8 most beautiful bridges in St. Petersburg
Cozy and elegant footbridges in the city center or majestic giant drawbridges where large ships pass at night... There are more than 400 bridges in the city on the Neva, and many of them are real architectural masterpieces.
8 PHOTOS
1. One of the most famous bridges connects the city center (near the Winter Palace) and Vasilyevsky Island (where the Kunstkamera is located). This view can often be seen on postcards - especially at night in the summer when the bridge is open and crowds of people gather there to watch the passing ships. The modern Palace Bridge was built in 1916 and became the first permanent bridge across the Neva. It consists of five spans and is accessible to cars and pedestrians.
2. Severe beauty in the depths of the center. The Egyptian bridge connects parts of Lermontovsky Prospekt across the Fontanka River. It is named after Ancient Egypt - this is how the interest of scientists of the 19th century in the secrets of this civilization was reflected in the architecture. On one of the embankments of the Neva, you can find real sphinxes brought from Ancient Egypt, and the iron sphinxes guarding the Egyptian bridge were cast at a local factory in 1826. The columns and other architectural details were also designed in the Egyptian style and decorated "like in the old days".
3. The Anichkov Bridge across the Fontanka River is located right on Nevsky Prospekt, surrounded by former imperial palaces. You can recognize it from afar by the huge sculptures called "Horse Taming". If you look closely, you can see patterns with mermaids and seahorses on the railings.
4. Downstream of the Fontanka River, there is another magnificent bridge named after the Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov, but this name was only given to it in 1948. Prior to this, the bridge was named after Catherine the Great, and then in honor of Count Chernyshev. In the 19th century, it was a drawbridge, but after the reconstruction in 1913, the bridge could no longer be drawn. It is decorated with monumental granite towers connected by chains - traction mechanisms were hidden inside them.
5. This is one of the main road bridges in St. Petersburg, connecting Vasilevsky and Petrogradsky islands. From here you can enjoy the most beautiful views of the Palace Embankment, the Peter and Paul Fortress, and the Hermitage. The exchange bridge is decorated with the trident of Neptune. It also lights up amazingly at night.
6. This is one of the most unusual bridges in St. Petersburg. This is a drawbridge built in 1903, connecting the Petrogradsky and Admiralteysky islands. But the traction mechanism is “single-wing”, that is, only one span rises. Another striking feature of the Trinity Bridge is its lanterns, similar to giant candelabra, as well as granite obelisks with double-headed eagles.
7. The Bolsheokhtinsky bridge across the Neva connects the north of the historical center of the city with the Malaya Okhta area. Until 1917, it was called the Peter the Great Bridge. It is easily recognizable by its Roman-style granite towers that are lit up at night. The original mechanism allows you to raise the central span in just 30 seconds.
8. Three bridges in one place. “The Trilateral Bridge” is what the locals, and now the guides, called the composition of three small bridges located at the intersection of the Moika River and the Griboedov Canal, not far from the Cathedral of the Savior on Blood. Officially, these bridges are called the Theater Bridge, Malo-Konyushenny Bridge, and Lipkin Bridge. All of them are made in the style of classicism and decorated with interesting details - the head of Medusa, palm leaves, and gilding.
Keywords: Footbridges | Bridges | City center | Drawbridges | Architectural masterpieces | Design | Architecture