Vasilyevsky Island population size. Central and Admiralteisky districts

You should definitely visit Vasilyevsky Island. Sometimes it is called Petersburg in the square, because everything that makes this city so unusual is concentrated on it. You can spend several days on a thorough inspection of the island. It is always a little colder there than in other areas of St. Petersburg, which is not famous for good weather and high temperatures, so you should dress warmly for walking. The straight streets and avenues of the island are blown through by the winds.

How to get to Vasilyevsky Island

You can get to Vasilyevsky Island by metro. These will be the Primorskaya, Sportivnaya and Vasileostrovskaya stops. For sightseeing of the main sights, the last station is preferable.

You can get to the island by car, bus, trolleybus or tram along 4 bridges, swim by boat or ship to the Marine Station. Check the schedule for the bridges in advance so that there are no troubles when returning.

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Middle Avenue

The name Sredniy Prospekt in different years was also carried by other streets. For example, Mayakovsky, Degtyarnaya, Klinsky Prospekt and others. Today, walking along Sredniy Prospekt of Vasilyevsky Island, you can see:

Built in 1732. The first parishioners were cadets, officers and teachers of the school. In 1874, it was completely rebuilt, as the old building could not accommodate everyone. Residents of the city of that time noted that the temple had excellent acoustics, rich decoration and the best organ in St. Petersburg. During the Soviet period, a toy factory worked in the building for a long time. The church was returned to believers in 1992. Restoration work completed in 2010.

It was established by Nicholas II. Today, its funds contain about a million exhibits, among which there are a lot of valuable and unique ones.

Museum of Urban Electric Transport. There are three expositions in total. In the interactive part, you can enter any carriages and take pictures for free.

Over time, Sredniy Prospekt Vasilyevsky Island may be made completely pedestrian, leaving only a lane for public transport. This will pass gradually. According to the scheme of the committee of transport, the transition to a completely pedestrian zone will be carried out approximately by 2020.

Small prospect

Maly Prospekt on Vasilyevsky Island was built at the beginning of the 19th century. There are not many attractions here:

It is located on the corner of lines 7 and 8 and Maly Prospekt. It is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the city, the only one that has 7 limits. Built in 1750-1765.

havana work town- several houses with a simple appearance for St. Petersburg. They were distinguished by a building that was atypical for that time: the linear placement of buildings with cozy courtyards between them. The houses were built at the beginning of the 20th century. The entire complex accommodated over 1,000 residents.

Repin street

Repina Street is the narrowest and most atmospheric street in St. Petersburg. Its maximum width is 6 meters. Getting there can be difficult even for residents of the city, so be careful while searching. You will need to turn next to the Catherine Lutheran Church if you walk along Bolshoy Prospekt, near the 14th house along Sredny Prospekt, or go to it from the Musical Pavilion of the Rumyantsev Garden.

Walking along Repin Street, you find yourself in a quiet corner with many yellow houses and mansions typical of St. Petersburg, which cannot be attributed to the architecture of any particular style. This is one of the famous mystical places cities. The street is described in detail in Antony Pogorelsky's story "Black Hen, or Underground Inhabitants".

The most beautiful streets of St. Petersburg

The sixth and seventh lines of Vasilevsky Island are considered the most beautiful in the whole city. At the same time, these are very busy places. You can get here from the Vasileostrovskaya station through Sredny Prospekt, heading towards the Bolshoy. Initially, Peter I planned that they would be embankments of one of the canals of his Venice of the North. The first stone houses appeared here in the 1730s.

Line 6 is known for the fact that a passenger horse-drawn railway line was launched along it in 1861: Admiralteiskaya Square - Konnogvardeisky Boulevard. In this regard, in 2004, a horse-drawn model of 1872-1878 was installed at the corner with Sredny Prospekt. Theater box offices work inside. In 2005, bronze horses were placed next to the tram. In 2009, the composition was supplemented by a coachman.

On a small section, lines 6 and 7 have been pedestrian since 2002. At this time, Andreevsky Boulevard was opened here between Bolshoy and Sredny avenues. In May 2003, a monument to Vasily, the patron saint of the island, was erected on it.

Of the attractions of lines 6 and 7, you should definitely visit the Andreevsky market. It was built in 1790 and reconstructed in 2003-2005. Opposite the market is the Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called.

Many houses along 6 and 7 lines look the same as they did 100 years ago. Therefore, walking here, you may well sometimes forget what year it is.

Spit of Vasilyevsky Island

The brightest place on Vasilyevsky Island is this. Even if you will be in St. Petersburg for only 1 day, you should visit this place where the river divides into Malaya and Bolshaya. From here you can admire Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Hermitage, the Winter Palace and the Admiralty.

There is also something to see on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island itself:

It was built in the style of Peter's Baroque and consists of 12 three-story buildings. Now St. Petersburg State University and the Pedagogical Institute work there.

Exchange- the central element of the ensemble of the Strelka of Vasilyevsky Island. It looks like an ancient Greek temple, surrounded by 44 columns around the perimeter. Until 2010, the Naval Museum was located inside, today the Museum of Soil Science still operates here, but the question of the further use of the building is still open.

260 meters long to the Admiralty. Built in 1916.

It is 250 meters long and connects with Petrogradsky Island. It was completed in 1960, taking into account the proportions and forms of the Palace.

Built in 1810, decorated with bows of ships. Previously, they were used as lighthouses, so there are spiral staircases inside.

To the 300th anniversary of the city.

Size 70x70 meters. The maximum height of the central jet is 60 meters. He worked in three modes: music, light and music and laser show. Usually the performance lasted 20 minutes at the beginning of the hour. The lighting equipment is suitable for use even on white nights. Now the fountain complex does not function due to the high cost of maintenance.

University embankment

It is impossible to visit St. Petersburg and not walk along at least one of its embankments. There are two of them on Vasilyevsky Island. University runs from Palace Bridge to Blagoveshchensky. Along it are:

It is one of the largest in the world. There are more than 50 million exhibits in its funds. In the halls with an area of ​​6000 m2, more than 30 thousand various items, including the world's only stuffed adult mammoth and a whale skeleton 27 meters long.

- Museum of rarities, opened on the basis of the collection of Peter I. It is very famous and popular due to the collection of Ruysch freaks in alcohol. This is one of the richest ethnographic museums which are definitely worth a visit.

In the Petrine Baroque style, built in 1710-1721 according to the design of Francesco Fontana. At that time it was often used for diplomatic receptions and assemblies of the emperor. In 1727, the First Cadet Corps was located here. In the 1880s, the Museum of the Cadet Corps was opened, which later became a branch of the Hermitage.

Rumyantsev garden began to equip after the Obelisk was transferred to this place in honor of the victory in the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791 from the Field of Mars. There are fountains, busts of Repin and Surikov.

Monument to Mikhail Lomonosov installed near St. Petersburg University in 1986, since it was here that he studied and taught.

