Unit 2. Russia. Saint Petersburg
Historical Review
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city’s other names were Petrograd (1914–1924) and Leningrad (1924–1991). It is often called just Peterburg and is informally known as Piter.
It was founded by Tsar Peter I of Russia on May 27, 1703. Unlike some cities, it was not created by a process of gradual graceful development but was forcibly constructed, stone by stone, under the force and direction of Peter the Great, for whose patron saint the city is named. World-class architects participated in the building of the city and today it remains an imperial city of golden spires and gilded domes, of pastel palaces and candlelit cathedrals. St. Petersburg is a fascinating place which dazzles the eye of a visitor with numerous architectural landmarks, museums, palaces, parks, wide avenues, spectacular bridges and stylish monuments. Born in the heart of an emperor, St. Petersburg is Russia’s adopted child. So unlike the Russian cities that came before it, St. Petersburg – with its strict geometric lines and perfectly-planned architecture – is almost too European to be Russian. And yet it is too Russian to be European.
The history of the city is closely connected with uprisings, assassinations of Tsars, power takeovers and several revolutions that influenced not only Russia but the whole world.
The Revolution of 1905 initiated here and spread rapidly into the provinces.
During World War I, the name St. Petersburg was seen to be too German, so the city was renamed into Petrograd. In 1917 the February Revolution, which put an end to the Russian monarchy, and the October Revolution, which ultimately brought Vladimir Lenin to power, broke out in Petrograd. The city's proximity to the border and anti-Soviet armies forced the Bolsheviks under Lenin to transfer the capital to Moscow on March 5, 1918. In general St. Petersburg was the capital of the Russian Empire for more than two hundred years (1713–1728, 1732–1918).
After Lenin’s death the city was renamed into Leningrad.
For decades Leningrad was glorified by the Soviet propaganda as "the cradle of the revolution" and "the city of three revolutions", many spots related to Lenin and the revolutions, such as the cruiser Aurora, were carefully preserved. Many streets and other toponyms were renamed accordingly.
During World War II, Leningrad was besieged by Nazi Germany and co-belligerent Finland. The siege lasted 872 days from September 1941 to January 1944. The Siege of Leningrad was one of the longest, most destructive and most lethal sieges of major cities in modern history. It isolated the city from most supplies except those provided through the Road of Life across Lake Ladoga, and more than a million civilians died, mainly from starvation. Many others were eventually evacuated or escaped by themselves, so the city became largely depopulated. For the heroic resistance of the city and tenacity of the survivors of the Siege, in 1945 Leningrad became the first city in the Soviet Union awarded the title Hero City.
Now St. Petersburg is Russia’s second largest and Europe’s fourth largest city (by city limit) after Moscow, London and Paris. The city has 5.4 million inhabitants, and over 6 million people live in its vicinity.
St. Petersburg is situated on 44 islands in the Neva River’s delta and is famous for its embankments, museums and, of course, for its magical summer White Nights, which begin at the start of June and last to the middle of July.
Among cities of the world with over one million people, St. Petersburg is the northernmost. The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a major European cultural center, an important Russian port on the Baltic Sea, it has been Russia’s political and cultural centre for 200 years. And sometimes it is referred to as the northern capital of Russia.
Excursions
Sightseeing tour (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – about 4 hours). You will see Nevsky Prospect, Admiralty, the cradle of the city – Peter and Paul’s Fortress, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, legendary cruiser Aurora, Bronze Horseman, Spilled Blood Cathedral and others.
The City Tour comments with a drive along Nevsky Prospect towards Palace Square and the Winter Palace. From Vasilyevsky Island you may enjoy outstanding architectural features such as Peter and Paul Fortress and the five buildings of the Hermitage.
The tour continues onto the main building of St. Petersburg University, the imposing St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the monument to Peter the First, known as the Bronze Horseman, and Mariinsky Palace. Other famous sights include Nikolsky Cathedral, which is an active Russian Orthodox Church.
Then you will see Rastrelli Square, Smolny Cathedral and Smolny Institute, where you will be told about events of the Revolution of 1917.
After a drive along Nevsky Prospect you return to Arts Square with its beautiful buildings, housing the Mussorgsky Opera and the Ballet theatre and the Russian Museum.
City tour + Peter and Paul’s Fortress (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 4 hours).
The tour will take you throughout the historical center of St. Petersburg and includes spectacular views of the Neva river, Griboyedov canal, Moika canal, many bridges connecting the city islands, the Old Holland area of the city and trips to 2 main islands of Petrogradsky and Vasilyevsky.
