Visit the Kazan Cathedral to admire one of St. Petersburg’s most treasured architectural and historic landmarks. This church is dedicated to Our Lady of Kazan, who is among the highest holy icons of Russian Orthodox Christianity.
Built in the 19th century, the cathedral was modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Admire its grand exterior as you approach through the front gardens. The cathedral’s façade features a semi-circular colonnade of 96 columns that encircles a verdant lawn with a central fountain. Look for two empty pedestals flanking the colonnade. These pedestals were designed to display two angel statues, which were ultimately never sculpted.
As you enter, notice the huge bronze doors inscribed with reliefs of religious scenes. This gorgeous design is an exact replica of Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise in Florence's Baptistery. Note the wrought-iron gate separating the cathedral from a small square. The gate is widely considered to be an exquisite piece of metalwork.
Within the church, appreciate the artistic bounty adorning the walls. Admire striking portrayals of Jesus struggling to carry the cross and tending to the wounded. Notice the detailed mosaic decorating the cathedral floor and look up to see frescoes adorning its domed ceiling. The impressive dome spans 56 feet (17 meters) in diameter.
After years of serving solely as a religious museum, the cathedral is now also an active church. Join worshippers coming to pray to the icon of Our Lady of Kazan and try to catch one of the beautiful choir performances.
Nearby, browse the striking artifacts of the Museum of the History of Religion, which was formerly housed in Kazan Cathedral. Learn about religious practices and customs from around the world as you peruse galleries of pagan art, Christian paintings and Islamic texts.
Find the cathedral in St. Petersberg’s historic Nevsky Prospekt, where it is easily reached by metro. Kazan Cathedral is open daily and is free to enter.
No visit to St. Petersberg is complete without a visit to this iconic attraction.