Alexander Nevsky
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Nevsky Prospect near Vosstaniya Square

Old Nevsky Prospect

Moskovsky Voksal (Moscow Station)
Work on the remaining section of the Grand Perspective — between the Alexander Nevsky Monastery and the Novgorod Road — was completed only in 1718. 
Vosstaniya Square, where Nevsky takes a turn Unfortunately, it didn't quite meet up with the boulevard running from the Admiralty.  The two roads met — and Nevsky Prospect changes course — just east of Vosstaniya Square. Vosstaniya Square on Nevsky Prospect, with Moscow Station in the background
In their zeal to erase all vestiges of Russia's imperial past, the Soviets renamed even world-famous Nevsky Prospect.  They began calling it October 25th Prospect, in honor of the date the Bolshevik Revolution began.
However, no one took the new designation seriously. Kuznechny (Blacksmith) Market, behind Vladimirsky Cathedral, is one of the largest in the city The old name was quietly restored in 1944.
Vladimirsky Cathedral (1761-69), just south of Nevsky Prospect Museum of the Arctic & Antarctic on Marat Street, south of Nevsky Prospect

Click here for a map of Old Nevsky Prospect

Alexander Nevsky Monastery
(Александро-Невская лавра)

In 1240, Alexander Yaroslavovich, prince of Novgorod, won a victory over the Swedes on the banks of the Neva River — earning him the nickname "Nevsky".  The Russian Orthodox church later declared Alexander Nevsky a saint.
Entering the Alexander Nevsky Monastery Peter the Great fought his own battles with the Swedes — the Great Northern War dragged on for over two decades, until 1721. Trinity Cathedral
Monastery gates Gate next to the Church of the Annunciation
Laura at the monastery

Seminary House, with its corner tower

 Statue of Alexander Nevsky in the square outide the monastery Monastery Canal Church of the Annunciation

Holy Spirit House, with the Church of the Annunciation
In 1710, Peter established a monastery dedicated to Alexander Nevsky near the site of his legendary battle.  Various architects oversaw the construction of the monastery, based on 1715 plans by Domenico Trezzini.
Administrative building behind the Church of the Annunciation Trinity Cathedral
View from the "18th-Century Necropolis" towards the Church of the Assumption

Peter transferred Nevsky's remains to the monastery's Trinity Cathedral in 1724.

 Gary captured this detail of the graveyard inside the monastery walls
Before long, Trezzini's cathedral had fallen into disrepair. Nicholskoe cemetery, inside the monastery walls Catherine II had Ivan Starov rebuild the cathedral in 1778-90.
The oldest graveyard in St. Petersburg stands just outside the monastery walls.  Lazarevskoe cemetery contains the tombs of prominent 18th-century citizens.

Tombstone of architect Thomas de Thomon in the "18th-Century Necropolis" of Lazarevskoe cemetery

 Angelic gravestone of E.S. Karneeva, by Martos

Tomb of Count Muravev, with the gate chapel in the distance

 Thomas de Thomon helped create the monument to Prince Beloselsky-Belozersky
Gravestone of A.F. Turchaninov, created by sculptor I.P. Martos In 1823, the neighboring Tikhvinskoe cemetery was established. This may be the tomb of sculptor Martos A number of celebrities are buried in the "Artists' Necropolis". Gate house, with the Turchaninov tombstone
Thankfully, the Soviets preserved these cemeteries, declaring them open-air museums.
Admiral Chichagov's tomb

Fountain in the center of the Artists' Necropolis

Tombs of around-the-world navigator Lysansky & merchant Kosikovsky

Mikhail Glinka (1804-57) was the first Russian composer of international renown

The tomb of writer Feodor Dostoevsky (1821-81) is perhaps the most famous in the cemetery

Tombstone of I.R. Tarkhanov, by E.P. Tarkhanova-Antokolskaya (1912)

The St. Petersburg musical conservatory is named for Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-93) lies at the end of "Composers' Alley"

Monument to painter A.I. Kuindgi (1914)

 Mily Balakirev (1837-1910) founded the Free Music School to compete with the Conservatory

The graves of Alexander Borodin (1833-87) & Modest Mussogorgsky (1839-81) are also on Composers' Alley

Gravestone of literary critic V.V. Stasov, by sculptor I.Y. Ginzburg (1910)
Tomb of Italian opera singer A. Bozio, in the Tikhvinskoe cemetery The Tikhvinskoe cemetery is better known as the "Artists' Necropolis" Various sculptors are buried in this corner of the cemetery

This page was first published 25 January 2004, and last updated 19 December 2005.