Let’s continue our walk. I’ve already said that the
illumination while shooting this album was unusually good.
It’s hard to predict when it happens. Sunshine and a few clouds are
necessary but far from sufficient.
First, some general views.
This structure – a
mermaid on a long pole in front of the entrance to the St. Peter and
Paul fortress, near the restaurants – has already been there for a few
years. What’s exactly and for what purpose - remains unclear.
The Kronverk Bridge across a canal of the same name connects the
Mytninskaya Embankment with the Zayachiy (Hare) Isle, on which the
fortress stands (on the left).
Although the bridge is wooden with
metal beams, it’s relatively new - built in 1938. Before that, another
bridge had led directly to the Kronverk Gate. Due to its wooden
structure, the current bridge looks here quite in place.
Sight through the shrouds.
The fortress view across the Kronverk canal.
A small tourist boat looks like carved of a mahogany block. :)
There is something in it, right? :)
The domes of,
respectively, the St. Peter and Paul cathedral and the grand-ducal
crypt.
The Ioannovsky (St. Jonh’s) is the second
bridge to the Zayachiy Isle.
The Ioannovsky gate is seen at the other
side.
The Ioannovsky was the first bridge
erected in St. Petersburg in 1703. Back then it was a pontoon bridge,
located slightly downstream. In 1706, it was rebuilt as a pile bridge,
and in 1736 moved to its present site, while the bank structures were
done of stone. Till 1887, the bridge was called Petrovsky (St. Peter’s).
In 1950-1951 the bridge was rebuilt again as a wooden bridge,
reinforced with a metal framework; lanterns and a fence (similar to that
of the Tuchkov bridge) were installed.
This year, the bridge was rebuilt once more, and its bank arches were
opened.
Now let’s walk a short distance across
the Troitzky (St. Trinity’s) bridge to Neva’s other bank and look at the
Mikhailovsky aka Inzhenerny (St. Michael’s aka Engineers’) Castle upon
its reconstruction.
As I’ve already told and shown elsewhere, a canal
section was dug in front of the castle (on the right). It is still
unclear what this section’s destiny might be. Perhaps it would be
prolonged beneath Sadovaya St. (seen on the picture) and connected to
the pond in the Mikhailovsky garden (behind my back)?
This bridge runs across the mentioned
canal section. Fontanka river is right in front of us.
The bridge did
exist before as well, but for no apparent purpose - since no stream
flowed beneath.
By the way, the canal seems to have had a name: Krasny (Red).
Probably it’s still called so.
Entrance to the castle (the canal fence
is seen).
A view from the other side (Fontanka
river is behind my back to the right).
The mentioned canal fence is in
sight.
Now the Mikhailovsky – no, not castle
this time – palace!
It houses the Russian Museum.
In front of the palace: Alexander Pushkin monument on the Iskustv (The
Arts’) square..
The monument, erected in 1957, was designed by M.
Anikushin who also authored the town’s best Lenin monument in Moscow Sq.
The well-fed dog shows little interest in a child. :-)
Decorations on the palace grille…
… and a view through its lattice.
The Savior-on-the-Blood church is seen
behind a recently installed lantern.