Academy of Sciences building is a prime example of classicism. Built in 1783-1789.

Academy of Arts and with her. It was founded in 1757. Today it is the largest center of artistic culture in Russia, and until the beginning of the 20th century it was the only higher educational institution of its kind.

Opposite the Academy of Arts is much older than the city itself - they are about 3.5 thousand years old. They were found in the ruins of the temple of Amenhotep III in 1820. In St. Petersburg installed in 1834. A pier was built especially for them.

Embankment Lieutenant Schmidt

Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment runs from Universitetskaya Embankment towards Blagoveshchensky Bridge. Along it are the following attractions of the city:

Naval Institute- the oldest such institution in the Russian Federation. It is located in the former palace of Count Burchard Munnich. You can recognize the institute by its ten-column portico with a tower. Opposite it rises a three-meter bronze tower, installed in 1870.

Mining Institute founded in 1773. It works with him. The building where they are now located was erected in the Empire style at the beginning of the 19th century. There are more than 230 thousand different images in the funds of the Mining Museum different countries including works by Faberge.

Finished building in 1897. Now the temple is active. Restoration work completed in 2013.

is the only institution of its kind in the world. The ship was launched in 1917 in England. The first name of the icebreaker is Svyatogor. In 1918, he sank at the mouth of the Northern Dvina, and after that he was with the British as a war trophy. In 1921, Russian diplomat Leonid Krasin managed to negotiate the purchase of the ship. Posthumously, the icebreaker was renamed in his honor. The ship participated in a rescue expedition to the North Pole, when the airship "Italia" crashed, as well as in the Second World War. The icebreaker has been used as a museum space since 1992.

On this seemingly small piece of land, in all its diversity, with all its ups and downs, the history of the Russian state, starting from the time of Peter the Great, has been reflected. Every corner of Vasilyevsky Island is literally saturated with the spirit of those glorious years. Peter the Great, admiring the beauty of these places, even wanted to create a kind of Venice here, but the emperor's plan was not destined to come true due to a number of objective circumstances.

Vasilyevsky Island is indeed a very interesting, unusual place. Even if you set foot on its land for the first time, you will never get lost: the linear layout is impeccable, and this ingenious simplicity cannot but delight. He, like no other district of the Northern capital, is full of myths and mysteries. It is often called the "island of unsolved mysteries", behind the veil of which tourists are trying to look, in large numbers coming here from Russia itself and other countries of the world.

The beauty, uniqueness and attractive power of Vasilyevsky Island is reflected in many works. Suffice it to recall the immortal lines of Joseph Brodsky: “I don’t want to choose either a country or a churchyard. I will come to Vasilyevsky Island to die. I won’t find your dark blue facade in the dark, I’ll fall on the asphalt between the faded lines.

Pavilion 6 "Lenexpo"

History and modernity

In ancient times, when chronicles were not compiled yet, there were pagan temples on this territory, where the Magi performed rituals of worshiping pagan gods and magical rites. It was in the local forests, it seems, that the legendary Finn comprehended witchcraft, which - remember? - helped Ruslan save Lyudmila from the spell of Naina and Chernomor. Vasilyevsky Island somehow attracted all sorts of mysterious and dark personalities who rushed here after the founding of St. Petersburg. Basically, they were magicians, sorcerers and soothsayers of all stripes.

Until 1715, the area was practically not built up. At the beginning of the XVIII century, its western side was turned into a real cemetery of the first builders of the Northern capital. Unable to withstand inhuman working conditions, they died by the hundreds and thousands, and this page is perhaps the most unattractive in the entire history of the island. Later, the Smolensk cemetery was founded on this site. The island itself was called the Smolensk field. Only by name is not a cemetery, but the Smolenka River.

The first solid building was built here in 1710-1720, and right on the banks of the Neva. They became the well-known today Menshikov Palace, which became the first stone building in the entire new capital. It was built specifically for Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, a favorite of Peter I and the first governor-general of St. Petersburg. Note, by the way, that he became the first Russian nobleman who received the title of duke from the tsar.

Wind sawmills were installed on the famous Vasilyevsky Strelka. Prior to that, there was an Artillery battery here, blocking the entire river navigable fairway with the guns of the St. Petersburg Admiralty. Later, the island of Kotlin (the city of Kronstadt) was made the center of naval defense.

The idea of ​​Peter the Great to turn the island into the "Venice of the North" was embodied in projects developed in 1716, 1718 and 1720 by the famous architect Domenico Trezzini. The subsequent development was based on the network of parallel canals (streets) and avenues crossing them, planned by the Italian. Subsequently, the creation of canal streets was abandoned, but the streets themselves are commonly called lines.

The eastern part of Vasilyevsky Island has become the focus of the main buildings: both residential and public. They were also erected not far from the Bolshaya Neva embankment. The most famous buildings built at that time were the buildings of the Academy of Sciences, the Twelve Collegia and the Kunstkamera. In 1737, the island was first assigned to the Vasilyevsky part of the city, and then, on September 15, a separate Vasileostrovsky district of St. Petersburg was formed. In the 30s of the XVIII century, the port of St. Petersburg moved here. This “housewarming” predetermined, as it were, further, larger-scale development of the territory.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Strelka area became an important architectural ensemble. In addition to the capital's Academy of Sciences, almost all scientific and educational institutions are concentrated here: the Academy of Arts, the library of the Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg University, the Mining Institute and the Naval Cadet Corps. Subsequently, it was necessary to link Vasilyevsky Island with the side of the Admiralty. For this purpose, the Annunciation Bridge was built, which became the first permanent bridge across the Bolshaya Neva.

The construction of residential buildings, which began actively in the 18th century, was continued in the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the last century. At the same time, new public buildings appeared. The northern and southern sides of Vasilyevsky Island developed as zones where industrial facilities were concentrated. The largest factories of the then Russian Empire: Baltic, Pipe, Cable, "Siemens-Galske", "Siemens-Shuckert" and a number of others. In the 20s of the last century, the reconstruction touched the western part of Vasilyevsky Island. In the 1950s, they continued to build up the Harbor area and reconstructed Bolshoy Prospekt.

In the late 60s, in the alluvial territories in its western part, they began to form new area, which has become a kind of ceremonial marine calling card St. Petersburg. The work was supervised by the architect S. I. Evdokimov, later the project was implemented by his colleagues V. N. Sokolov and V. A. Sokhin. The district includes the Sea Embankment, the center of the ensemble of the Square of Naval Glory, the Marine Station and the Pribaltiyskaya Hotel. New buildings grow as the alluvial territories appear and move to the west, which goes from Nalichnaya Street. Its name in meaning just corresponds to the concept of "embankment", although the street itself no longer goes directly to the sea.