The tour will introduce you to Nevsky Prospect – the city’s famous boulevard, the Winter Palace, other palaces and churches and to the areas of the city formerly inhabited by Dostoyevsky, Rasputin and numerous Russian princes and counts.
You will then visit Peter and Paul’s Fortress.
The fortress was founded by Peter the Great in 1703. Besides the ancient fortifications, the fortress includes the Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, built in the early 18th century. The bell-tower makes Peter and Paul’s Cathedral the tallest building in St. Petersburg (122.5 meters or 404 feet 3 inches high).
The cathedral includes the burial vault of Peter the Great and other Russian Tsars, the museum of Trubetskoy Bastion prison and the expositions: the History of St. Petersburg, History of the Imperial Mint as well as a printing workshop and the museum of space exploration and missilery. It is also possible to walk along the walls of the fortress and observe the fabulous architecture of the surrounding areas.
Today the fortress is one of St. Petersburg’s major tourist attractions and has become the emblem of the city.
Open: Thursday-Monday from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm, Tuesday to 4.00 pm.
Church Tour (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 3 hours).
During this tour you will get acquainted with the most famous cathedrals and churches of the city starting with St Isaac's Cathedral.
It was originally the city's main church and the largest cathedral in Russia.
It was built between 1818 and 1858, by the French-born architect Auguste Montferrand, and became one of the most impressive landmarks of the Russian Imperial capital. One hundred and eighty years later the gilded dome of St. Isaac's still dominates the skyline of St. Petersburg.
The cathedral's facades are decorated with sculptures and massive granite columns (made of single pieces of red granite), while the interior is adorned with incredibly detailed mosaic icons, paintings and columns made of malachite and lapis lazuli.
Open: Thursday-Monday from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm.
The next stop will be at the Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood (or just the Church on the Blood).
This marvelous Russian-style church was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated on March 1, 1881. Constructed between 1883 and 1907, the church was designed in the spirit of the 16th and 17th century Russian architecture, inspired particularly by St Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow.
The interior of the church, a memorial to the late Emperor Alexander II, was decorated with different shades of marble and several thousand square yards of mosaic.
This has to be one of the city's most beautiful sights and a great spot for taking pictures.
Open: Friday-Tuesday from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Dostoevsky tour (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 4 hours).
Dostoevsky Walk. You will see ‘the other side’ of St. Petersburg – old slum areas around the Hay Market, a maze of small lanes and courtyards, straight out of the writer’s novels. Sites from “Crime and Punishment”.
Dostoevsky Museum. Arranged according to the original interior design of the great writer’s last apartment. On display there are documents, photographs and personal belongings of the writer. The exhibition outlines Dostoevsky’s life and work.
Open: daily except Mondays and last Wednesday of every month, from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm.
The Neva and the Bridges (by boat; duration – 1,5 hours)
Nevsky is crossed by three canals which are an integral part of St. Petersburg's beauty. There are a great number of rivers and canals in the city – it is a city "on water". That is why it is often referred to as "the Northern Venice" or "the Northern Amsterdam". There is no pleasure like taking a wonderful boat trip along the rivers and canals of the "bridge city".
Oh, the bridges! They will take your breath away. There are about 342 bridges in the city, and among the most beautiful ones are the Palace Bridge, the Trinity Bridge, the Foundry Bridge and the Bridge of Peter the Great across the Neva river, and the Anichkov Bridge across one of the canals – the Fontanka river. It is situated right in the Nevsky Prospect and is considered to be the most romantic place in St. Petersburg! The Anichkov Bridge is so famous and loved by all for its four beautiful sculptures of men and horses! They are so expressive and dynamic that you would think they are alive! And each of the sculptures is different!
Shipping season is from April 19 to September 30; bridges open from May to late October according to a special schedule.
Museums (in the city)
The Hermitage Museum (on foot, duration – 3 hours).
The Hermitage Museum is Russia’s best gallery of world art, one of the most prominent art museums in the world and definitely the main tourist attraction of St. Petersburg.
The museum was founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great purchased a collection of 255 paintings from the German city of Berlin. Today, the Hermitage boasts over 2.7 million exhibits and displays a diverse range of art and artifacts from all over the world and from throughout history (from Ancient Egypt to the early 20th century Europe).
The Hermitage’s collections include works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian, a unique collection of Rembrandt and Rubens, many French Impressionist works by Renoir, Cezanne, Manet, Monet and Pissarro, numerous canvasses by Van Gogh, Matisse, Gauguin and several sculptures by Rodin. The collection is both enormous and diverse and is an essential stop for all those interested in art and history.
