Spit Of Vasilyevsky Island

Spit Of Vasilyevsky Island

The Spit of Vasilievsky Island

#Saint Petersburg
#Russian History
#Interesting places
#Photospots

Weekend Saint Petersburg 3 days 1 city explore

Two-day shore tour in St.Petersburg 2 days 3 cities explore

Weekend Saint Petersburg 3 days 1 city explore

Two-day shore tour in St.Petersburg 2 days 3 cities explore

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The Spit of Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg is one of the main and most fascinating architectural ensembles of the Northern Capital, an example of the harmony of architecture with the landscape of the Neva River. This is one of the most favorite places of St. Petersburg citizens and tourists. When Peter I laid out the Peter and Paul Fortress on the Hare Island, he wanted St. Petersburg to become the naval fortress and trading center. But because of the shallow water, the port at Petrogradskaya Side could not be developed, and it was decided to move it to Vasilievsky Island. The Eastern Cape of the island, where the Neva River is divided into the Grand Neva and the Small Neva, was named the Spit of Vasilievsky Island. Peter, I planned to do it at a business and commercial center. To make the Spit of Vasilievsky Island a business and cultural center, architect Domenico Trezzini developed a project according to which it was supposed to create the area that would be the main city square and where the Twelve Collegia building would be located. There was an extended building consisting of 12 identical parts, with a length of 400 meters, limiting the square from the west. There were 10 ministries, the Senate and the Synod in the building. After moving the seaport to the Spit of the Vasilievsky Island in the 1720s, in the northern part of the wooden building, there appeared the Stock Exchange building and Customs.
In 1885, the port was transferred to Gutuevsky Island as new ships with a deep draft could not come into the Neva River. The central building of the architectural ensemble of the Spit of Vasilievsky Island was the Stock Exchange building, designed in the Classicism style by the French architect J.-F. Thomas de Thomon. The Stock Exchange Building resembles an ancient Greek temple representing a rectangle on a high granite base, decorated on all sides with strict marble columns. The facade of the Stock Exchange building on the side of the Neva River is decorated with the sculpture “Neptune with Two Rivers,” and on the other side — with the sculpture “Navigation with Mercury and Two Rivers.” Since 1940, there have been located the Central Naval Museum. To create a harmonious ensemble in front of the Stock Exchange building, an artificial mound was constructed with a semi-circular area, which moved out the Spit of Vasilievsky Island for a hundred meters to the Neva River.
There was created the effect of contrast of the Stock Exchange and the strong horizontal line of the granite embankment of the Neva River. The created conch was used as the front pier seaport. The gentle declivities to the water were decorated with giant granite balls and the embankment wall — with the lion masks. There are two massive pillars on both sides of the Stock Exchange Square, which served as beacons at the entrance to the port. Their height is 32 meters. The columns are decorated with the bows of the ships — the rostra and anchors. Enormous figures represent four Russian rivers — the Volga, Dnieper, Neva, and Volkhov at the base of the columns. The Rostral Columns are a symbol of the power of Russia as a naval state.

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Vasilyevsky Island spit in Saint Petersburg: perfect ensemble
Vasilyevsky Island spit, St. Petersburg Birzhevaya Ploshchad', Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 199034
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Everyone knows Saint Petersburg is not just a city - it’s more than forty islands on which different city’s neighborhoods are located (there’s no information on how many of them there are exactly). Probably, the most well-known out of all is Vasilyevsky Island , and its called a spit - a place where the island connects to the mainland. Perfect architectural ensemble in this part of the city, with rostral columns and the old building of Stock Exchange , known for being printed on 50 Russian rubles banknote , serves as one of the most recognizable and favorite views of Saint Petersburg .
As we know, emperor Peter the Great founded Saint Petersburg as a city that should have a glorious maritime commercial port . Initially, he had the intention to establish the port in the Petrogradskaya Storona neighborhood located close to Vasilyevsky Island . But because of the shallow water there, he decided to transfer this place to another location. The easternmost part of Vasilyevsky Island was chosen as the strategic point. First of all, the Neva River is being divided here into two armlets - the Great Neva River and the Small Neva River . Second, even visually, the shape of this cape reminds an arrow , or ‘strelka’ as it’s called in Russian. It was evident that something great should be erected here to underline the importance of this place.
The most visible point close to the spit of Vasilievsky Island is, without any doubt, the building of the Stock Exchange . It has an appearance of the antique temple similar to Parthenon . Its attic, overlooking the Neva River , there is a composition of sculptures, depicting Neptune together with two rivers - that very picture which can also be found on a 50 rubles banknote .
The iconic view of Vasilievsky Island won’t be complete without two rostral columns . They were built simultaneously with the Stock Exchange building, and firstly, served as lanterns to make the Saint Petersburg port well lit. The appearance of columns refers to Ancient Roman tradition to decorate the columns with the ‘rostra’ , the front part of the downed hostile ship, cut out of the main part. These rostral columns were opened in 1815, and up until 1855, they functionalized as lanterns at night and when there was fog. Nowadays, the spit of Vasilievsky island is known for its open-air dancing classes and parties. When the weather is warm, people who are into salsa, bachata, ballroom dancing, hustle, tango, etc., gather near the rostral columns, enjoying dancing.
Visiting the Vasilievsky Island spit is a must if you want to take a look at the city from the iconic angle. While walking along the promenade around the Stock Exchange ( Birzhevaya ) Square , you can enjoy the view of Peter and Paul (Petropavlovskaya) fortress , as well as the whole picture of Neva River in front of you. Perfect ensemble of r ostral columns and the old building of Stock Exchange forms the unique picture of this place known to many Russian people since their childhood.
Hi, I am Maria, or Masha, as Russian speaking people call me. I’m your local guide for must-sees as well as off-the-beaten-track places in Moscow and St. Petersburg. I’ll show you my favourite destinations in both cities, where you can feel the true spirit of local traditions.
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Russia St Petersburg Architecture Place Spit of Vasilyevsky Island

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Promontory in the east of Vasilyevsky Island between the Bolshaya and Malaya Neva. One of the most beautiful architectural ensembles in St Petersburg. Domenico Trezzini’s original plan for the city envisaged a squared lined with residential housing on the spit of Vasilyevsky Island (1716). The architect reworked the project, making the Twelve Colleges the main building on the square (1718–21). The square was enclosed from the Bolshaya Neva by the Kunstkammer and the palace of Dowager Tsarina Praskovia Saltykova , which was transformed into the Imperial Academy of Sciences (1727). Gostiny Dvor was built on the bank of the Malaya Neva. The ensemble ended with the planned capitular church of the Order of St Andrew (not built). Johann Jakob Schumacher built a small pavilion in the centre of the inner square for the Globe of Gottorp (1750s). The St Petersburg and Moscow Stone Construction Commission adopted a new plan, proposing a horseshoe-shaped square in front of the Twelve Colleges on the spit (1767). In accordance with this plan, Giacomo Quarenghi built the Imperial Academy of Sciences on the Bolshaya Neva (1783–89), northern storehouse (1795–97) and the New Stock Exchange Gostiny Dvor (early 1800s). Giacomo Quarenghi began constructing a stock exchange on the spit (1783), which was not finished and dismantled (early 19th century). A new urban planning project was implemented by Jean-François Thomas de Thomon (1805–10). Based around the Stock Exchange, semi-circular square with the Rostral Columns and granite embankment with descents to the water. The symmetric composition was underscored by the northern and southern storehouses and the Customs House designed by Giovanni Lucchini (1829–32) and crowned with a tower in analogue to the Kunstkammer.

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