The popular tourist service TripAdvisor unveiled the top 10 Russian tourist sites and awarded them with its Travelers’ Choice award. The ranking was based on opinions and reviews from foreign tourists from all over the world.
Church of the Savior on Blood, St. Petersburg. It is one of the most famous and gorgeous landmarks of St. Petersburg. The Church was dedicated to Emperor Alexander II and built on the site where he was deadly wounded by anarchist conspirators on March 13, 1881. Construction began in 1883. It was completed in 1907. The building encompasses an elaborated shrine which was constructed exactly on the spot where Alexander II was assassinated. The Church contains over 7,500 square meters of mosaics. The interior was designed by some of the most celebrated Russian artists of the time, including Viktor Vasnetsov and Mikhail Vrubel. Now the Church is a museum and a Russian architectural monument.
2/10
© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich
Red Square, Moscow. Red Square is the most famous tourist destination in the Russian capital. Its history dates back to the 15-16th centuries. It separates the Kremlin from a historic merchant quarter, known as Kitai-gorod. The Square was meant to be a place for balls, public ceremonies and proclamations. Throughout its history, Red Square has been for official ceremonies by all Russian governments. The unique architectural ensemble of Red Square was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
3/10
© Sputnik / Photohost agency
Peterhof Grand Palace, St. Petersburg. It is the main building of the ensemble of palaces and gardens which was built by the order of tsar Peter the Great. These palaces and gardens are often referred to as the "Russian Versailles." The construction of the palace began in 1714 and was completed in 1725. In 1745-1755 it was rebuilt under Empress Elizaveta Petrovna by the example of the French Versailles. The palace-ensemble along with the city center is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, St. Petersburg. It is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in St. Petersburg. It is also the largest orthodox basilica and fourth largest cathedral in the world. The cathedral was ordered built by Tsar Alexander I, and the construction took 40 years, from 1818 to 1858. The exterior is a picturesque example of the late classicism, with an influence of neo-Renaissance, the Byzantine style and eclecticism. The cathedral's main dome rises 101.5 meters and is plated with pure gold. The rotunda is encircled by a walkway accessible to tourists. The Church now is a museum complex.
5/10
© Sputnik / Denis Grishkin
Saint’s Basil Cathedral, Moscow. It is also known as Pokrovsky Cathedral. It is a world famous cultural landmark and one of the most renowned symbols of Russia. It was built from 1555 to 1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. The church has been part of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.
6/10
© Sputnik / Sergey Velichkin
Catherine's Palace, the city of Pushkin, St. Petersburg. The late baroque palace was the summer residence of the Russian tsars. The residence originated in 1717. Construction began in 1752 and lasted for four years. The palace became a superb example of the drizzling luxury of the Russian royal court. More than 100 kilograms of gold were used to gild the sophisticated facade and numerous statues erected on the roof. It was even rumored that the palace's roof was constructed entirely of gold. During the Great Patriotic War, when the Nazi forces retreated after the siege of Leningrad, they intentionally destroyed the palace. While the largest part of the restoration works was completed for the Tercentenary of St. Petersburg, much work is still required.
The Kazan Kremlin, Kazan, Tatarstan. It was built at the behest of Ivan the Terrible on the ruins of the former castle of Kazan khans. The Kremlin includes many old building, the oldest of which is the Annunciation Cathedral (1554-1562). The most conspicuous landmark of the Kazan Kremlin is the leaning Söyembikä Tower, which probably goes back to the reign of Peter the Great. Another recognizable architectural feature is the Spasskaya Tower, which anchors the southern end of the Kremlin and serves as the main entrance to the Kremlin. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000.
8/10
© Sputnik / Alexei Danichev
Palace Square, St. Petersburg. It is the central square of St. Petersburg. It was the stage for many events of worldwide historic significance, including the Bloody Sunday (1905) and the October Revolution of 1917. It covers an area of five hectares. The place is an ensemble of national historic and cultural monuments, including Winter Palace, the Alexander Column, the Building of the General Staff, and the triumphal arch. The ensemble is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Naval Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, Kronstadt. It is a Russian Orthodox cathedral. It was built in 1903–1913 as the main church of the Russian Navy and dedicated to all fallen seamen. The cathedral operated as such for only 16 years. On October 14, 1929 it was closed; its valuables were nationalized to the state treasury. The Russian Orthodox Church reinstalled the cross on the main dome in 2002. In 2013, the ceremony of grand re-consecration was held in the fully restored cathedral.
10/10
© Sputnik / Alexandr Kryazhev
Russky Bridge, Vladivostok. It is a bridge built across the Eastern Bosphorus strait, to serve the APEC summit which took place in Vladivostok in 2012. Construction began on September 3, 2008, and was completed in July 2012. The bridge connects the mainland part of the city with Russky Island. The total length of the bridge is 1,885.5 meters (3,100 meters including trestles). It is the world's longest cable-stayed bridge, with a 1104m long central span. The bridge also has the second highest pylons after the Millau Viaduct and the longest cable stays.
