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In St. Petersburg, the metro has been a lifeline for the people travelling from one corner of the city to another. Besides the convenience it provides, the metro is a truly stunning art and architectural marvel, and the stations are nothing short of heritage sites. A ride in the metro conveys the beauty of the city in a nutshell while reminiscing its rich history.
Let’s find out the most beautiful stations worth a visit, in St. Petersburg.
Avtovo
When you arrive at Avtovo Station, you could lose yourself in the beauty of its architecture. From beautiful chandeliers to detailed mosaic work, it has the feel of a palace. What is really impressive is the vision that went behind its making – there are a total of 46 columns supporting the building, made of either marble or glass. The detailed mosaic at the end of the platform serves as a reminder of the defence of Leningrad during World War II. It sure is the most elaborate way of paying tribute to history, while doing every but of justice to art and design.
Metro line: Kirovskoe-Vyborgskaya Line
Location: Prospekt Stachek, 90 к2, St Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast
Admiralteyskaya
Admiralteyskaya is located next to the Admiralty and is dedicated to the admirals and naval leaders of Russia. You can see their beautifully framed portraits alongside the walls. There are also mosaics that display large naval ships which pop against a background of faux marble panels. This vibrant, recently built station has pioneered a new direction in structure and design – making it the deepest station in the world. It takes two escalators to reach the station, located 282 feet underground. Now that’s a ride in itself!
Metro line: Nevsko-Vasileostrovskaya Line
Location: Санкт-Петербург, 191186
Mayakovskaya
Mayakovskaya, named after the famous Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, is said to be the station for ‘poetry lovers’. The architect of the station, Alexey Dushkin, was inspired by constructivism and art deco, which is reflected in the aesthetics of the interiors. The structure of this station celebrates the spirit of modernism and technology – which is clearly responsible for the success of the entire metro project in the country. There are beautiful mosaics dedicated to the Mayakovsky along with scenes of common life in Soviet Russia.
Metro line: Nevsko–Vasileostrovskaya Line
Location: 191014 д, Ligovsky Ave, 30 А, 34, St Petersburg, Russia, 191040
Kirovsky Zavod
Kirovsky Zavod is named after the Kirovsky factory located near the station. It is popularly known as the ‘open-air metro station’ because of its lighting system that appears to create daylight. The diffused effect of light lends the station a soft, calming atmosphere. Behind this achievement are the several invisible attempts to reach the correct balance of opal glass, rib height, vents and holes. Reliefs of people from different professions like doctors, sailors and farmers cover the walls and give us a peek into Soviet life.
Metro line: Kirovskoe-Vyborgskaya Line
Location: St Petersburg, Russia, 198096
Ploshchad Vosstaniya
The name ‘Ploshchad Vosstaniya’ means the ‘Square of the Revolt’. This station is located in the Uprising Square and is designed on the theme of the October Revolution of 1917. There are various reliefs depicting Lenin and one showing the Aurora cruiser. This was the first station to have two exits.
Metro line: Kirovsko-Vyborgskaya Line
Location: Ploshchad Vosstaniya station
Pushkinskaya
The Pushkinskaya metro station, opened in 1956, and situated 57 meters below ground level, is dedicated to the famous Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin. A sculpture is located at the end of the station. Behind the statue, there is a depiction of the place where he spent his youth and student days. Locals are often found offering flowers at the feet of this revered poet.
Metro line: Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya Line
Location: St Petersburg, Russia, 191180
Narvskaya
The Narvskaya metro station is a brilliant showcase of Soviet life and people, especially centred on the themes of Soviet socialism and labour. The panel called ‘Glory to Labour’ illustrates this perfectly, with a group of workers shown attending a rally. The underground hall has 48 high reliefs of people from different professions, depicted on the walls. The station architecture reflects Neoclassicism and has a dome structure that is reminiscent of the classical past.
Metro line: Kirovsko–Vyborgskaya Line
Location: St Petersburg, Russia, 190020
St Petersburg’s metro stations must have given a fair idea about how committed the Russians are to artistic ingenuity and their rich history. To discover and experience more of this beautiful city, check out our itinerary on how to Unravel St. Petersburg in 4 days.
Darima Noy Meir
admin