Philatelic Photograph: St. Isaac's Cathedral - St. Petersburg, Russia

Interesting Places I've Photographed

St. Isaac's Cathedral

St. Petersburg, Russia

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N59° 56.013; E030° 18.415

Quick Description: 

Saint Isaac's Church is located on the north end of St. Isaac's Square in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Long Description:

The present Neo-classical style Russian-Orthodox cathedral was commissioned by Czar Alexander I. Construction began in 1818 under the direction August de Montferrand and was complete 40 years later in 1858. The Cathedral features a Greek cross ground plan covered by a massive gilded central dome which is covered with 220 pounds of gold.

The exterior is composed of gray and pink granite with a total of 72 Corinthian columns weighing between 64 and 114 tons each. The central dome is 333' high and decorated with twelve statues of angels by sculptor Josef Hermann. The dome is the fourth largest church dome in the world.

During the Communist era the cathedral was converted to a museum. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, church services have resumed in the Cathedral but the structure is still primarily functions as a museum.

The stamp was issued by Russia in 2002 as part of a five stamp set to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg.

Equestrian Statues: Nicholas I Monument, St. Petersburg, Russia

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Nicholas I Monument

St. Petersburg, Russia

Topic: Equestrian Statues

GPS: N59° 55.920; E030° 18.512

Quick Description: 

The monument to Nicolas I is located at St. Isaac's Square (Isaakievskaya Square) in front of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia

Long Description:

The monument to the Russian ruler Nicholas I on St. Isaac's Square was built by renowned Russian architect August Monferrane between 1856 and 1859. it is located just southeast of St. Isaac's Cathedral which was also built by Monferrane.

Nicholas I was the ruler of Russia from 1825 to 1855. He famously crushing the liberal Decembrist revolt and was responsible for the expansion of Russian territory at the expense of neighboring countries.

Nicholas I is shown high up on a baroque base made of red Finnish granite with Italian white marble at the top. He strikes a powerful pose while mounted on a horse dressed in military regalia. Nicholas I has both feet in the stirrups while his horse is rearing with both feet off the ground.

Several different sculptures were used in creating this huge monument. The model of the horse on which Nicholas I sits was completed by the Russian classical sculptor Peter Klodt. N. Ramazanov and R. Zaleman sculpted the model of the monument's pedestal. Zaleman also sculpted the four allegorical female figures, and ornaments on the pedestal and bas-relief showing the historic and significant events during the rule of Nicholas I.

Peter Klodt completed the casting of the statue and two bas-reliefs in the Liteinoy artist's studio of the Academy of Arts. The remaining bronze parts were cast at a local foundry.

McDonald's: Bolshaya Morskaya, St. Petersburg, Russia

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Bolshaya Morskaya McDonald's

St. Petersburg, Russia

Topic: McDonald's

GPS: N59° 56.115; E030° 18.982

Quick Description:

One of two McDonald's restaurants in the Admiralty section of Saint Petersburg, Russia

Long Description:

You may not be able to transliterate the Cyrillic script but there is no doubt about the identity of this McDonald's restaurant at St. Petersburg, Russia and that is open 24 hours.

A familiar sight when you are a long way from home. This McDonald's is located in a beautiful former palace building from the Soviet era in the Admiralty section of St. Petersburg. The menu is in Russian, but the large pictures next to the words assure that you are getting your Big Mac fix and restroom stop on your way to or from visiting the must see attractions in the Alexander Garden.

Freestanding Column: Alexander Column - St. Petersburg, Russia

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Alexander Column

St. Petersburg, Russia

Topic: Freestanding Columns

Alexander Column

Palace Square

GPS: N59° 56.351; E030° 18.936

Quick Description: 

The Alexander Column is located in the center of Palace Square in St. Petersburg. Russia.

Long Description:

The Alexander Column was designed by architects Auguste de Montferrand and Antonio Adamini. Construction began in 1830 and the monument was unveiled on August 24, 1834. The column is named in honor of Czar Alexander I of Russia, who was the reigning monarch during the Napoleonic Wars when Napoleon's advance into Russia was repulsed by the Russian army.

The monument is 155.75' high and is the tallest freestanding column in the world. The red granite shaft of the monument is 83.5' high and about 11.5' in diameter. It is constructed from a single piece of granite that was quarried in Finland and moved 62 miles to St. Petersburg by barge. Weighing 600 tons, it is the fifth heaviest monolith ever moved using only manpower. The column is balanced on a pedestal that has four bronze bas-relief sculptures created by Giovanni Battista Scotti depicting military figures and symbols.