In our time, the additional expansion of Vasilyevsky Island has by no means stopped: the government of St. Petersburg has set the task of increasing its area in the southwestern part by 30%. It is moving towards the Neva Bay. The first stage of the new Sea Passenger Port has already been put into operation, the capacity of which is used for passenger ferries plying between the capitals of the Baltic states, as well as cruise liners who are unable to moor on the Neva due to the large draft. Meanwhile, the public is concerned about the plans to receive automobile container cargo here from ferries. The authors of the idea are guided by the need to achieve all-season profitability of the port. However, its opponents believe that this will complicate the transport situation, and may also have a negative impact on the environmental situation in neighboring residential areas.

origin of name

According to one of the widespread versions, Vasilyevsky Island got its name in honor of Vasily Korchmin, the closest associate of Peter I, who commanded the artillery battery located here. This person was both real and legendary. Being an entrepreneur, he was engaged in the construction of fortifications, defensive and culvert structures. Korchmin, in collaboration with Yakov Bruce, developed new gun systems. In addition, on behalf of the king, he carried out a reconnaissance mission in Europe. He also organized festive fireworks. And when his Majesty sent him written instructions, the envelope invariably read: "Vasily to the island."

This version of the origin of the name sounds very convincing and could hardly raise doubts, if not for one “but”: history itself refutes it. When in the 30s of the century before last they carefully studied the old Novgorod scribe books, then in one of them, dated as early as 1500, they found a list of villages, repairs and estates located on the Neva. Among them, Vasilev Ostrov is also mentioned. The name was written in this form, and it is believed that it arose on behalf of its manager, whose name was Vasily Selezen. As for the link with the name of Vasily Korchmin, this is simply a historical error, voluntarily or involuntarily made by Andrei Ivanovich Bogdanov, the first historian of St. Petersburg.

Meanwhile, Vasilyevsky Island changed its name several times. Since 1500 it has been Vasilev Island. Until the 18th century, it was also known as Hirvisaari (translated from Finnish as “Elk Island”). In the early years of the existence of the Northern capital, it was called the Smolensk field. In 1710-1720, according to the title of Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, it was called Prince Island, and in 1725-1727 it was renamed Menshikov Island in his honor. From 1727 to 1729, on the orders of Peter the Great, it became Preobrazhensky, since the tsar planned to place the regiment of the same name here. From 1729 to the present day, the island has been called Vasilievsky.

Architecture and sights

Despite the fact that the architectural appearance of the island is diverse, its dominant feature is the style inherent in the buildings of the 18th-19th centuries. And, most importantly, many of them keep the stamp of Peter the Great, the bold aspirations of the first Russian emperor to modernize the country, to bring everything advanced, European into its development.

So, one of the notable structures of Vasilyevsky Island are two 32-meter Rostral columns located on the sides of Birzhevaya Square. They were built in 1810 by the French architect Jean-Francois Thomas de Thomon. Previously, they acted as beacons for ships entering the port. They, symbolizing the power of Russia as a maritime power, were decorated in the Roman style with anchors and rostra of ships. At the foot are allegorical figures that personify the four great Russian rivers: the Volga, Neva, Dnieper and Volkhov. Internal spiral staircases allow tourists to get to the upper platforms of these magnificent monuments of antiquity. From here you have a stunning view of the Strelka and the sea.

At first, lighthouses were melted with coal and oil. Then electricity was brought to them, but soon they abandoned its use due to the high consumption and high cost. In 1957, when St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) celebrated its 250th anniversary, gas was brought to the Rostral columns and each was equipped with a powerful fire torch 7 meters high. After a recent restoration, they were lit again - at a solemn ceremony on the occasion of the completion of work.

Another famous landmark of Vasilevsky Island is the Gottorp Globe, installed under the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. However, in December 1747, it was destroyed by a fire that broke out in the building of the Kunstkamera. The very next year, they began to recreate it literally anew: the workshops of the Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg and everything necessary were made available to Russian craftsmen. In 1754, the globe was restored almost completely, and now this unique creation can be seen in the exposition of the Museum. M. V. Lomonosov. The latter is located in the building of the same Kunstkamera and is an independent department of the Peter the Great Museum of Ethnography and Anthropology located here.

Tourists do not ignore one of the oldest churches in St. Petersburg - the Church of the Three Hierarchs, founded at the beginning of the 18th century and being one of the oldest in the whole city. And the Menshikov Palace, already mentioned above, built for one of the closest associates of Peter I, is now under the jurisdiction of the State Hermitage Museum, excursions are held there daily. The interior of the palace is striking in its splendor, and this beauty must be seen by all means.

Do you like visiting exhibitions and shows? Then you will certainly be interested in the Lenexpo exhibition complex, located in the southwestern tip of Vasilyevsky Island. This is in the historic area of ​​Gavan, on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. There are nine pavilions and many conference halls, meeting rooms and a number of administrative buildings.

The arrow refers to the eastern tip of Vasilievsky Island. It is the brightest architectural ensemble that captivates even the most sophisticated connoisseurs of beauty, because city architecture and the unique landscapes of the Neva coasts are intertwined here in amazing harmony.

The central place in the entire architectural ensemble is occupied by the Exchange building. It was built in 1805-1810 according to the project of the same Thomas de Thomon. Located on the then empty square, it conditionally divided it into two parts, which became separate squares - Birzhevaya and Kollezhskaya. The construction fully met the needs of the rapidly developing economy of the then Russia. The building is remarkable in itself: it is made in the style of an ancient temple. The rostral columns, which we have already mentioned above, are located just in front of the Stock Exchange.

Of the museums, in addition to the Zoological and Kunstkamera, on the Strelka there is also the Central Museum of Soil Science. V. V. Dokuchaev and the Literary Museum, better known as the Pushkin House or the Institute of Russian Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In 2006, on the Neva, just near the famous Strelka, a floating singing fountain was opened - the largest in our country. However, due to the impending financial and economic crisis, it was already closed in 2009. It is currently under conservation.

The historical appearance of the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island has been formed over the centuries. During this time, he settled down, became familiar, and when in 2008 in the area of ​​​​the House of Culture. Kirov began to build high-rise buildings, which, according to many experts, irreparably distorted the entire panorama. A whole scandal erupted. The construction was called by public activists only as an “urban planning crime”. The government of St. Petersburg could not ignore these sentiments in any way, so it proposed to the developer to reduce the number of storeys of the buildings under construction. The high-rise building "Financier", built near the Palace of Culture. The owners of the developer’s company, on their own initiative, nevertheless reduced Kirov by as much as 3.5 meters, which did not affect the views in any way, but reconciled them with the city administration.

Development plan for Vasilyevsky Island called "Marine Façade"

Transport connection

With the city center, namely Novo-Admiralteisky Island, Vasilyevsky is connected by the Blagoveshchensky and Palace bridges, and with the Petrograd side district - by the Birzhevaya and Tuchkov bridges.

