Audio guide in St Isaac’s Cathedral and in Savior on the Spilled Blood (in Russian, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Finnish, Japanese, Turkish, Chinese and Korean)
St Isaac’s Cathedral Colonnaded Walkway. Audio excursion Panoramic View of St Petersburg
All-in ticket to St Isaac’s Cathedral (cathedral and colonnaded walkway) for one person
All-in ticket to the Savior on the Spilled Blood and the Vestry
Excursions in Russian
Excursion for one visitor, the visitor joining the excursion group (for those having right of free admission)
Excursion for the group of 1 to 5 people in St Isaac’s Cathedral or Savior on the Spilled Blood
Excursion for the group of 6 to 20 people in St Isaac’s Cathedral or Savior on the Spilled Blood
Excursion for the group of 21 to 30 people in St Isaac’s Cathedral or Savior on the Spilled Blood
Excursion for the group up to 5 people in St Isaac’s Cathedral or Savior on the Spilled Blood
Excursion for the group of 6 to 20 people in St Isaac’s Cathedral or Savior on the Spilled Blood
Excursion for the group of 21 to 30 people in St Isaac’s Cathedral or Savior on the Spilled Blood
St. Isaac’s Cathedral is the largest cathedral in St. Petersburg. It was the largest church in Russia when it was built (101.5 meters high), and is still the third largest domed cathedral in the world. For visitors willing to climb 300 steps, it provides a spectacular view of St. Petersburg.
History of St. Isaac’s Cathedral
St. Isaac’s Cathedral was ordered by Tsar Alexander I to replace an earlier Rinaldiesque structure. A specially appointed commission examined several designs, including that of the French-born architect Auguste de Montferrand (1786-1858), who had studied in the atelier of Napoleon’s designer, Charles Percier.
Monferrand’s design was criticised by some members of the commission for the dry and allegedly boring rhythm of its four identical colonnades. It was also suggested that despite gigantic dimensions, the edifice would look squat and not very impressive. The emperor, who favoured the ponderous Empire style of architecture, had to step in and solve the dispute in Monferrand’s favour.
The cathedral took 40 years to construct, under Montferrand’s direction, from 1818 to 1858. It was dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great.
Under the Soviet government, the building was abandoned, then turned into a museum of atheism. The dove sculpture was removed, and replaced by a Foucault pendulum.
During World War II, the dome was painted over in gray to avoid attracting attention from enemy aircraft.
Today, worship activity has resumed in the cathedral, but only in the left-hand side chapel, and in the main body of the cathedral on feast days only.
What to See
The severe neoclassical exterior of St. Isaac’s expresses the traditional Russian-Byzantine formula of a Greek-cross plan with a large central dome and four subsidiary domes. It is similar to Andrea Palladio’s Villa La Rotonda, with a full dome on a high drum substituted for the Villa’s low central saucer dome.
The exterior, which barely hints at the riotously rich interior, is faced with gray and pink stone, and features a total of 112 red granite columns with Corinthian capitals, each hewn and erected as a single block: 48 at ground level, 24 on the rotunda of the uppermost dome, 8 on each of four side domes, and 2 framing each of four windows.
The rotunda is encircled by a walkway accessible to tourists. 24 statues gaze down from the roof, and another 24 from the top of the rotunda.
The cathedral’s doors are covered in reliefs, patterned after the celebrated doors of the Battistero di San Giovanni in Florence, designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti.
Inside, suspended underneath the peak of the dome is a sculpted dove representing the Holy Spirit. Internal features such as columns, pilasters, floor, and statue of Montferrand are composed of multicolored granites and marbles gathered from all parts of Russia.
The iconostasis is framed by eight columns of semiprecious stone: six of malachite and two smaller ones of lazurite. The four pediments are also richly sculpted.
The interior was originally decorated with scores of paintings by the great Russian masters of the day. When these paintings began to deteriorate due to the cold, damp conditions inside the cathedral, Montferrand ordered them to be painstakingly reproduced as mosaics, a technique introduced in Russia by Mikhail Lomonosov. This work was never completed.
Quick Facts on St. Isaac’s Cathedral
Site Information
Names:
St. Isaac’s Cathedral
Country:
Russia
Categories:
cathedrals
Styles:
Neoclassical
Dedication:
St. Isaac
Dates:
1818-58
Visitor and Contact Information
Coordinates:
59.934161° N, 30.306087° E
Address:
St. Petersburg, Russia
Lodging:
View hotels near St. Isaac’s Cathedral
Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours and prices can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.
More Information
Map of St. Isaac’s Cathedral
Below is a location map and aerial view of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.
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The largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city
Saint Isaac’s Cathedral or Isaakievskiy Sobor in Saint Petersburg is the largest orthodox chuch and the fourth largest cathedral in the world. It is dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great, who had been born on the feast day of that saint.
The church on St Isaac’s Square was ordered by Tsar Alexander I, to replace an earlier Rinaldiesque structure, and was the fourth consecutive church standing at this place.
The neoclassical exterior expresses the traditional Russian-Byzantine formula of a Greek-cross ground plan with a large central dome and four subsidiary domes. It is similar to Andrea Palladio’s Villa La Rotonda, with a full dome on a high drum substituted for the Villa’s low central saucer dome. The design of the cathedral in general and the dome in particular later influenced the design of the Lutheran Cathedral in Helsinki.
