Across the Neva River lies Vasilyevsky Island a place steeped in history. Its story begins long before Peter the Great. The Finns knew it as Hirvisaari Elk Island. Later it was recorded in a 1500 land survey under a name very close to its modern one.
Initially planned as a city of canals like Venice Vasilyevsky Island’s streets replaced the intended waterways. Peter the Great envisioned it as the heart of his new capital. He even forced prominent citizens like Alexander Menshikov to settle there. Menshikov’s baroque palace remains one of the oldest stone buildings on the island. It served as the imperial court while Peter delayed building his own residence.
But even during Peter’s reign the island struggled with accessibility. His insistence on sailboats hindered its development. After Peter’s death construction shifted across the river. A brief attempt to rename it Preobrazhenskiy Island never took hold. The original Russian name Vasiliev Ostrov persisted evolving into its current form.
Vasilyevsky Island transformed into a center of learning and intellectual life particularly under Catherine the Great. The Russian Academy of Sciences found a home there. The Twelve Colleges a building originally designed to house government departments eventually became home to St Petersburg State University. This prestigious university boasts notable alumni including Dmitri Mendeleev Vladimir Lenin and Vladimir Putin.
The Strelka the island’s eastern tip stands opposite the Winter Palace. Once a bustling port it was redesigned in the early 19th century by Thomas de Thomon. His neoclassical masterpiece the former Stock Exchange and the elegant Rostral Columns create a breathtaking ensemble. The Strelka is a beloved spot for wedding photos.
While the east side of Vasilyevsky Island preserves its 19th-century architecture with charming apartment buildings and historic churches like St Andrew’s Cathedral the western side developed much later. Facing the Gulf of Finland this area features modern housing the Passenger Sea Port and the LenEXPO exhibition center. Vasilyevsky Island a blend of old and new stands as a testament to St Petersburg’s rich and complex history. Its past present and future are interwoven in its streets buildings and waterways. It remains a vibrant and significant part of the city.