Four bridges connect Vasilyevsky Island with the Decembrist Island. Under the governor V. I. Matvienko, it was planned to build the Novo-Admiralteysky bridge between the 16-17th and 18-19th lines. However, the project was not implemented due to financial reasons. In addition, in 2011 the city court of St. Petersburg overturned the decision of the city government, which approved the construction project. As an alternative, a 6-lane Betancourt bridge was built, which runs between the island of the Decembrists in the Vasileostrovsky region and Petrovsky island in the Petrograd region across Sulfur Island. The bridge was opened to traffic on May 13, 2018.

The Blagoveshchensky Bridge has been completely reconstructed. After the repair, it was decided not to return the tram tracks, which had not been used for several years before. The Palace Bridge was overhauled in 2013.

Where to stay?

Vasilyevsky Island is rightfully considered one of the the most beautiful places Northern capital. Due to specifics geographical location it can hardly be called comfortable for permanent residence: it is cool here, winds often blow from the Baltic Sea. And yet, such features do not make it less interesting for tourists. On the contrary, travelers readily come here, walk with pleasure along its picturesque corners, visit sights and take a lot of pictures.

Of course, every foreigner, especially those who came to St. Petersburg for a short time, wants to rationally manage their free time and, as far as possible, spend it less on getting here. For accommodation tourists are recommended to choose cheap hotels located in the city center, closer to the subway. Getting off at the Vasileostrovskaya station, you can immediately start exploring these wonderful places.

VASILEOSTROVSKY DISTRICT, administrative-territorial unit of St. Petersburg with a total area of ​​2146.88 hectares.

(Territorial Administration on Bolshoi Ave. V.O., 55).

Formed within its current borders in 1917 (the western part in 1936-61 was an independent Sverdlovsk region), it covers the territory of Vasilyevsky Island (hence the name) and the Decembrist Islands. It is connected with the Central District by the Palace Bridge, with the Admiralteisky District - by the Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge, with the Petrogradsky District - by the Birzhev and Tuchkov Bridges.

Population Vasileostrovsky district 211,046 people (2016).

There are 5 municipalities within the Vasileostrovskiy district:
- Maritime District,
- municipal districts No. 7, No. 8, No. 9 and No. 11.

Until the middle of the 19th century, wooden buildings prevailed on the territory of the Vasileostrovsky district, in the area of ​​​​the Gavan and on the modern island. The Decembrists preserved vast swampy wastelands. At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. the eastern part of the district is completely built up, an industrial zone has been formed in the South-West. In 1911-13 in the western part of about. Goloday (now Father Dekabristov), ​​the construction of the residential area "New Petersburg" was underway. In the 1950s the territory of the Harbor and about. Decembrists. In the 1960-80s. the territory was washed and new residential quarters were created in the northwestern part of the district. The marine facade of the city was formed, the important links of which were the Marine Station and the Pribaltiyskaya Hotel. In 2006, a new reclamation of territories began, which will change the modern appearance of the area from the side of the Gulf of Finland.

There are three metro stations on the territory of the Vasilyevsky district:
"Vasileostrovskaya", "Primorskaya" and Makarov Embankment with an underground passage under the neva to the station Sportivnaya.

Main highways:
Bolshoy, Sredny and Maly avenues V.O., Nalichnaya st., st. Shipbuilders, Makarov Embankment, Universitetskaya Embankment and Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment.

The area is concentrated big number universities and research institutes:
St. Petersburg State University, Academic Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. I. E. Repina, Mining Institute. G. V. Plekhanov, St. Petersburg Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Russian Literature (Pushkin House), Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, State Optical Institute. S. I. Vavilova and others.

Among the objects of culture and leisure:
Naval Museum, Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. Peter the Great (Kunstkamera), the Zoological Museum, the A. D. Menshikov Palace Museum, the Lenexpo exhibition complex, etc.

There are more than 40 industrial enterprises in the Vasileostrovskiy district:
Baltiysky zavod, Steel-rolling zavod, Sevkabel and Electroapparat plants, zavod im. Kozitsky and others. The number of factories is declining. Part is transferred outside St. Petersburg, part goes bankrupt. In the liberated territories, there is a massive residential development with apartments and commercial real estate sold in the Benois real estate agency. Also, new buildings are being built in new alluvial territories.

Among the historical and cultural monuments under state protection are the Rostral Columns, the Exchange complex, the Twelve Colleges building, the Menshikov Palace, the building of the Academy of Arts, St. Andrew's Cathedral, the Rumyantsevsky obelisk, a pier with sphinxes in front of the Academy of Arts, a monument to I. F. Kruzenshtern, east. burials in Smolensk cemeteries, etc. In 2003, a monument to AD Sakharov was unveiled.

In the Vasileostrovsky district:
5 avenues
17 lanes
30 lines
21st street
3 passages
8 squares
8 embankments
1 duct

Vasilyevsky Island began to be explored long before the emergence North Palmyra. In the “Census salary book for Novgorod Votskaya Pyatina” of 1500, it is indicated that fishermen lived on Vasilyevsky Island, there were arable land.

As you know, Peter the First wanted to turn Vaska into the Venice of the North. For this, channels were dug, which were later filled up. Now the streets of Vasilyevsky Island, which are called lines, remind of these channels. On the lines of the Vasileostrovsky district, realtors of the Benois agency sell many apartments, rooms, commercial real estate

Vasileostrovsky district is the only one in St. Petersburg where all types of houses are represented:
old fund with overhaul and without capermontage with wooden floors, metal and reinforced concrete, Stalinist houses, kirovkas, Khrushchevs, Brezhnevkas, 504 series, 600.11 series, 606 series, 137 series, 121 series, monolithic-brick, ships.
The BENOIS real estate agency provides services for the sale, purchase, rent, exchange, resettlement of apartments, rooms, houses, buildings, land plots, commercial real estate located in the Vasileostrovsky district of St. Petersburg and other areas of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region.

St. Petersburg is the second city after the capital of Russia in terms of the number of inhabitants and importance. It is home to over 4 million people. The city itself is divided into 18 districts, the Greater St. Petersburg includes a number of small settlements: Kronstadt, Petrodvorets, Zelenogorsk and others. Due to the large number of islands in the city, there are about 580 bridges: cable-stayed, drawbridges and the most ordinary ones.

History

The age-old question that interests many people: "How many islands are there in St. Petersburg?" There is no single answer to this question.

Initially, back in the 17th century, there were 25 islands, the largest of them was Vasilievsky, or, as it used to be called, Hirvisaari.

A hundred years later, when St. Petersburg began to actively rebuild, the number of islands is rapidly increasing due to the construction of new canals and channels. At the same time, in parallel, some canals began to disappear (they were covered up), in particular, dug near Vasilyevsky Island, in the place of its modern lines. By the beginning of the 19th century, the number of islands approached 70, and later 30 more were added.

