Peter the Great was designing the city as another Amsterdam & Venice with canals instead of streets. Initially, there were only about ten bridges constructed in the city, mainly across ditches and minor creeks. By Peters plans, in the summer months, the citizens were supposed to move around in boats, and in the winter months when the water froze to move in sledges. However, after Peters death, new bridges were built, as it was a much easier way of transportation. Temporary ponton bridges were used in the summertime.
The first permanent bridge of bricks and stones across the main branch of the Neva river appeared in 1850.
Today, there are more 342 bridges over canals and rivers of various sizes, styles and constructions, built at different periods. Some of them are small pedestrian bridges, others are huge transport arteries such as almost one kilometer long the Alexander Nevsky Bridge.
Moyka in the area of the Winter Palace has a reputation as one of the most romantic and picturesque spots of the city. This atmosphere is created largely by the two symmetrical stone semicircles of the Hermitage gallery and the Hermitage Bridge. Sandwiched on both sides by the Hermitage buildings, the Winter Canal tunnel leads out to the expanses of the river Neva.
The Hermitage Bridge, the first stone bridge of St. Petersburg, was built from It was lined with granite slabs, and in 1934 the stone arch bridge was replaced with reinforced concrete, perfectly preserving the architectural shapes and granite cladding. From this bridge Lisa, the heroine of Peter Tchaikovskys opera Queen of Spades throws herself into the water. changed Pushkins story inspired by a real suicide that occurred at this site in 1868.
There are two other bridges that cross the Winter Canal - the First and Second Winter Bridges. The first was built in 1783 and has remained unchanged since. The second was built in 1964, but was designed to mirror almost exactly the 18th century design.
it was funny how the other guests on the virtual tour soon mentioned the word Duck as each bridge was approached, before long Anna, much to the her delight was saying ‘Duck everybody as we virtually traveled with her in the boat.
Trinity Bridge opened in 1903 the 200th anniversary of the founding of St Petersburg, it consists of ten arches and stretches across the widest point of the Neva River.
As we continued our journey Anna explained all of the different palaces and other magnificent buildings along both sides of the canals, too many for me to remember but they certainly were a mix of architecture.
