Cathedral of SS Peter & Paul

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St. Petersburg
Peterhof 
THE HERMITAGE MUSEUM
KAZAN CATHEDRAL
 The Bronze Horseman
ADMIRALTY
Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo)
Peter the Great’s Summer Palace
Church on the Blood
Cathedral of SS Peter & Paul
NEVSKY PROSPEKT

 

The Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul is the oldest church in St. Petersburg, and also the second-tallest building in the city (after the television tower). It is intimately linked to both the history of the city and to the Romanov dynasty, as it is home to the graves of nearly all the rulers of Russia since Peter the Great.

Work began on the first, wooden church to be erected on the site just one month after St. Petersburg was officially founded, and the church was consecrated on April 1, 1704. In 1712, the current, stone Peter and Paul Cathedral started to be built, to a design by Domenico Trezzini. This one took slightly longer to build - 20 years, in fact - and was consecrated on June 29, 1733.

The Peter and Paul Cathedral marked a radical departure from traditional Orthodox churches, being built in early Baroque style. Its rectangular shape, bell-tower, and landmark needle are all features borrowed from the protestant churches of Western Europe - the influence of Dutch architecture is particularly visible - all of which was in accordance with Peter's wishes.