houses the largest bookstore in the city, as well as a literary cafe. Meanwhile, the top two floors have firmly entered the 21st century, hosting Russia’s leading social network, VKontakte.
One last little historical fact: in addition to its rich business and literary history, the Singer House also housed the American Consulate and the private commercial bank of St. Petersburg before and during World War I.
Trading House of the Eliseev Brothers (Nevsky, 56)
This beautiful Art Nouveau building, built in 1903, belongs to famous Russian merchants, the Eliseev brothers. The huge mall is opulent for its time, with exquisite stained-glass windows and a bronze interior that merchants hope to capture the attention of their shoppers. In Soviet times, until 1990, the building was called Gastronome No. 1.
Walking along Nevsky Prospekt, stop for a moment in front of the Eliseevs’ house – you will be enchanted by the famous window with the Nutcracker. Inside there is a famous confectionery with a beautiful interior, a reconstruction of the original design of the Eliseev brothers.
Street artists (Nevsky, 32-34)
What can give a unique atmosphere to picturesque St. Petersburg, if not street artists? Every day for decades, they gather in front of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Catherine, calling themselves “free artists”. Some of them have been working here for 20 or even 40 years. Here you will find many different artists and different styles, and probably the best souvenir from St. Petersburg to take home is your portrait painted by the hand of a local artist.
Cinema Aurora (Nevsky, 60)
When the era of the big screen began more than a century ago, it was the most modern and richest cinema in Russia, originally called the Piccadilly Cinema. Its opening in 1913 was a major event in the capital. In the era of silent films, symphony orchestras create music to accompany the action from the stage, while the most famous people visit the theater. Vladimir Nabokov even mentions Piccadilly in his autobiography Other Shores (1954).
The current name “Aurora” was given in 1932 because the British name “Piccadilly” made no sense to the Soviet working class. Therefore, the theater was named the legendary Russian ship.
Today it retains its historical interior and, one might say, it is more than just a cinema: it is a real museum of cinema.
Anichkov bridge (Nevsky, 39-41)
Bridges are an integral part of the identity of St. Petersburg, and the Anichkov Bridge on Nevsky Prospekt is one of the oldest in the city, crossing the Fontanka River. Its beauty is praised by such writers as Pushkin, Dostoyevsky and Gogol. The bridge is famous for the bronze horsemen sculptures created by Peter Claude. Today, the Anichkov Bridge is considered a monument to the blockade of Leningrad, because it was badly damaged during the war, and the restorers left traces of German bombing as a reminder of those tragic years.
So, if you are going to St. Petersburg, take a separate day for a walk along the Nevsky. Believe me, it’s worth it.