The experts say that if you were to spend a minute looking at each exhibit on display in the Hermitage, you would need 11 years before you’d seen them all.
Open: Tuesday-Sunday from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm.
Russian Museum
The State Russian Museum is the world’s largest museum of Russian art. It is located in the very center of St Petersburg, just of the city’s central magisterial, Nevsky Prospect. The museum is housed in the former Mikhailovsky Palace, a stunning monument of Empire architecture.
The collection of the Russian Museum numbers some 400,000 works and covers the entire history of Russian fine art from the 10th century to the present day. It reflects virtually every form and genre of art in Russia, including a unique collection of Old Russian icons, works of painting, graphic art and sculpture, decorative and applied art, folk art and numismatics, as well as the world's finest collection of Russian avaunt-garde.
If you walk from the main building up to Nevsky Prospect and then turn to the right, you can see the plastic front of the oldest Stroganov Palace, named after its owners, the Stroganov family.
Then you can have a wonderful trip upon embankment of the Moika river. When you come to Mars Square, you can see to the left the Marble Palace, built in the late Neoclassicism style. And to the right you can see the romantic silhouette of St. Michael's (Engineers) Castle.
Open: Wednesday – Monday from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
Kazan Cathedral
The cathedral is named after the miracle-working icon of Our Lady of Kazan – the protectress of the Imperial House of Romanov – which was kept here. The cathedral was put up in 1811 by architect Andrey Voronikhin on Nevsky Prospect – the main street of the city.
It was conceived as a replica of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. It has the colonnade that is similar to that of Bernini. But there are certain differences between the two constructions and Kazan Cathedral has its own inimitable charm and brilliance. In 1811-1858, Kazan Cathedral was the main cathedral of the city. In front of it there are two monuments to the field marshals who defeated Napoleon in fearless battles – Kutuzov and Barklay de Tolly. Mikhail Kutuzov is buried inside the cathedral.
After 1932, when the cathedral was closed, the building housed the Museum of the history of Religion and Atheism. In 1991, services have been resumed. Now it is an acting Orthodox church.
Open: daily.
Kunstkammer
It is the oldest state museum in Russia. It was founded in 1704 as the library and collections of "monsters and rarities" gathered by Peter I.
In 1992, the Kunstkammer became an independent museum and research institute within the Department of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The museum has kept its original title – "Kunstkammer" (translating from German – "chambers of curiosities") – and has the name of Peter the Great given to it in 1903. Today its complete name is: Peter the Great's Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkammer) of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Open: Tuesday-Sunday from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm. (except last Tuesday of each month).
Cruiser Aurora
The cruiser Aurora was built in 1897-1900 by the "New Admiralty" in St. Petersburg and joined Russia's Baltic fleet in 1903. The ship is 126.8 meters (418 feet 5 inches) long, 16.8 meters (55 feet 5 inches) wide and weighs 7600 tons. With the speed of 20 knots (23.3 miles per hour) it can travel independently for up to 1440 nautical miles.
As the training ship of the Baltic fleet, on the night of October 25-26, 1917, the Aurora fired a blank shot at the Winter Palace (then the residence of the Provisional Government), giving the signal to the rebellious workers, soldiers and sailors to storm the palace. That moment changed Russia's history for over 70 years.
In 1952 the cruiser was turned into the Ship Museum, which became the branch of the Central Naval Museum. In 1992 Saint Andrew Naval Flag raised over the Cruiser Aurora.
The Aurora exposition features over 500 original documents, photographs, and ship objects concerning the cruiser's history and its participation in Russian history. For those who wish there are thematic excursions of the underwater cruiser part and machine-boiler sector.
Open: Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday-Sunday from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm.
Museums (in the countryside)
Peterhof, modern name is Petrodvorets (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 6 hours).
The Grand Palace of Peterhof stands on the hill. Two parks which surround it received the names Upper & Lower ones. The most famous part of this ensemble is Lower Park. With its 173 fountains it makes a strong competition to French Versailles.
On the territory of Lower Park you can find three monumental fountains, one of them comprising the famous Samson – "Samson, tearing apart the jaws of the lion". The whole composition of the fountain complex is devoted to the victory over Sweden. Samson symbolizes Russia defeating Sweden – the lion. The Great Cascade is decorated with gilded statues of ancient Greek and Roman gods and heroes, which all are allegories of different events of the Northern War.