How many islands are there in Saint Petersburg? The number reached 101 at that time, as evidenced by a map dating back to 1864. But by the end of the 19th century, their number was decreasing, a new Seaport was being built, and the central part of the city was being equipped. In the XX century, some existing islands increase in size, for example, named after the Decembrists.

In 2002, they called the number - 33, but these are only those islands that have their own names, that is, the small ones were not included in the list.

Island classification

To date, conditionally all the islands northern capital divided into two groups:

• Natural - Petrogradsky, Vasilyevsky, Krestovsky and others.
• Artificial - New Holland, Kolomna, Admiralty and others.

Naturally, the number is constantly changing.

Nature of use

Regardless of how many islands St. Petersburg now stands on, there is an interesting classification according to the nature of the use of the territory:

• FROM developed infrastructure, which have residential buildings, office buildings, roads, for example, Bezymyanny, Petrogradsky.
• With limited access due to the presence of industrial facilities: Severny, Bely, Novo-Admiralteisky.
• Park areas with historical buildings: Yelagin, Summer garden etc.

city ​​islands

How many islands are there in St. Petersburg and in any city in the river delta? Of course, many. Each such piece of sushi has its own amazing story appearance and development, regardless of whether it was created by human hands or by nature itself. On such shallows there can be interesting natural monuments or man-made, in other words, any island is an original place.

However, there is one feature in St. Petersburg, often tourists do not even realize that they are on some kind of island, especially if they crossed a drawbridge. And the schedule changes regularly, so before walking around the city it is better to take it with you so as not to end up on some island and not be able to get to the hotel.

Petrogradsky district

This is one of the oldest sections of the city, which was founded under Peter I.

Most big Island here - Petrogradsky (5.7 sq. km). In fact, it is here that you can get acquainted with the history of the northern capital. It is washed by the arrow of the Neva, Bolshaya and Malaya Nevka. Partially, the shoal is very densely built up (from the side of Vasilyevsky Island).

The next on the list is Krestovsky Island (3.4 sq. km). It is washed by the Middle and Malaya Nevkas, in the western part it borders on the sea.

How many islands are there in St. Petersburg in the Petrogradsky district? Today, there are 8 together with Petrograd and Krestovsky, including:

Vasileostrovskiy district

How many islands in Saint Petersburg are in this area today? Just two.

The most famous is Vasilyevsky, its area is 10.9 square kilometers. This is one of the largest and most natural islands in St. Petersburg. On the territory of the shallows there is a harbor where the main port of the northern capital (passenger) has been built and operates.

There are industrial and residential buildings on the shallows. It is here that the huge Smolensk cemetery is located. There are also many parks here: Skipper Garden, Vasileostrovets and others.

The second island of the region is called Dekabristov. In the old days, or rather until 1926, it was called Golodai. The total area is 627.9 hectares. Its dimensions were significantly increased in the 1970s due to the reclamation of soil, and it was then that Volny Island was attached to it. Now Serny adjoins it.

Central and Admiralteisky districts

The two districts include 13 islands.

1st and 2-1 Admiralty. They are separated by the Winter Canal. The 1st Admiralteysky is quite densely built up, in the eastern part there is the Field of Mars. On the second island there is the Winter Palace, the Bronze Horseman, the Admiralty and other interesting sights of the city.

Summer garden - small island, with an area of ​​only 0.12 sq. km. This is actually a park, in the middle of which is the Karpiev Pond.

Kazan Island is a winding coastline, once part of Pervushin. There are many buildings, palaces and temples.

Spassky Island is a densely built-up piece of land between the Fontanka embankment and Sadovaya street.

Nameless - an island with an area of ​​​​16 square meters. km, one of the largest in the city. There are two amazingly beautiful parks, a large square: Tauride and Garden by the Neva.

Monastyrsky (0.5 sq. km), has an almost perfect square shape. There are small enterprises and a monastery, a hospital. But, most importantly, the Metropolitan Garden, which occupies a large area of ​​the island.

Kolomensky (0.9 sq. km) - heavily built-up and densely populated.

Pokrovsky Island (0.4 sq. km), is also densely populated and has only one park area - the square of Turgenev Square.

Novoadmiralteisky - almost completely occupied by industrial enterprises. Also Matisov Island, which houses shipbuilding and repair shops.

New Holland - an island that once served for drying timber for the construction of ships, is now occupied by military warehouses. Total area - 0.03 sq. km.

Yekateringovsky (0.42 sq. km), formed only in the 18th century, is separated from the mainland by the Paper Canal. There are as many as 6 ponds and only 1 street.

Kirovsky district

How many islands are there in Saint Petersburg? The name of one of the small land islands of the Kirov region is Gutuevsky. Until 1798, it had other names: Round, Novosiltsevsky, Vitsasaari. In the period from 1874 to 1885, due to major reconstructions, the island radically changed its shape. Already in Soviet times, a number of other islands were attached to it, and now the Commercial Sea Port is located here.

Kanonersky is perhaps the most unique island in the entire city. This is a strip between the Gulf of Finland and the port. There are several residential high-rise buildings, and an underwater tunnel for cars.

Artificial and with an area of ​​55 hectares, connected to the Kanonersky bridge.

Grebenka Dam Island with only 3 residential buildings. Gladky Island is most likely a port complex built with the latest technology.

Dirty Island - located on the south side of the Tarakanovka River. This is, in fact, an industrial zone where the Hydrolysis Plant and other enterprises operate.

The Small Reserve Island covers an area of ​​2.2 hectares and is wholly owned by the municipal district of the Sea Port. The land is united by the Reserve Bridge with the Crooked Dam - an artificial island, no more than 1 kilometer long and about 100 meters wide. The region also owns the following islands: Lesnaya Gavan and Turukhtanny.

Kronstadt

How many islands are there in Saint Petersburg? It is not known exactly, but it is impossible to imagine without a port city called Kronstadt. Several smaller patches of land adjoin Kotlin. More than 44 thousand people live here, and in 1990 the Kronstadt archipelago was included in the UNESCO list. There are many here interesting monuments architecture: barracks, Gostiny Dvor, Arsenal, Italian Court and others.

Disappeared Islands

Discussing the question of how many islands St. Petersburg is located on, one cannot fail to mention the disappeared shallows.

Cotton Island. It is believed that it was filled up in the 60s. However, it is no longer on the plans of 1947.

There are written confirmations of the existence of this island dating back to 1842 - this is Galerny Island. He disappeared from the maps due to joining Kolomenskoye and partial backfilling of one of the branches of the Fontanka River.

Modern Uralskaya Street was once Gonoropulo Island. It was named after the only inhabitant. According to some sources, the executed Decembrists were buried here in the 19th century.

The territory of Kakhovskogo Lane and KIM Avenue was once an island called Zhadimirovskiy. At the beginning of the last century, it was attached to Golodai Island ( modern name Dekabristov), ​​then the KIM stadium was built.