The exterior is faced with gray and pink stone, and features a total of 112 red granite columns with Corinthian capitals, each hewn and erected as a single block: 48 at ground level, 24 on the rotunda of the uppermost dome, 8 on each of four side domes, and 2 framing each of four windows. The rotunda is encircled by a walkway accessible to tourists. 24 statues stand on the roof, and another 24 on top of the rotunda.
The cathedral’s main dome rises 101.5 metres (333 ft) and is plated with pure gold. The dome is decorated with twelve statues of angels by Josef Hermann. These angels were likely the first large sculptures produced by the then novel process of electrotyping, which was an alternative to traditional bronze casting of sculptures. Montferrand’s design of the dome is based on a supporting cast iron structure. It was the third historical instance of cast iron cupola after the Leaning Tower of Nevyansk (1732) and Mainz Cathedral (1826).
Дорогой ученик! В этом материале подготовлен рассказ про Исаакиевский собор. Под английским текстом есть перевод на русский язык.
Saint Isaac’s Cathedral is a cathedral in Saint Petersburg that was designed by Auguste de Montferrand. It is one of the finest architectural monuments of the XIX century.
Today Saint Isaac’s Cathedral is one of the most popular museums in Saint Petersburg.
It took 40 years to construct, from 1818 to 1858.
It was originally built as a cathedral but was turned into a museum in 1931 and has remained a museum ever since.
The exterior is faced with light gray stone, and features a total of 112 granite columns.
The cathedral’s main dome rises 101.5 metres ; its exterior is gilded.
Internal features such as columns, floor, and statue of Montferrand are composed of multicolored granites and marbles gathered from all parts of Russia.
The visitors are invited to climb the colonnade of the cathedral and enjoy the breathtaking view of the centre of Saint Petersburg from the 43-meter height.
One hundred and eighty years later the gilded dome of Saint Isaac’s Cathedral still dominates the skyline of Saint Petersburg.
Исаакиевский собор — памятник архитектуры позднего классицизма, до Октябрьской революции главный храм Петербурга. Заложен в честь Петра I и назван по имени св. Исаакия Далматского, день которого (30 мая старого стиля) совпадает с датой рождения Петра I. В 1710… … Санкт-Петербург (энциклопедия)
Исаакиевский собор — в Ленинграде, памятник русский архитектуры. До Октябрьской революции 1917 главный храм Петербурга. С 1931 музей. Заложен в честь Петра I, назван по имени св. Исаакия Далматского. Построен в 1818 58 в стиле позднего классицизма по проекту… … Художественная энциклопедия
ИСААКИЕВСКИЙ СОБОР — в С. Петербурге памятник позднего русского классицизма. Построен в 1818 58 по проекту А. А. Монферрана, дополненному другими русскими архитекторами (В. П. Стасов и др.). Украшен скульптурой работы И. П. Витали, А. В. Логановского и др.).… … Большой Энциклопедический словарь
Исаакиевский собор — Православный собор Исаакиевский собор Собор преподобного Исаакия Далматского … Википедия
Исаакиевский собор — «Вид на Исаакиевский собор и мост в Петербурге». «Вид на Исаакиевский собор и мост в Петербурге». Литография Л. П. Бишебуа. 1840 е гг. Исаакиевский собор, памятник архитектуры позднего классицизма, до Октябрьской революции главный храм Петербурга … Энциклопедический справочник «Санкт-Петербург»
ИСААКИЕВСКИЙ СОБОР — Один из крупнейших православных (см. православие*) храмов и главный храм* Петербурга*, памятник архитектуры позднего классицизма. Свою историю Исаакиевский собор ведет от небольшой деревянной церкви*, заложенной по указу Петра I* в 1710 г. Храм… … Лингвострановедческий словарь
Исаакиевский собор — в Ленинграде, памятник позднего русского классицизма. До Октябрьской революции 1917 главный храм Петербурга. Заложен в честь Петра I и назван по имени святого Исаакия Далматского, день которого (30 мая старого стиля) совпал с датой… … Большая советская энциклопедия
ИСААКИЕВСКИЙ СОБОР — в Ленинграде монументальное архит. сооружение, памятник рус. классицизма, до Окт. революции гл. храм Петербурга. Построен в 1818 58 по проекту арх. А. А. Монферрана, доработанному при участии арх. А. А. Михайлова, В. П. Стасова и др.… … Советская историческая энциклопедия
Исаакиевский собор — в Санкт Петербурге, памятник позднего русского классицизма. Построен в 1818 58 по проекту А. А. Монферрана, дополненному другими русскими архитекторами (В. П. Стасов и др.). Украшен скульптурой работы И. П. Витали, А. В. Логановского и др.… … Энциклопедический словарь
Исаакиевский собор — главный храм в СПб., посвященный имени св. Исаакия Далматского, память которого чествуется 30 мая, в день рождения Петра Великого. Постройка этого храма начата при Екатерине II, в 1768 г., но еще при Петре были воздвигнуты одна за другой две… … Энциклопедический словарь Ф.А. Брокгауза и И.А. Ефрона
Исаакиевский собор — в Санкт Петербурге памятник позднего русского классицизма. Построен в 1818 1858 по проекту А. А. Монферрана, дополненному другими русскими архитекторами (В. П. Стасов и др.). Украшен скульптурой работы И. П. Витали, А. В. Логановского и др.).… … Строительный словарь
