St Isaac's Cathedral

Built in between 1818 and 1858, by the French- born architect Auguste Montferrand, St. Isaac's Cathedral is one of the most impressive landmarks of the Russian Imperial capital. It was originally the city's main church and the largest cathedral in Russia.

One hundred and eighty years later the gilded dome of St. Isaac's still dominates the skyline of St. Petersburg. Although the cathedral is considerably smaller than the newly rebuilt Church of Christ the Savior in Moscow, it boasts much more impressive fades and interiors. The cathedral's facades are decorated with sculptures and massive granite columns (made of single pieces of red granite), while the interior is adorned with incredibly detailed mosaic icons, paintings and columns made of malachite and lapis lazuli.

A large, brightly colored stained glass window of the "Resurrected Christ" takes pride of place inside the main altar. The church, designed to accommodate 14,000 standing worshipers, was closed in the early 1930s and reopened as a museum. Today, church services are held here only on major ecclesiastical occasions. Foreign visitors should buy entrance tickets just inside the right- hand door in the southern facade. You can also climb the 300 steps up to the cathedral's colonnade, and enjoy the magnificent views over the city.

Hours: 11am to 6pm; Daily.

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Contact Information

St Isaac's Cathedral
Isaakievskaia Ploschad, 1
190000 St. Petersburg, RU

Tel. +78123159732

http://www.saint-petersburg.com/virtual-tour/st-isaacs-cathedral.asp