Golden Island is a small shoal in the delta of the Neva River. On the old maps, it can be seen that he periodically hid under water, and after the confluence of all the free islands, he disappeared altogether.

Conclusion

How many islands are there in Saint Petersburg? Perhaps no one will answer this question now. But the city has always been compared to Venice, which has 118 islands. And according to some reports, today in St. Petersburg - 101.

At the same time, Tatyana Burkova, Associate Professor of the Department of Natural Sciences at St Petersburg University, claims that this is just a myth. She believes that there were so many shallows in the city only at the beginning of the 19th century. Today, answering the question: "On how many islands is St. Petersburg?", we can only talk about the number 42, while only 33 of them have their own names.

The photo shows a night panorama of the spit of Vasilyevsky Island. On the right - Rostral columns with bowls-lamps. In the center is the Stock Exchange building, and on the left you can see the Palace Bridge. A composition familiar to everyone from a fifty-ruble banknote.

Eastern part of the historical center

Vasileostrovsky - one of four central regions, standing on three islands - Vasilyevsky, Decembrists and Sernoy, the first two are separated by the Smolenka River. The land connection of the Vasileostrovsky district with other districts of St. Petersburg is completely interrupted for several hours during the bridges across the Neva.

The outlines of the area resemble a wedge, expanding towards the Harbor and the Gulf of Finland. The location of Vasilyevsky Island between the main water area of ​​the Neva and the exit to the island assigned him a special role in the development of St. Petersburg.

History

The first news about Vasilyev Island appears in the "Census Book of Accounts for Novgorod", dated 1500. At that time, fishermen lived on it, part of the land was plowed up. The Swedes, who captured the island in the 17th century, called it Dammarholm (Pond), the Finns called it in their own way - Hirvisaari (Moose). After the founding of St. Petersburg at the beginning of the XVIII century. the island again became known as Vasilyevsky, and Tsar Peter sent orders to the chief gunner of the battery, Vasily Korchmin, who stood on the arrow of the battery, addressing "Vasily to the island." That also contributed to the consolidation of the old name.

Vasilyevsky Island received a layout according to a specially drawn up project. From 1704 to 1714, it was owned by the Governor-General Prince Alexander Menshikov, and the clearing laid in the 1710s became the axial line of the project. from the Menshikov garden to the seaside - the future Bolshoy Prospekt. A rectangular network of streets diverges from it, in response to the desire of the king to build a regular city of the European type. And after three centuries, this layout makes it easy to navigate the neighborhoods.

The Menshikov estate was at first wooden, "in the Italian manner", and then a stone palace. By 1714, when its owner moved into a three-story house, it was the most high building in St. Petersburg. Tsar Peter received ambassadors in it, and Lucullus feasts were held in the Assembly Hall, where only beardless guests were allowed: this was what the king demanded. Today the Menshikov Palace Museum is a branch of the State Hermitage.

The cape, where the river divides into the Bolshaya and Malaya Neva, is called an arrow, this is one of the main architectural ensembles banks of the river. All the significant sights of the region and the island are located on the arrow. It was she who, according to the plan of 1717 by the French architect General-Architect Jean Leblon, was supposed to turn into the administrative, commercial and cultural center of the capital. The arrow was intensively built up in the 1720-1730s. During the siege of Leningrad, there were three anti-aircraft batteries here: on the cape and at the Rostral columns.

One of the most remarkable surviving buildings of that time is the Kunstkamera (translated from German language- "chamber of arts"). It was difficult to build, one architect succeeded another, the already erected walls sagged, so much so that the building had to be dismantled. And the popularity of the built Kunstkamera among Petersburgers was extremely high, especially because of the collection of freaks preserved in jars. In 1741-1765. The great scientist Mikhail Lomonosov worked in the Kunstkamera, and his museum is also open here. The building was rebuilt several times - especially its tower - both because of fires and at the whim of the reigning persons. The Kunstkamera was damaged during the Great Patriotic War. Fragments of bombs and shells left many holes on its roof. Today it houses the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. Peter the Great RAS.

The boundaries of the Vasileostrovsky district are the rivers Bolshaya Neva in the north and Malaya Neva in the south. Vasilyevsky Island is the largest in the Neva Delta. Its western side, facing the Gulf of Finland, is the central link of the "marine facade" of St. Petersburg. The eastern tip of the island - the arrow - is part of the panorama of the city center.

Many buildings of the district survived the second youth, when there was no need for their administrative functions and they turned into educational institutions and museums.

In 1783, the site to the west of the Kunstkamera was transferred to the Academy of Sciences, whose building, built by the architect Quarenghi, became a symbol of the classical style in the architecture of St. Petersburg. Academicians gathered in it for meetings until 1934, when the academy itself moved to Moscow. In 1925, in preparation for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Academy of Sciences on the upper platform front staircase placed the mosaic panel "Poltava battle", created by Lomonosov in 1764. During the blockade of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War, to protect against fragments of bombs and shells, the mosaic was sealed with gauze and laid with a brick wall - until the blockade was lifted in 1944.

On the western side of the arrow is the building of the Twelve Collegia. In 1718, Tsar Peter transformed the orders (administrative bodies of the Russian state) according to the Swedish model - into colleges. According to the plan of the king, the building of the collegiums, by its very appearance, was supposed to inspire, if not fear, then respect and obedience to citizens. At the same time, it should be strictly functional, without frills, in the style of "Peter's baroque".

The structure consists of 12 identical buildings connected together - one for each collegium. Previously, the Senate was also located here, but since the center of the city didn’t work out that way on the arrow, the Senate and collegial ministries dispersed throughout St. Petersburg. In 1804, the Pedagogical Institute was organized, which in 1819 became the basis for St. Petersburg University, to which the building of the Twelve Collegia was transferred, where the university is still located.

Since 1733, a trading port was located in the northern part of the arrow, for the needs of which a wooden exchange building was built, and at the beginning of the 19th century. - stone, which has become the central part of the arrow ensemble. First they built according to the project of Quarenghi, then - de Thomon. Above the main entrance from the side of the Neva is the composition "Neptune with two rivers", presumably representing the Neva and the Volkhov. The stock exchange opened only in 1816: the war with Napoleon prevented it. After the withdrawal of the commercial port from the spit, the stock exchange lost its significance, and at present the building belongs to the State Hermitage.

The famous semicircular ledge of the arrow was made in 1804-1810, when work was underway to reorganize the entire cape, and it was originally intended for the front pier seaport. At the same time, Rostral columns appeared here, harmoniously blending into the overall ensemble and becoming an integral part of it. On holidays, resin was poured into the bowl at the top and set on fire; in our time, gas was brought here. The columns were badly damaged during the blockade from fragments, the fastening fittings rusted. In 1947-1948. they were replaced by copper copies.

