Admiralty

Lonely Planet review

Across the road from Dvortsovaya pl, the gilded spire of the old Admiralty is a prime St Petersburg landmark. It is visible from Gorokhovaya ul, Voznesensky pr and Nevsky pr, as all of these roads radiate outwards from this central point. Despite the spire's solid gold appearance, it's actually made from wood and was almost rotted through before restoration efforts began in 1996.

From 1711 to 1917, this spot was the headquarters of the Russian navy; now it houses the country's largest military naval college. The Admiralty was reconstructed between 1806 and 1823 to the designs of Andreyan Zakharov. With its rows of white columns and its plentiful reliefs and statuary, it is a foremost example of the Russian Empire style. Get a close look at the globe-toting nymphs flanking the main gate. The green gardens, laid out from 1872 to 1874, are dotted with statues of Glinka, Lermontov, Gogol and other cultural figures, as well as a refreshing fountain that dates to 1877. It's a lovely place to sit and stroll, but the building itself is closed to visitors.