Cruise Report

2020/10/2

To the Catherine Palace

The Catherine Palace is famous as a summer resort for the tsar. Its exterior walls are based on light blue with beautiful white columns and gold decorations, and the interior of the palace is also decorated with gorgeous decorations. Above all, the hall where Ise merchant Daikokuya Kodayu, who drifted to Russia at the end of the 18th century, had an audience with Catherine II is a must-see. This hall, which imitates the hall of mirrors of the Palace of Versailles, is filled with golden sculptures and is a magnificent space where natural light reflects off gold and mirrors. Another great highlight is the magnificent ceiling painting entitled “Victory of Russia”. Don’t miss the Amber Room, which was loved by Catherine the Great and covered with amber and gold.

A summer palace with a beautiful fountain

Along with the Catherine Palace, the tsar’s summer resort is the summer capital built by Peter the Great. This palace is stepped down towards the sea. The highest point is the French garden, followed by the European-style palace, and the lowest land is the “Shitano Park”, known for its more than 150 large and small fountains with various ingenuity. All these fountains utilize the height difference of the land, and surprisingly no electricity. Stroll through the garden, where water, greenery and delicate sculptures are pleasing to the eye, and enjoy the cool atmosphere of a palace built as a summer resort.

The face of tourist magazines, the Church of the Savior on the Blood

The “Church of the Savior on the Blood”, with its colorful onion-shaped traditional Russian Orthodox silhouette, is also a major attraction in St. Petersburg. Contrary to its colorful appearance, the terrifying name comes from the fact that it was built in memory of the assassination of Emperor Alexander II. The interior of the church is filled with vivid and delicate icons, paintings, and decorative patterns that are as grand as the exterior, from the walls to the ceiling. The total area is more than 7,000 square meters. Placed in a majestic and fantastic space surrounded by religious paintings, it is understandable that the church is called the masterpiece of Russian mosaic art.

A boulevard that tells history

Nevsky Prospekt, which runs through the center of the city from east to west, has been a main street since the time of imperial Russia. Many buildings from the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century are still lined up, conveying the remnants of those days. The street where you can see various architectural styles at once is like a museum. Buildings reminiscent of the imperial Russian era, such as the residence of the literature salon Benardaki, where Dostoevsky and Tolstoy announced new works, the palace of Count Stroganoff, which was the origin of the name of Russian cuisine, and the 18th century shopping center Passage department store are lined up. The journey to experience the beauty of the imperial Russian era is also a journey to follow the modernization of Russia.