In 1895, Birzhevoy Square was laid out on the cape, and in 1916 the spit was connected to the opposite bank of the Neva by the permanent Palace Bridge, which replaced the floating crossing and was named after Winter Palace And Palace embankment. The city authorities demanded that a drawbridge be built not near the shore, like all city bridges of that time, but in the center of the channel. The divorced Palace Bridge, as if ready to soar on wings, has become the main element of the night panorama of St. Petersburg. On the first anniversary of the October Revolution of 1917, the Palace Bridge was renamed the Republican Bridge, and the former name was returned in January 1944, when the blockade was lifted.

Island - Harbor

Despite numerous changes and reconstructions, the island has managed to partially retain its original purpose and now accepts not only students from several large universities, but also large sea liners.

In 1788, the Academy of Arts was opened, founded on the initiative of Mikhail Lomonosov and the favorite of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna Ivan Shuvalov. The latter was a well-known philanthropist, it was he who proposed to establish a "special three most noble arts academy": painting, sculpture and architecture. In memory of the patron of the arts, a sculpture of a count by Zurab Tsereteli was installed in the circular courtyard of the educational institution.

In 1832, opposite the Academy of Arts, a wide pier was built and it was decided to decorate it with bronze figures of horses with tamers by Pyotr Klodt.

However, the master demanded such a sum that it turned out to be cheaper to bring real sphinxes from Egyptian Thebes. Subsequently, the architect Montferrand proposed to enhance the effect of the place by building a huge statue of the god Osiris, but the idea was rejected by Emperor Nicholas I as “purely pagan”. During the siege of Leningrad, a protective canopy was built over the stone statues. And in the 1958-1960s. bronze griffins, lost in the 19th century, were restored. Sphinxes are another of the unofficial symbols of St. Petersburg.

The building of the Port Customs was erected in the 1820-1830s. on the site of the old buildings of customs services, built in the 1730s. Nicholas I personally made additions to the project of the architect Luchini. A supporter of control over everything and everything, as well as wanting to receive the latest news, the emperor ordered the tower and dome to be raised: to monitor arriving ships and organize an optical telegraph. The emperor, as it turned out, was also characterized by a sense of harmony: the customs tower completed the symmetrical composition of the arrow of Vasilyevsky Island, located directly on the opposite side of the Kunstkamera tower. Since 1927, the Institute of Russian Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences (“Pushkin House”) and the Literary Museum have been located in the customs building. The god of commerce Mercury, the god of the seas Neptune and the goddess of prosperity and well-being Ceres depicted on the pediment of the building are reminiscent of the customs past.

Simultaneously with the development of the main part of the island on the arrow, on its western, sea ​​coast formed a separate region. Here, back in 1722, the Galley Harbor was dug for access to the Gulf of Finland, in the 1740s. - Rowing shipyard. Today, the area is simply called the Harbor.

Only by the 1830s. The first tenement houses appeared on Vasilyevsky Island. Since the 1880s port services began to move to Kronstadt and Gutuevsky Island (now the Kirov District). Ministerial and financial organizations remained on Vasilyevsky for some time, and then educational institutions began to predominate.

Defeat of Russia in the Crimean War of 1853-1856. showed that Russia will retain the status of a great maritime power if it reorganizes the Navy. So, in the south of Vasilyevsky Island in 1856, a huge plant was founded, which became the flagship of domestic shipbuilding. At first, it was called by the name of the founders of the Carr and McPherson Plant, then - Baltic.

Over time, numerous houses for factory workers appeared on undeveloped sections of the islands. And in 1905, the longest and hottest barricade battles took place here. During the blockade of Leningrad, Vasilyevsky Island was subjected to shelling and bombing. Many houses, especially in the Harbor, were destroyed.

In the early 1960s Vasilyevsky Island has partly regained its role as a sea and river port when the berths of the Marine Passenger Station were built in the Harbor. And on the Shkiperskaya channel, at the exit to the Neva Bay, and from there to the open sea, the crowns were frozen as a mute reminder of the glorious times of Peter the Great: the guard buildings of the Rowing Port.

general information

The historical district of St. Petersburg on the islands in the Neva delta.
Status of Saint Petersburg : subject of the Russian Federation - a city of federal significance.
Administrative division of Vasileostrovsky District : 5 municipal districts (7th municipal, Vasilyevsky, Gavan, Morskoy, Island of the Decembrists).
The city was founded: 1703
District established: 1994
Language: Russian.
Ethnic composition : Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Tatars, Jews and many others (the total number of nationalities in St. Petersburg in 2010 is more than 200).
Religions: Orthodoxy, Islam, Judaism.
Currency unit : Russian ruble.
Rivers: Bolshaya Neva, Malaya Neva, Smolenka.
The airport: Pulkovo (international).
Neighboring areas and water areas : in the north and northeast - Petrogradsky, in the east - Central, in the southeast -, in the south and west - Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland.

Numbers

Area: 21.45 km2.
Islands: Vasilyevsky - 10.9 km 2, Dekabristov - 3.71 km 2 and Serny - 0.03 km 2.
Population: 208 734 people (2016).
Population density : 9731.2 people / km 2.
The most high point : 3.5 m.
The most low point : 0 m, river Bolshaya Neva.
Total number of buildings : 1911 (of which built before 1917 - 812).
Total length of streets : 86.9 km.
Building of the Twelve Collegia : total length - 399 m.
Rostral columns : height - 32 m.
Palace Bridge: length - 260.1 m, width - 27.75 m, mass of counterweights of the adjustable mechanism - 2800 tons.

Climate and weather

Temperate, maritime. Wet and short summers, long, relatively cold and wet winters.
January average temperature : -5.5°C.
July average temperature : +18.8°С.
Average annual rainfall : 660 mm.
Average annual relative humidity : 78%.

Economy

Industry: shipbuilding, machine-building, electronic, instrument-making, food.
Services sector: tourism, transport, trade, financial, telecommunications, educational, medical.

Attractions

historical

• Menshikov Palace (1710-1720s)
• Kunstkamera (1718-1728)
• Twelve Colleges (1722-1742)
• Academy of Arts (1764-1788)
• Academy of Sciences (1783-1789)
• Andreevsky market (1789-1790; restored in 1954-1959)
• Exchange (State Hermitage Museum, 1805-1816)
• Rostral columns (1805-1810)
• Sphinxes (1834) and griffins (1834, restored 1958-1960) on University Embankment
• Baltic Factory (1856)
• Palace Bridge (1912-1916)

Separate buildings and structures

• Naval Cadet Corps (1796-1799)
• House of Academicians (1806-1808)
• Mining Institute (1806-1811)
• Novobirzhevoy Gostiny Dvor (beginning of the 19th century)
• Northern warehouse (1826-1828)
• Customs Building (Pushkin House, 1829-1832)
• Southern Warehouse (Zoological Music, 1826-1832; 1910-1915)
• Annunciation Bridge (1855, rebuilt 1936-1938)
• Brusnitsyn Mansion (1884)
• Dr. Pel's Pharmacy and Griffin Tower (19th century)
• Palace of Culture. Sergei Kirov (1931-1937)
• Sea passage, station (1982)

