Along Makarova Embankment the Malaya Neva whispers secrets. Its granite embraces the history of St Petersburg. This isn’t just any embankment. It’s a timeline carved in stone and brick.
Makarova Embankment runs along the northern shore of Vasilevsky Island. It follows a branch of the Neva River delta known as the Malaya Neva. The name itself honors Admiral Stepan Makarov a celebrated figure in Russian naval history. The embankment’s architecture is a stunning mix of styles. Neoclassical buildings stand proudly beside Art Nouveau gems. Even echoes of Stalinist architecture are present. Each building tells a tale.
In the early 18th century Vasilevsky Island held great promise. It was intended to be St Petersburg’s center. The wealthiest families built grand homes here. Domenico Trezzini the city’s first architect even designed a Gostiny Dvor a covered market. Sadly it was demolished in the 1900s.
The 19th century brought a transformation. Vasilevsky Island became a bustling commercial port. Older structures gave way to impressive new buildings. Thomas de Thomon’s design for the St Petersburg Stock Exchange and Customs House is particularly noteworthy. Its imposing eight-column portico topped by a Mercury statue remains a magnificent sight. Across from the Customs House a beautiful marina with lion sculptures once graced the embankment. The area flourished. The embankment itself was later known as Tuchkovaya.
The early 20th century saw the rise of more monumental structures. The Chief Administration of Extraordinary Tariffs and the Ministry of Trade and Industry were built in a massive neoclassical style. Yet by this time Vasilevsky Island’s role as St Petersburg’s primary seaport began to wane. Elegant apartment buildings for the wealthy appeared. The Eliseev House Stenbok-Fermor House and Petrov House are prime examples of the era’s luxury residential architecture.
After the Revolution Soviet institutions took over many of these buildings. The Chief Administration of Extraordinary Tariffs housed the Institute of Physiology. Ivan Pavlov and Leon Orbeli renowned scientists worked there. The Customs House became home to the Institute of Russian Literature (Pushkin House) led by prominent figures like Anatoly Lunacharsky and Maxim Gorky. Today a literary museum is housed there showcasing the works of Pushkin Lermontov Turgenev Tolstoy and Mayakovsky.
The 1930s saw the addition of buildings in the Stalinist neoclassical style. The Kozitsky Radio Factory with its colorful murals was particularly famous. In more recent times 2003-2008 this was demolished and rebuilt. Its replacement is a hotel remarkably similar to the Petrov House a testament to St Petersburg’s unique architectural preservation efforts.
Extensive renovations took place from 1958 to 1966. The embankment gained its current name during this period honoring Admiral Stepan Makarov. Over the years Makarova Embankment was home to notable figures. Pyotr Tchaikovsky Ivan Shishkin Pyotr Klodt Alexander Popov and the poet couple Nikolay Gumilev and Anna Akhmatova all resided along this historic waterway.
Today Makarova Embankment offers stunning views of the Malaya Neva. It’s a perfect place for a stroll. Its rich history unfolds before your very eyes. Walk its length and witness centuries come alive.