Vasilievsky Island
Encyclopedia
Vasilyevsky Island is an island in Saint Petersburg
, Russia
, bordered by the rivers Bolshaya Neva
and Malaya Neva
(in the delta of the Neva River
) in the south and northeast, and by the Gulf of Finland
in the west. Vasilyevsky Island is separated from Dekabristov Island by the Smolenka River
. Together they form the territory of Vasileostrovsky District, an administrative subdivision of Saint Petersburg
. The district's population:
Situated just across the river from the Winter Palace
, it constitutes a large portion of the city's historic center. Two of the most famous St Petersburg bridges, Palace Bridge
and Blagoveshchensky Bridge, connect it with the mainland to the south. The Exchange Bridge
and Tuchkov Bridge
across Malaya Neva
connect it with Petrogradsky Island
. Vasilyevsky Island is served by Vasileostrovskaya and Primorskaya stations of Saint Petersburg Metro
(Line 3
). There are also tramway lines
.
Geographically, the island consists of two main parts. The south and east of the island are old, with buildings mostly from the 19th century. The southern embankment has some of the oldest buildings in the city dated from 18th century. That part of the island is notable for its rectangular grid of streets (originally intended to be canals, like in Venice
), with three prospects – Bolshoi (Big), Sredniy (Middle) and Maly (Small) – going roughly from east to west, and with 30 Liniya (Line) streets going perpendicularly from south to north.
The easternmost tip of the island, called Strelka (spit
, literally Arrow), features a number of museums, including the Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange (Bourse) as well as two Rostral column
s, and is a popular tourist attraction. The edifices lining the Universitetskaya Embankment
along the Bolshaya Neva include the Kunstkamera
, Twelve Collegia
, Menshikov Palace
, Imperial Academy of Sciences, and St. Andrew's Cathedral
– all dating from the 18th century. In the island center there is a biggest Museum of electrical transport
. It is based at the oldest Vasileostrovsky tram depot
. Another notable attraction is an animated musical fountain
located just off the Spit.
In contrast with the Neva embankments in the historical center, the western part of the island was developed much later, in the late Soviet times, and has mostly typical Soviet apartment blocks. A monument to Vasily, a legendary peasant after whom the island had been named, was opened in 2003.
The principal buildings of Saint Petersburg State University
are located on the island and include the Twelve Collegia
by Domenico Tresini (1722–44) and the former palace of Peter II of Russia
.
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, bordered by the rivers Bolshaya Neva
Bolshaya Neva
Bolshaya Neva is the largest armlet of Neva river. It starts near the Vasilievsky Island's Strelka .The length of Bolshaya Neva is 3.5 km, the width is from 200 to 400 meters, depth up to 12.8 meters...
and Malaya Neva
Malaya Neva
Malaya Neva is the second largest distributary of the Neva River. The Neva splits into Bolshaya Neva and Malaya Neva near the Vasilievsky Island's Strelka , in the historic center of the city of Saint Petersburg.The length of Malaya Neva is 4.25 km, the width is from 200 to 400 meters, depth is...
(in the delta of the Neva River
Neva River
The Neva is a river in northwestern Russia flowing from Lake Ladoga through the western part of Leningrad Oblast to the Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland. Despite its modest length , it is the third largest river in Europe in terms of average discharge .The Neva is the only river flowing from Lake...
) in the south and northeast, and by the Gulf of Finland
Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It extends between Finland and Estonia all the way to Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the river Neva drains into it. Other major cities around the gulf include Helsinki and Tallinn...
in the west. Vasilyevsky Island is separated from Dekabristov Island by the Smolenka River
Smolenka River
Smolenka is a minor river in the city of Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is one of the armlets of the Neva River forming its delta. It branches off the Malaya Neva armlet at , and flows through the Smolensky Cemetery into the Gulf of Finland, separating Decembrists' Island from the Vasilievsky...
. Together they form the territory of Vasileostrovsky District, an administrative subdivision of Saint Petersburg
Administrative divisions of Saint Petersburg
The federal city of Saint Petersburg, Russia, is divided into eighteen city districts , which are in turn subdivided into municipal okrugs, municipal towns, and municipal settlements.-Admiralteysky District:...
. The district's population:
Situated just across the river from the Winter Palace
Winter Palace
The Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia, was, from 1732 to 1917, the official residence of the Russian monarchs. Situated between the Palace Embankment and the Palace Square, adjacent to the site of Peter the Great's original Winter Palace, the present and fourth Winter Palace was built and...
, it constitutes a large portion of the city's historic center. Two of the most famous St Petersburg bridges, Palace Bridge
Palace Bridge
Palace Bridge is a road traffic and foot bascule bridge spanning the Neva River in Saint Petersburg between Palace Square and Vasilievsky Island. Like every other Neva bridge , it is drawn by night, making foot travel between various parts of the city virtually impossible...
and Blagoveshchensky Bridge, connect it with the mainland to the south. The Exchange Bridge
Exchange Bridge
Birzhevoy Bridge is the bridge across Malaya Neva in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Its length is 239 meters and width is 27 meters. Birzhevoy bridge connects Vasilievsky Island and Petrogradsky Island...
and Tuchkov Bridge
Tuchkov Bridge
Tuchkov Bridge is the bridge across Malaya Neva in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Its length is 226 meters and its width is 36 meters. Tuchkov bridge connects Vasilievsky Island and Petrogradsky Island....
across Malaya Neva
Malaya Neva
Malaya Neva is the second largest distributary of the Neva River. The Neva splits into Bolshaya Neva and Malaya Neva near the Vasilievsky Island's Strelka , in the historic center of the city of Saint Petersburg.The length of Malaya Neva is 4.25 km, the width is from 200 to 400 meters, depth is...
connect it with Petrogradsky Island
Petrogradsky Island
Petrogradsky Island is the third largest island in the Neva River deltain Saint Petersburg, Russia.Along with Zayachy Island, Aptekarsky Island, and Petrovsky Island,it constitutes the Petrogradskaya Side...