Since the time of Peter the Great remained the so-called joke-fountains – a fun for kids and adults. For example, a calm park bench. Once you sit on it, the jets of water pour over you! There are 5 types of joke-fountains, all different and unique.
Fountains start to work on the last weekend of May and are closed around the middle of September. The exact dates are different from year to year.
There are 8 museums on the territory of the park.
Open: daily except Mondays and last Tuesday of each month, from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
Lower Park (fountains) is open daily, from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Gatchina (by bus – with a guide/interpreter; duration – 6 hours).The palace and park complex of Gatchina, a town located 45 km south-west of St. Petersburg, is an outstanding example of eighteenth-century landscape architecture. The palace for Catherine II’s favorite, Count Orlov, built in the Early Classical Style upon the project of Antonio Rinaldi between 1766 and 1781, was enlarged by Vincenzo Brenna in 1796 – 1798, and reconstructed by Roman Kuzmin between 1845 and 1860. It had about 600 rooms, a theatre, and many works of art, and was also surrounded by a fine park. Upon Orlov’s disgrace the palace passed to Catherine's son, Paul I, who transformed it into a combination of palace, fortress, and barracks. Although badly damaged during World War II, the palace was restored and is now a museum. The modern city is a railway junction, with machine building, metalworking, and light industries.
Gatchina Palace is opened: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm.
Closed: Monday and last Tuesday of each month.
Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) (by bus – with a guide/interpreter; duration – 6 hours).
Tsarskoye Selo (formerly known as Pushkin) is one of St. Petersburg's numerous Imperial estates. Located just 25 kilometers south of the city, the estate boasts a large landscape park, dotted with architectural follies, and centered on the magnificent blue, white and gold Catherine Palace. Named after its creator, Empress Catherine, the second wife of Peter the Great.
Catherine Palace houses some beautiful Baroque interiors, including the luxurious Grand Hall, a long, gold, mirrored ballroom. The Palace also boasts a unique Amber Room, whose priceless amber panels were stolen by Nazi troops during World War II, but which are now being painstakingly recreated by Russian craftsmen.
Another of Tsarskoye Selo’s major attractions is the Lyceum, located on the edge of the estate. Founded at the beginning of the 19th century and remarkably well-preserved, the Lyceum was a boarding school that once taught the most celebrated of all Russian poets, Alexander Pushkin. The Lyceum was created specifically to educate members of the Russian ruling elite and prepare them for careers in government service. Visitors to the Lyceum are allowed access to its well-preserved classrooms, library, student bedrooms and much more.
Open: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm.
Closed: Tuesdays and last Monday of each month
Pavlovsk (by bus – with a guide/interpreter; duration – 6 hours).
Just a few miles away from Pushkin lies the Imperial Estate of Pavlovsk, the residence of Emperor Paul I, the son of Catherine the Great. The estate’s magnificent palace sits on hill overlooking an English-style landscaped park, with a beautiful river running through it.
The Grand Palace was built by the Scottish architect Charles Cameron between 1782 and 1786 in the general style of an Italian villa. Initially meant as a private home for Paul and his wife Maria Fedorovna, the estate was later given an Imperial facelift when Paul ascended the throne after the death of Catherine the Great in 1796.
The Palace’s interiors reveal a multitude of artistic and architectural influences and include an Egyptian Vestibule, the Italian Hall under the main Palace dome, featuring classical Roman sculptures, a Greek Hall filled with luxurious French furnishings and Paul's War Hall, demonstrating his fascination with all military things.
Open: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm.
Closed: Fridays and the first Monday of each month
Theatres
Mariinsky Theatre, founded in 1783, is situated on Theatre Square. It is considered second in importance among Russia's theatres, after the Bolshoy Theatre in Moscow.
Ballet, opera and drama troupes have all performed on this stage (the drama troupe has become independent in 1803). The famous Russian ballet dancer A.I.Istomina, to whom Pushkin has devoted poetry, also danced here. In 1836 M.I.Glinka's opera "Life for the Czar" (or "Ivan Susanin", as it was renamed after the revolution) premiered here, and this event has marked the beginning of classical Russian opera.
The theatre was designed by architect A.K.Kavos and reconstructed in the late 19th century under the leadership of V.A.Shreter. It was named after Alexander II's wife Mary. The artistic development of the Mariinsky theatre is associated with performances (often premieres) of operas by the great Russian composers such as N.A.Rimsky-Korsakov, P.I.Chaikovsky, S.S.Prokofyev, D.D.Shostakovich and others, as well as foreign classical composers. The theatre has always had eminent conductors, and the troupe has consisted of world-famous opera and ballet stars such as F.Shalyapin, A.Pavlova, V.Nizhinsky, G.Ulanova and M.Baryshnikov.