At the top of the column, and facing the Winter Palace, stands an angel sculpted by Boris Orlovsky. The angel has its wings outspread and its right arm and hand outstretched pointing to the sky. The angel's left hand is supporting the lower part of a large cross. A serpent coils itself around the base of the cross.

Statue of Historic Figure: Barclay de Tolly - St. Petersburg, Russia

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly

St. Petersburg, Russia

Topic: Statue of Historic Figure 

GPS: N59° 56.119; E030° 19.453

Quick Description: 

The statue of Prince Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly is on the west side of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia

Long Description:

Prince Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly was the Russian Field Marshall and Minister of War during Napoleon's invasion in 1812 and during the War of the Sixth Coalition: Russia, Austria and Prussia against the French Empire.

Barclay de Tolly was of Scottish ancestry, was born on December 27, 1761 in present day Lithuania, and raised in present day Estonia. Both countries were, at that time, part of the Russian Empire. He entered the Russian army and distinguished himself in the Russo-Turkish War of 1788 – 1789. He subsequently saw service against the Swedes and the Poles and reached the rank of major General in 1794.

In 1806 he participated in the Battle of Pultusk in Poland against the advancing forces of Napoleon during Napoleon's Wars. The following year he was wounded in the inconclusive Battle of Eylau in East Prussia after which he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general.

Barclay recuperated from his wounds and returned to the army in 1808 to command operations against the Swedes during the Finnish War. His daring march over the frozen Gulf of Bothnia, enabled his army to surprize and defeat the Swedes. As a result he became a Full General, Governor-General of Finland, and Minister of War.

When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812, Barclay took command of the 1st Army of the West, the major Russian force opposing Napoleon. It was he who devised the scorched earth strategy of retreating and leaving nothing behind that could be useful to the enemy. Napoleon advanced deeper and deeper into Russia, over extending his supply lines, and was trapped by a severe Russian winter on the outskirts of Moscow. After the French retreated from Russia, Barclay's tactics made him a folk hero.

Barclay went on to take part in the invasion of France in 1814 and commanded the taking of Paris. He was then promoted to the rank of a Field Marshal and in 1815 was given the title of Prince. He retired and died on May 26, 1818.

The stamp was issued by Russia as part of a set of five stamps in 2002 commemorating the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg.

Philatelic Photograph, Lion Sculptures: Mikhaylovsky Palace Lions - St. Petersburg, Russia

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Russian Museum (Mikhaylovsky Palace) Lions

St. Petersburg, Russia

Topics: Philatelic Photo; Lion Sculptures

GPS: N59° 56.302; E030° 19.923

Quick Description: 

A pair of marble Medici inspired lions stand in front of the Mikhaylovsky Palace now the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg

Long Description:

The State Russian Museum houses the largest collection of Russian fine art in St Petersburg. The museum was established on April 13, 1895, upon enthronement of Nicholas II to commemorate his father, Alexander III. The main building of the museum is the Mikhailovsky Palace, the former neo-Classical residence of Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich, erected in 1819-25 to a design by Carlo Rossi. In front of the palace a pair of marble lions guard the main entrance. 

The lions are inspired by the famous lions of the Medici family displayed at the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence. The stand facing each other on opposite sides of a staircase each resting a front paw on a spherical object.

Physical Address: 

State Russian Museum

4, Inzhenernaya Ulitsa

St. Petersburg, Russia

Philatelic Photograph: Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin - St. Petersburg, Russia

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin Statue

St. Petersburg, Russia

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N59° 56.232; E030° 19.902

Quick Description: 

The statue of Russia's most famous poet stands in front of the Mikhaylovsky Palace now the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

Long Description:

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was born into a Russian noble family in Moscow on June 6, 1799. He graduated from the Imperial Lyceum in Tsarskoye Selo (now the town of Pushkin) located a few kilometers south of St. Petersburg and spent most of his life as a resident of St. Petersburg. Pushkin is considered to be the greatest of all Russian poets and the founder of the modern Russian literature.

Pushkin published his first poem at age fifteen and continued his writing career his entire life. In 1820, he published his first long poem, Ruslan and Lyudmila, which was the basis for the opera by Glinka. His verse novel Eugene Onegin was written between 1825 and 1832. It was the inspiration for Tschaikovsky's famous opera of the same name, first performed in 1879. His play Boris Gudunov was made into two operas by Mussorgsky's, first in 1868 - 1869 and a second version on 1871- 1872. His poem The Bronze Horseman is considered a classic of Russian literature and is well known by every Russian school child.

Pushkin died as a result of wounds received in a duel in St. Petersburg on February 10, 1837 at age 37. In 1959, Russia issued a stamp showing the statue of Pushkin in St. Petersburg as part of a series of six stamps depicting statues of famous Russians.