. Vasilyevsky Island is served by Vasileostrovskaya and Primorskaya stations of Saint Petersburg Metro
Saint Petersburg Metro
The Saint Petersburg Metro is the underground railway system in Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, Russia. It has been open since November 15, 1955.Formerly known as the V.I...
(Line 3
). There are also tramway linesTramways in Saint Petersburg
The city of Saint Petersburg, Russia once had the largest tram network in the world, consisting of about 340 kilometres of unduplicated track in the late 1980s. However, since 1995 the tramway network has declined sharply in size as major portions of track were removed, particularly in the city...
.
Geographically, the island consists of two main parts. The south and east of the island are old, with buildings mostly from the 19th century. The southern embankment has some of the oldest buildings in the city dated from 18th century. That part of the island is notable for its rectangular grid of streets (originally intended to be canals, like in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
), with three prospects – Bolshoi (Big), Sredniy (Middle) and Maly (Small) – going roughly from east to west, and with 30 Liniya (Line) streets going perpendicularly from south to north.
The easternmost tip of the island, called Strelka (spit
Spit (landform)
A spit or sandspit is a deposition landform found off coasts. At one end, spits connect to land, and extend into the sea. A spit is a type of bar or beach that develops where a re-entrant occurs, such as at cove's headlands, by the process of longshore drift...
, literally Arrow), features a number of museums, including the Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange (Bourse) as well as two Rostral column
Rostral column
A rostral column is a type of victory column, originating in ancient Greece and Rome where they were erected to commemorate a naval military victory. Traditionally, rostra — the prows or rams of captured ships — were mounted on the columns...
s, and is a popular tourist attraction. The edifices lining the Universitetskaya Embankment
Universitetskaya Embankment
Universitetskaya Embankment is a 1.2 km long embankment on the right bank of the Bolshaya Neva, on Vasilievsky Island in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Starting at the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, it spans between Palace Bridge and Blagoveshchensky Bridge....
along the Bolshaya Neva include the Kunstkamera
Kunstkamera
The Kunstkamera was the first museum in Russia. Established by Peter the Great and completed in 1727, the Kunstkammer Building hosts the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, with a collection of almost 2,000,000 items...
, Twelve Collegia
Twelve Collegia
The Twelve Collegia, or Twelve Colleges is the largest edifice from the Petrine era still extant in Saint Petersburg. It was designed by Domenico Trezzini and Theodor Schwertfeger and built from 1722 to 1744.- Description :...
, Menshikov Palace
Menshikov Palace
The Menshikov Palace is a Petrine Baroque edifice in Saint Petersburg, situated on Universitetskaya Embankment of the Bolshaya Neva on Vasilyevsky Island. It was the first stone building in the city...
, Imperial Academy of Sciences, and St. Andrew's Cathedral
St. Andrew's Cathedral, St. Petersburg
Saint Andrew's Cathedral was the last Baroque cathedral built in Saint Petersburg, Russia.The cathedral was conceived at the time of Peter the Great as the chapter church of Russia's first chivalric order, that of Saint Andrew...
– all dating from the 18th century. In the island center there is a biggest Museum of electrical transport
Museum of electrical transport in Saint Petersburg
The museum of electrical transport is based in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is located to the address the Sredniy prospect of Vasilyevsky Island, 77.-History:...
. It is based at the oldest Vasileostrovsky tram depot
Vasileostrovsky tram depot
Vasileostrovsky tram depot is the oldest tram depot in Saint Petersburg. It was built in 1906 - 1908 by Westinghouse Electric. Vasileostrovsky trampark is a shrine for citizens, because it is associated with the un-precedented feat of Leningrad during World War II against Nazi Germany...
. Another notable attraction is an animated musical fountain
Musical fountain
A musical fountain is a type of animated fountain for entertainment purposes that creates an aesthetic design . This is achieved by employing the effects of timed sound waves and timed light against water particles...
located just off the Spit.
In contrast with the Neva embankments in the historical center, the western part of the island was developed much later, in the late Soviet times, and has mostly typical Soviet apartment blocks. A monument to Vasily, a legendary peasant after whom the island had been named, was opened in 2003.
The principal buildings of Saint Petersburg State University
Saint Petersburg State University
Saint Petersburg State University is a Russian federal state-owned higher education institution based in Saint Petersburg and one of the oldest and largest universities in Russia....
are located on the island and include the Twelve Collegia
Twelve Collegia
The Twelve Collegia, or Twelve Colleges is the largest edifice from the Petrine era still extant in Saint Petersburg. It was designed by Domenico Trezzini and Theodor Schwertfeger and built from 1722 to 1744.- Description :...
by Domenico Tresini (1722–44) and the former palace of Peter II of Russia
Peter II of Russia
Pyotr II Alekseyevich was Emperor of Russia from 1727 until his death. He was the only son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, son of Peter I of Russia by his first wife Eudoxia Lopukhina, and Princess Charlotte, daughter of Duke Louis Rudolph of Brunswick-Lüneburg and sister-in-law of Charles VI,...
.