“Did you know Vladimirovka is more than just a municipal okrug?” asks a local, a twinkle in their eye as they gestures towards the surroundings. It is a vibrant area brimming with history and culture.
Welcome to Vladimirovka Municipal Okrug. It is a vibrant part of St. Petersburg’s Tsentralny District. This area has a rich history evident in its architecture and landmarks.
Vladimirovka borders Nevsky Avenue, Ligovsky Avenue, Gorokhovaya Street, and the Fontanka River. These boundaries mark a central location within the city. It is a place where history and modern life intertwine.
One of the main attractions in Vladimirovka is the Vladimirskaya Church. This beautiful church is also known as the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. It is named after a revered icon. The church’s construction spanned from 1761 to 1769. Although P.A. Trezzini is often credited, many architects contributed to its design.
Originally, the Vladimirskaya Church served senior court officials living nearby. Inside, the cathedral was very ornate. A Baroque iconstasis from the Anichkov Palace chapel was brought here in 1808. Architect Giacomo Quarenghi added a double-tiered bell tower in 1786. Later, between 1848 and 1849, Franz Rusca added two more tiers. Despite the Bolsheviks seizing church property, the ancient iconostasis remains. Rare icons with gold coverings are still visible today.
The Vladimirskaya Church has an upper Vladimir Church and a lower St. John of Damascus Church. Today, services are only held in the upper church. The cathedral’s exterior showcases Baroque style. Corinthian columns decorate the facades. Stucco adorns the windows. The north and south facades feature broken arched arcades. Stone chapels stand at the northwest and southwest corners, also in Baroque style. The bell tower, designed in Classicism style, is crowned with a lantern dome. Sculptural images of the evangelists decorate the central dome’s sails.
Inside the Upper Church, the main altar’s iconostasis is a highlight. It features the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. This icon miraculously survived from the 18th century. It is a unique example of St. Petersburg Baroque style. Icons decorate both the front and inner sides of the altar. Key relics include the Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. Also, there is the Vernicle Icon sanctified by St. John of Kronstadt. Finally, you can see the image of St. Seraphim of Sarov with his relics.
The Vladimirskaya Church significantly impacts the urban landscape. It completes the view of Zagorodny Prospekt. The church remains an architectural highlight of Vladimir Square.
Another interesting spot in Vladimirovka is the Palkin House. It houses the Palkin Restaurant. This restaurant is famous throughout Russia. It is among the oldest in St. Petersburg.
The Radisson Royal Hotel stands at No. 2. In the Soviet era, it was the Hotel Moscow. Its cafe was known as “Saigon”. It was a popular spot for underground artists, writers, and musicians.
The Korsakov Mansion is a neoclassical building from the 1920s. After the October Revolution, it became a theatre. As the Lensoviet Academic Theatre from 1953, it became a famous drama theatre.
The great writer Fyodor Dostoevsky lived on Vladimirsky Prospekt. He resided at house number 11 from 1842 to 1846. He spent his final years in an apartment near Vladimirsky Prospekt. It was located at 5 Kuznechniy Pereulok. It is now the Dostoevsky Memorial Museum. A monument to Dostoevsky stands in front of the Vladmiriskaya Metro Station. The Dostoevskaya Hotel is at No. 19. The Dostoevskaya Metro Station is behind it.
From 1918 to 1944, Vladimirsky Prospekt was named after Semen Nakhimson. He was a Bolshevik and commissar killed in 1918. Today, Vladimirsky Prospekt is an important tourist route in St. Petersburg’s historic center.
In 2002-2003, the Vladimirsky Passage was constructed. This eight-story building houses many shops. It also contains the three-star Dostoevskiy Hotel. Bar Raskolnikov, on the 7th floor, is popular for its scenic views. A children’s room, spa salons, and business centers are also located here.
As you leave Vladimirovka, remember its blend of history, culture, and modern life. It is a unique part of St. Petersburg. Its landmarks and stories leave a lasting impression.