St. Isaac's Cathedral is the largest church in Saint Petersburg and the second tallest in Russia. Its history begins with a one-story wooden church built by order of Peter the Great. Peter the Great and Catherine Alexeyevna were married here. The current building is the fourth in a series of numerous reconstructions. Recently, the cathedral's fate has been widely covered in the press due to disputes between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Saint Petersburg authorities over its ownership. But that's not our focus now.
Cathedrals are religious buildings that significantly surpass other Orthodox churches in fame and importance, thus earning special respect among believers. Saint Petersburg has 19 churches with the status of a cathedral. Of course, St. Isaac's Cathedral is the foremost among them.
The structure itself is an example of Russian Classicism. The architect of the modern cathedral was Auguste de Montferrand, who made his mark in Russian architectural history with the design of the Spassky Fair Cathedral in Nizhny Novgorod and the Alexander Column in Saint Petersburg.
In this post, we won't delve into the interior decorations of St. Isaac's, but will instead focus on the views of downtown Saint Petersburg from the city's second highest observation deck. Incidentally, the highest observation deck in Saint Petersburg is on the belfry of Smolny Cathedral.
How to Get There
The cathedral is located in the historic center of Saint Petersburg, just a few minutes' walk from the Admiralty or Nevsky Prospect. The nearest metro station is Admiralteyskaya.
According to the official website, you can visit the colonnade during the following hours:
- From 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM from May 1 to October 31 daily
- From November 1 to April 30, closed on the third Wednesday of each month
- Evening colonnade: from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM (from May 1 to October 31)
Climbing to the colonnade is no easy feat. There are 262 steps, roughly equivalent to climbing to the 28th floor of a residential building, though the steps here are lower. The narrowest doorway is 70 cm wide. The height of the colonnade is 43 meters, about the same as a 14-story building.
UPD. Since writing this article, several years have passed, but recently one of my blog readers left a very useful comment about the climb to the colonnade. I cannot help but share it here, as the information is indeed helpful for future "conquerors" of this observation deck. Below are the words of a subscriber.
Regarding the colonnade, there are two spiral staircases: one for ascending and the other for descending. The staircases are quite narrow, designed for one person. Two people on a step would be uncomfortable. The descent, considering the spiral nature of the staircase, is also not entirely comfortable.
I'm not discouraging or frightening anyone; many tourists happily ascend and descend, but if you have children, think not just once, but twice. If your child gets tired or starts to feel dizzy (not severely, but it can happen), turning back will be very problematic since people are coming up as you descend. Although there are small landings between flights where you can take a short break.
Most likely, you'll have to continue up (with the child in your arms) and then descend using the designated staircase. If you're unsure about your heart, legs, or vestibular system, think it over. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
At the end of the climb (the last few meters), there's a ladder between one of the drums and the dome (it’s all enclosed and quite safe), but walking on it in high heels is nearly impossible, even if you're used to wearing stilettos. Long coats should be left for other museums. However, the view from the top is fascinating and worth seeing. It’s better to visit not on the first day of your stay, but towards the end of your visit to the city. There's an audio guide, but it’s best if you've already visited some places and seen some sights; that way, viewing the city from the colonnade will be much more interesting.
In summary:
- Saint Petersburg from a bird's eye view is stunning;
- Think carefully before bringing young children on this trip;
- Check the opening hours in advance on the website or by phone.
