Island sights in St Petersburg
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Kamenny Island
Century-old dachas (country cottages; now inhabited by wealthy New Russians) line the lanes that twist their way around Kamenny (Stone) Island. The wooded island is punctuated by a series of canals, lakes and ponds, and is pleasant for strolling any time of year. At the east end of the island the Church of St John the Baptist (1776–81) has been charmingly restored. Behind it, Catherine the Great built the big, classical Kamennoostrovsky Palace for her son; it is now a weedy military sanatorium (off limits to casual callers). The rest of the island is a woodsy, mostly residential neighbourhood. For years a dead oak, supposedly planted by Peter the Great, stood in the mid…
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B
Yelagin Island
This island is basically a giant park, a delightful car-free zone that is a fantastic place to wander. It was landscaped by the architect Carlo Rossi, so you can expect the loveliest of settings. The centrepiece is the Yelagin Palace, also by Rossi, which Alexander I built for his mother Empress Maria. The rest of the island is a lovely network of paths, greenery, lakes and channels. At the northern end of the island, you can rent rowing boats (per hour R160) to explore the ponds or in-line skates to explore the paths; in winter it’s an ideal setting for sledding, skiing and skating. At the west end, a plaza looks out to the Gulf of Finland: sunsets are resplendent from h…
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C
Kanonersky Island
An original option for a day's outing is to head to the remote, grassy tip of this island in the city's southwest to watch the big boats head out into the Gulf of Finland. The island once served as part of the city's defence and a shooting training ground; since 1883 a ship-repairing factory has been located here.
Taking taxi bus 115 outside Sadovaya ul 39 (at Sennaya pl), you get to go under the only tunnel linking two islands in the city. After the last stop, walk for 40 minutes to the very tip of the island. You'll need good shoes, as there's a bit of climbing over rocks involved, but the views are worth it.
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