Since 1935 until recently the theatre has had the name of Leningrad's communist leader S.M.Kirov. It has received high national awards. The hall holds 1,625 people, and one can scarcely find any vacant seats at any performance. The Kirov Ballet troupe, as it is called abroad, is often on tours.
Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theatre. One of the best theatres in St. Petersburg, if not all Russia. It was founded in 1919 on the initiative of M. Gorky, A. Lunacharsky, A. Blok and M. Andreyeva. After the death of G.A. Tovstonogov, who hds been the theatre's stage director from 1956 until 1989, the theatre was named after him in recognition of his merits and talent. The troupe had always been very bright, although many actors were leaving for other theatres. The theatre is currently experiencing difficult times, as it is not easy to replace the great director, but it seems that the theatre is heading in the right direction. Ballet artists are performing here during the summer, when the theatre troupe is on vacation. The theatre has been awarded several orders and the "Academic" title. Its capacity is 1,258 seats.
Musorgsky Opera and Ballet Theatre
The theatre was established in 1918 as an affiliate of the Mariinsky Theatre. It is most known for its premieres of pieces by contemporary composers, such as S. Prokofyev, D. Shostakovich, A. Khachaturyan, R. Schedrin and others. The theatre created its own troupe during 1931-33.
Today this theatre is the only one in the city to stage plays such as "Fadetta", "Tsar Boris", "The White Knight" and "MacBeth". It occupies the building of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, named after Nicholas I's brother prince Mikhail Pavlovich.
The theatre's capacity is 1,151 seats. French drama and comedy has been presented in it for privileged audiences. A French opera troupe has also been performing here for a long period of time. The building was constructed in 1831-33 on Mikhailovskaya Square (presently called Arts Square) by architect A.P. Bryullov.
Notes
“Samson, tearing apart the jaws of the lion” – “Самсон, раздирающий пасть льва” (фонтан Петергофа)
Admiralty – Адмиралтейство
Amber Room – Янтарная комната в Екатерининском дворце (Царское Село)
Anichkov Bridge – Аничков мост
Arts Square – Площадь Искусств
Bridge of Peter the Great – Мост Петра Великого (Большеохтинский)
Bronze Horseman – Медный Всадник
Catherine Palace – Екатерининский дворец в Пушкине
Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood (or the Church on the Blood, or Spilled Blood Cathedral) – Собор Спаса-на-Крови
Cruiser Aurora – крейсер «Аврора»
Dostoevsky Museum – Государственный Литературно-мемориальный музей Ф. М. Достоевского
Foundry Bridge – Литейный мост
Gatchina – Гатчина (Государственный художественно-архитектурный дворцово-парковый музей-заповедник «Гатчина»)
Gatchina Palace – Гатчинский дворец
Grand Palace of Peterhof – Большой дворец Петергофа
Gulf of Finland – Финский залив
Hay Market – Сенной рынок
Hermitage – Государственный Эрмитаж
Imperial Estate of Pavlovsk – императорская резиденция в Павловске
Kazan Cathedral – Казанский собор
Lyceum – Царскосельский Лицей
Marble Palace – Мраморный дворец
Mariinsky Palace – Мариинский дворец
Mariinsky Theatre – Мариинский театр
Mars Square – Марсово поле
Museum of the history of Religion and Atheism – Государственный музей истории религии
Musorgsky Opera and Ballet Theatre – Театр оперы и балета имени М.П. Мусоргского
Nikolsky Cathedral – Никольский собор
Palace Bridge – Дворцовый мост
Palace Square – Дворцовая площадь
Paul’s War Hall – Зал Войны императора Павла I в Павловском Дворце (Павловск)
Peter and Paul’s Cathedral – Петропавловский собор
Peter and Paul’s Fortress – Петропавловская крепость
Peter the Great's Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkammer) – Музей антропологии и этнографии им. Петра Великого (Кунсткамера)
Peterhof – Петергоф (Государственный художественно-архитектурный дворцово-парковый музей-заповедник «Петергоф»)
Rastrelli Square – Площадь Растрелли
Russian Museum – Государственный Русский музей
Smolny Cathedral – Смольный собор
Smolny Institute – Смольный Институт
St. Isaac’s Cathedral – Исаакиевский собор
St. Michael’s (Engineers) Castle – Михайловский (Инженерный) замок
Stroganov Palace – Строгановский дворец
Theatre Square – Театральная площадь
Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theatre – Большой Драматический Театр имени Г. А. Товстоногова (БДТ)
Trinity Bridge – Троицкий мост
Tsarskoye Selo – Царское Село (Государственный художественно-архитектурный дворцово-парковый музей-заповедник «Царское Село»)
