Monuments of St. Petersburg

Bronze Horseman

The Bronze Horseman, one of many tributes to the city's founder, Peter the Great, stands in Senatskaia Ploschad. It sits near the Admiralty facing the Neva River, not far from St. Isaac's Cathedral.

Sponsored by Catherine the Great as a tribute to Tsar Peter, it shows the founder of St. Petersburg atop a horse, in Roman style. With a pedestal made from a single block of red granite molded in the shape of a cliff, it is one of the cities must-see outdoor attractions.

Alexander Column

The Alexander Column is another monument to one of Russia's rulers, in this case the Tsar who opposed Napoleon in the early 19th century. Almost 156 feet/47.5 m tall, it is topped with an angel holding a cross. Interestingly, like many aspects of St. Petersburg, the style of the cross is not Russian Orthodox, but Protestant. Designed by the architect of St. Isaac's Cathedral it is one of the city's finest outdoor sights.

Catherine the Great

Unveiled in 1873, this outstanding work depicts the woman who almost single-handedly led Russia into the modern European world. She is surrounded by several figures who helped carry out her plans. There are images of General Suvorov, Prince Potemkin and Ekaterina Dashkova, the first woman to chair the Russian Academy of Sciences.