St.Petersburg is often misnamed “The Venice of the North” – presumably by people who haven’t seen both to compare. Venice is indeed famous for its canals, and it does have those beautiful renaissance era buildings. St.Petersburg’s buildings too were often designed and built by Italian architects, however its canal network, designed in part by Peter the Great, takes more of a stylistic cue from Amsterdam and Manchester than north-eastern Italy.
The canals are served by tidal waters coming in from the Neva River; at certain times that current can be seen to be plenty strong as it whirls past the bridges. I live just around the corner from the Fontanka canal, which is lined both sides with historic palaces, residences, theatres and restaurants. It is possible to take a circular tour, along the Fontanka embankment before turning deeper into the city, passing the Mariinsky, then joining up with the Moika canal. That passes the Yusupov Palace, the Bronze Horseman and continues under Red Bridge, Nevsky Prospekt, and Pushkin’s last residence, before exiting the canal network to one side of the Hermitage and sailing out onto the wide expanse of the Neva itself. Its one of the most spectacular and fun things to do in the city, and I never get tired of the cruise.