Upper & Lower parks – Верхний и Нижний парки в Петергофе
Winter Palace – Зимний дворец
Vocabulary
1. To be informally known as – в разговорной речи известный как
2. A process of gradual development – процесс постепенного развития
3. Stone by stone – камень за камнем
4. To dazzle the eye of a visitor – завораживать посетителя
5. Perfectly-planned architecture – идеально спланированная архитектура
6. To be renamed into – переименованный в
7. To bring smb. to power – привести к власти
8. To transfer the capital to – перенести столицу в
9. To preserve – сохранять
10. Heroic resistance – героическое сопротивление
11. The cradle of the city – колыбель города
12. To comment with – акцентировать внимание на
13. The burial vault of Russian Tsars – усыпальница русских царей
14. The museum of space exploration and missilery – музей космических исследований и ракетостроения
15. A great spot for taking pictures – замечательное место для фотографирования
16. Old slum areas – район трущоб
17. To outline one’s life and work – охарактеризовывать (обрисовывать) жизнь и творчество
18. To display a diverse range of art – демонстрировать разнообразные направления в искусстве
19. In the very centre of the city – в самом центре города
20. A great number of – огромное количество
21. Decorative and applied art – декоративное и прикладное искусство
22. Embankment – набережная
23. Miracle-working icon – чудотворная икона
24. To make a strong competition to – составлять сильную конкуренцию
25. An outstanding example of a landscape architecture – яркий пример ландшафтной архитектуры
26. Mirrored ballroom – зеркальный зал
27. Well-preserved classrooms – хорошо сохранившиеся классные комнаты
28. To be filled with luxurious furnishings – наполненный роскошными убранствами
29. To be on tours – гастролировать
30. In recognition of one’s merits and talent – в качестве признания чьих-либо заслуг и таланта
31. An affiliate of – филиал
Tasks on the text
1. Make up special questions concerning the information about St. Petersburg from the text.
2. Match numbers and dates on the left with the events on the right.
3. Choose the odd one out in each line and explain.
a) Vasilyevsky, Petrogradsky, Mariinsky, Krestovsky, Yelagin.
b) St. Isaac’s Cathedral, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood.
c) Neva, Palace, Trinity, Anichkov, Foundry.
d) Gatchina, Peterhof, Pavlovsk, Kunstkammer.
e) Upper Park, Samson, Catherine Palace, Lower Park.
f) Amber Room, Italian Hall, Paul’s War Hall, Greek Hall.
g) Palace Square, Arts Square, Red Square, Decembrists Square.
Discussion
Choose one or two of the following questions and discuss them in pairs. Then share your ideas with the whole group.
1. What attractions do you find the most interesting in St. Petersburg? How much time do you need to see all of them?
2. What season would you choose to go to St. Petersburg and why? Who would you prefer to go with? How many days would you like to spend there?
3. Compare Moscow and St. Petersburg. Why were these two cities the capitals of Russia and one of them still is? What is the most remarkable about each of them?
4. Have you ever been to St. Petersburg? What was the first thing that attracted your attention? Why? Describe it.
5. How has the historical past influenced on St. Petersburg’s architectural and cultural life? Prove from the text.
6. Describe St. Petersburg (in general).
Tasks on Vocabulary
1. Find in the texts adjectives which are used to describe architectural monuments. Write them down. Use them to describe any attractions of the city for tourists according to the following plan:
2. Translate these phrases into English using the words from the texts.
Акцентировать внимание на, зеркальный зал, демонстрировать разнообразные направления в искусстве, в самом центре города, переименованный в, чудотворная икона, усыпальница русских царей, в качестве признания чьих-либо заслуг и таланта, перенести столицу в другой город, процесс постепенного развития, огромное количество, район трущоб, гастролировать, замечательное место для фотографирования, декоративное и прикладное искусство, набережная, филиал.
3. Using the phrases from ex. 2 make up 5 your own sentences in Russian and in English on two separate pieces of paper.
Creative Tasks
The situation: Student A is a manager of a tour agency. Student B is a tourist who wants to visit St. Petersburg. He comes to the tour agency and asks for advice what to see in the city.
Use your imagination and information from the texts and make up a dialogue.