Famous for its gold-plated dome, Saint Isaac's Cathedral features an observation deck offering arguably the finest views of the city. Built during the first four decades of the 19th century, the cathedral remains one of the largest Orthodox edifices in the world, its golden cupola dominating the city's skyline from a height of over 101 m (333 ft). Designated as a museum during the 1930s, the lavish interior features highly decorated granite and marble columns and pilasters. Pay special attention to the main iconostasis, framed by eight ornate columns of semiprecious malachite and lazurite stone. To reach the observation deck, climb the staircase winding its way around the drum of the dome. Arrange to visit Saint Isaac's Cathedral and other attractions in St. Petersburg using our St. Petersburg road trip planning site .
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Saint Isaac's Cathedral Tours
Saint Isaac's Cathedral Reviews
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Für kleines Geld kommt man in diese beeindruckende Kirche. Sie ist beinahe so schön wie die BlutsKirche. Sie wirkt von innen noch größer und erstrahlt mit den vielen verschiedenen Bildern der heiligen... more »
For small money, you go to this impressive church. It is almost as beautiful as the BlutsKirche. It has inside is bigger and shines with the many different images of the sacred. Audio guide is to buy in many languages for € 3 and offers a lot of information.View original -
This is brutal architecture at its best but on studying the facade the granite one piece columns are impressive and they migrate to the internal space but the diameter is scaled down. The interior is ... more »
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They say this Russian Orthodox Cathedral is the fourth largest cathedral in the world but it was so crowded the day we visited that you couldn't really appreciate its size. It is beautiful and well wo... more »
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Outstanding experience! Two areas to visit here: the column and the museum. The column is about 400 steps up and has a 360 degree view of the city. The views are truly incredible! The museum has a large collection of canvas paintings of the major religious figures and the walls and ceilings are painted in beautiful detail. Truly exceptional experience with views of the city and a cultural/historic landmark.
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Nice place with history..... Really an architectural marvelous monument..... No words to describe.... If in st. Petersburg really a must visit..... There are markings on the pillar nearby which depicts the water level during the floods in the ancient era..... Really cant believe the fact that the water has risen to the top step level of the cathedral...
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- St. Issac's cathedral is the largest Orthodox cathedral in St. Petersburg and is largest orthodox basilica and the fourth largest cathedral in the World. - The construction of the cathedral took 40 years to complete, the dome was painted grey during World War 2 for protecting it from bombing. - The neoclassical exterior is based on gray and pink stone and huge pillars. The main dome of the cathedral is made up of pure gold. - The interior of the is featured with pained walls and ceilings and various beautiful doors.
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Without a doubt one of the most beautiful Cathedrals in Europe, similar in size and overall style to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. In both cases, the observation deck is an inseparable part of the experience! Beautiful views of the city!
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This cathedral is close to the Hermitage, and has some peculiarities compared to the other big churches in Saint Petersburg. Not only is it a museum, but also the architecture is different. The columns outside each weigh over 100 metric tons, and you can only really appreciate their size when you stand right next to them. Another thing is the dome build with a steel support. If you purchase the ticket for the inside, you can see how the church was build and what techniques where used. You will also be able to admire the artwork and gold plating, typical for Russian churches. If you pay a little extra, you can climb up to the colonnade on top of the church and enjoy a wonderful view all over the city. The tickets are only valid for the day of purchase though!
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