Cultural

• Museum of the Russian Academy of Arts (1757)
• Geological Exploration Museum. Feodosia Chernysheva (1882)
• Central Museum of Soil Science. Vasily Dokuchaev (1904)
• Museum Archive of Dmitri Mendeleev (1911)
• Museum-apartment of Arkhip Kuindzhi
• Museum of the History of St. Petersburg State University (1945)
• Museum-apartment of Ivan Pavlov (1949)
• Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art (2010)

monuments

• Obelisk "Rumyantsev to victories" (1799)
• Ivan Kruzenshtern (1870-1873)
• Mikhail Lomonosov (1986)

squares

• Exchange
• Baltic Jung
• Rumyantsevskaya

Cult

• Church of the Three Saints (1745) and the Annunciation Holy Mother of God(1750-1765)
• Cathedral of St. Andrew Equal-to-the-Apostles (1764-1786)
• Lutheran Church of St. Catherine (1768-1771)
• Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr (1811-1823)
• Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" (1817-1818) and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1895)

Streets

• Shipbuilders (2.8 km)
• Cash (3.25 km)

Brochures

• Bolshoi (3.4 km)
• Medium (2.9 km)
• Small (2.9 km)

Channel

• skipper

Embankments

• Lieutenant Schmidt
• Makarova
• Maritime
• University

Gardens

• Academic
• Exchange square
• Botanical Garden of St. Petersburg State University
• Blagoveshchensky
• "Vasileostrovets"
• Vera Slutskaya
• Decembrists
• Kamsky
• Opochinsky
• Rumyantsevsky
• Square "Small Gavantsy"
• skipper

Cemetery

• Smolensk Lutheran

Curious facts

• The name of Vasilyevsky Island probably came from the name of one of the Novgorod posadniks Vasily Selezny, Vasily Kazimir or Vasily Ananin. There is also a version that it was simply the name of a local fisherman. The name Vasily in the 15th-16th centuries, when the island was first mentioned in writing, was the most common in Novgorod.
• According to legend, the reason that prompted Tsar Peter to found the Kunstkamera was two pine trees that the Tsar saw while walking along Vasilyevsky Island. The branch of one of them grew into the trunk of the other, and it was impossible to determine which of the two pines it belonged to. The tsar was so amazed by the find that he ordered to continue to collect such rarities, and for them to build the building of the first museum in Russia - the Kunstkamera.
• One of the most famous exhibits of the Kunstkamera is a globe with a diameter of 3.1 m and a weight of 3.5 tons, created in 1664 by order of the Duke of Gottorp. Inside the globe is a small planetarium. In 1713, the Gottorp globe was given to Russia as a "gift of friendship", it was carried by sea and land for three years, in 1717 it arrived in St. Petersburg and in 1725 was installed in the building of the Kunstkamera. The installation required architects, craftsmen, 100 workers and 25 carpenters who built a platform on which the globe was rolled into the Circular Hall of the third floor in 1726. In 1901, the globe was moved to the Admiralty of Tsarskoye Selo, from where it was taken out by the Germans during the occupation, and in 1942-1947 was in Germany. In 1948 it was returned to the Soviet Union and housed in the newly rebuilt tower of the Kunstkamera.
• The name of the Rostral Columns comes from the rostra: a battering ram that decorated them with a metal tip in the bow of a warship of the Ancient Roman era, used to make holes in the hull of an enemy ship. It is named so because of its characteristic shape and is translated from Latin as "beak". The ancient Romans introduced the custom of building such columns to commemorate victories at sea.
• The celebration on the occasion of the opening of the Palace Bridge in 1916 turned out to be very modest. The royal family refused to participate in the ceremony: there were heavy battles on the fronts of the First World War, and just a week before the opening, the favorite of the court, Grigory Rasputin, was killed. And instead of the mayor, his deputy cut the ribbon.
• The island of the Decembrists was originally called Goloday: either from the Swedish "halaua" - willow, or from the name of the English doctor Thomas Halliday, who owned a piece of land here in the 18th century. The current name was given to the island in the 1920s: presumably, the bodies of the executed leaders of the Decembrist uprising were buried here.
• The Naval Cadet Corps in Soviet times was called the Higher Naval School. Mikhail Frunze. Currently it is the Naval Corps of Peter the Great. With this educational institution the names of his students are connected - navigators and naval commanders, figures of Russian science and art: Fyodor Ushakov, Pavel Nakhimov, Ivan Kruzenshtern, Thaddeus Bellingshausen.
• St. Petersburg University alumni included three Russian leaders with diametrically opposed views on state governance: Alexander Kerensky, head of the Provisional Government in 1917, Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Soviet state, and current president, Vladimir Putin.
• The sphinxes currently on the University Embankment were found in 1820 during excavations in Thebes. They were made in the 14th century. BC e. from Aswan granite, ancient sculptors gave their faces the appearance of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Rarities dealers brought them to Alexandria and put them up for sale. At first, the French government wanted to buy sphinxes to decorate the Parisian boulevards, but lost to Russia for a mind-boggling sum of 64 thousand rubles. The beards of the sphinxes were recaptured shortly after the death of the pharaoh, and the hieroglyphic inscription on the chest between the paws and around the plate lists his titles.
• With the beginning of the blockade of Leningrad, in 1941, a hospital was opened at the Academy of Arts, students and staff together guarded the building and the valuables stored here. In December 1941, the next defense of theses took place, to which about 60 people were admitted, many of them were specially called from the front.
• In 1862, a gunboat"Experience" - the first domestic metal ship.
• In 1866 - the first domestic submarine designer Aleksandrovsky. In 1871 - the first Russian battleship "Admiral Lazarev". In 1903, the Dolphin submarine (destroyer No. 150) was launched at the Baltic Shipyard - the first Russian submarine officially included in the lists of ships of the Russian fleet.
• The name of the Sulfur Island is associated with the buildings built on it in the 19th century. large warehouses of lime and sulfur: a remote place was found for such dangerous materials. Now there are no warehouses here, but the name has been preserved.
• The area of ​​green spaces in the district is 1.18 km2, of which 0.51 km2 is cemeteries.
• Vasilyevsky Island was considered a German settlement, especially many Germans lived here - craftsmen invited to work in Russia. The life of the settlement is wonderfully described in the story of the Russian writer Nikolai Leskov "The Islanders".
• Only three palaces have survived from the time of Peter the Great in St. Petersburg: Menshikovsky, Summer and Monplaisir.
• One of the most unusual buildings in the area is the Griffin Tower, which is located in the courtyard of a house called Dr. Pel's Pharmacy. A thick brick column 11 m high resembles a watchtower, but in the original it was just a chimney of a stoker at the chemist's chemical laboratory.