Churches in St Petersburg

We had a long day starting from 9.00am and finishing after 9.30pm. We did stop for a cake (standing) and a short stop for a drink. It was a longer day than walking the Milford Trail and all this was to visit a few churches and a museum.

First the churches. Our first was the Kazan Cathedral. It is modelled on St Peters in Rome. Stunning in both the exterior and interior.

                                                          It is a very busy place.

Immense, it dominates this area just off the main street of Nevsky Prospekt.

The inside is very ornate. There was a long queue to kiss one of the icons. Each wall is covered with mosaics and represents a particular biblical theme.

Along the way we did pass shops. Just the place to stock up on caviar.

Our next stop was at the Church of the Saviour on the spilt blood. Again most elaborate. As we walked towards it alomg a canal it draws your eye like few buildings can.

                                         Crossing the canal with the church in the distance.

                    The Church of the Saviour on the Spilt Blood. It now operates as a museum

                                                              Details of the front.

                              Inside was highly decorated with mosaic tiles and gold.

                                       Ornate details and places for the sacred icons.

                                        Look up! The ceilings are beautiful.

We detoured into the Mikhailovsky Gardens and had a quick snack.

The views from the garden were great looking to one side of the church. The church was built in 1881 on the spot where Czar Alexander II was killed.

This was a good insight into pre revolutionary Russia and each was much loved by the local people.