Hidden Details of St. Petersburg: Look Up, Look Closer

St. Petersburg is a city of grand avenues and palaces — but the real magic? It’s in the details.
This isn’t a place you rush through. It’s a place you notice.

👀 Look up:
On Millionnaya Street, giants called Atlantes hold up the portico of the New Hermitage. Carved from dark granite, each one looks like he’s been holding the building up for centuries — and is seriously tired of it.

🧱 Look around:
Wander into random courtyards (called “dvory” in Russian). Some are freshly renovated, others feel like time capsules from the 1800s or the Soviet era. Expect everything: drying laundry, murals, secret gardens, and echoes.

🪟 Look closer:
You’ll find carved lions, dragons, owls, and even sphinxes on old facades. Peek into entryways — some still have marble staircases, mosaics, or stained glass windows.

🗿 Strangest statue?
Possibly the Chizhik-Pyzhik — a 11 cm bronze bird on the Fontanka River. People toss coins at it for luck. Most miss. Some don’t. You’ll want to try.

💡 Tips for detail-lovers:
– Bring a zoom lens or binoculars — there are griffins and faces even on rooftops
– Early morning is best for quiet wandering
– Rain brings reflections — some buildings look even better in puddles

#northerneurope #saintpetersburg #russia #historicallandmarks

Post by Andrey Vasiliskov | Aug 1, 2025