“Who was Zarubin?” someone asks as they walk along this street. Zarubinskaya Street whispers stories of a past homeowner. It’s a residential street now but it holds secrets. Let’s uncover them together. Zarubinskaya Street is a slice of Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg itself is a city of many names. It was founded by Tsar Peter I. He named it after his patron saint, Saint Peter. But anti-German feelings changed its name to Petrograd during World War I. Later, it became Leningrad after the socialist revolution. Finally, it returned to Saint Petersburg after the Soviet Union fell. Locals affectionately call it “Piter.”
The city has a rich history. Saint Petersburg became Russia’s capital in 1712. It remained the capital for 200 years. Only the Revolution of 1917 shifted the capital back to Moscow. This marked a move away from the imperial past.
Saint Petersburg faced a brutal siege during World War II. German forces blockaded the city. They cut off supplies. Hitler planned a victory banquet at the Astoria Hotel. But the city never fell. The people endured immense suffering. They faced starvation and freezing conditions. They lacked water and electricity for nearly 900 days. Millions died. Yet, they bravely defended their city. A ticking metronome on local radio reminded them that the city still lived. You can still hear the symbolic heartbeat beneath The Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad.
The city’s origins are quite remarkable. Peter I wanted to connect Russia to Europe by sea. However, the area was a marshland. It was prone to harsh weather. The Tsar conscripted 40,000 serfs yearly. They built the city from scratch. They brought their own tools. Many walked hundreds of kilometers. A tragic number died during construction. Some estimate 100,000 deaths.
Even animals played a role in the city’s history. During the WWII famine, many cats were eaten. Soon after, rodents infested the city. They consumed food and spread disease. 5,000 cats were brought in to control the rodent population. Bronze statues of a cat named Yelisei and his friend Vasilisa celebrate their service. They can be found on Malaya Sadovaya Street. Legend says you can make a wish and throw money at Yelisei’s feet.
Saint Petersburg is famous for its White Nights. From mid-June to early July, the sun barely sets. The city is bathed in sunlight all day and night. This makes late-night walks and cultural events very popular. The White Nights Festival features ballet, opera, and orchestral performances at the Mariinsky Theatre.
The city is packed with culture. It boasts over 8,000 landmarks. The Hermitage Museum is one of the most famous. It holds over 3 million artworks and artifacts. It would take an estimated 25 years to see everything. That assumes you spent one minute on each artwork for eight hours a day.
Water defines Saint Petersburg. The city has 342 bridges. Peter I initially wanted the city to be like Venice. He imagined people using boats for transport. But bridges soon followed.
The metro system is one of the deepest in the world. This is due to the city’s unique geology. Construction has been difficult. One time, workers accidentally flooded a section of the Neva River. The deepest station, Admiralteyskaya, is 86 meters below ground.
And for a quirky fact. In 2013, Amway Russia made the world’s longest ravioli. It was 29.28 meters long and filled with chicken and onion.
So, as we stand on Zarubinskaya Street. Remember the layers of Saint Petersburg’s story. It is a story of resilience, culture, and even ravioli.