St. Petersburg, Russia Day 2

This morning we drove to Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin).  It was the official residence of the Russian Tsars.

We visited Catherine Palace.  It was founded by Peter I for his wife Catherine I and was originally built in 1717.

Catherine Palace

It was rebuilt and enlarged in 1752 for her daughter Empress Elizabeth by Italian architect F.B. Rastrelli. The interior decoration was created by the best artists of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Nearby to Catherine Palace is the Cameron Gallery, designed by Charles Cameron.

 Cameron Gallery

We then had lunch with a family in St. Petersburg.  It consisted of a babushka (grandmother) and her daughter.  The granddaughter was away at college.

They served us borscht, beef, potatoes, and vegetables.  For dessert we had small pancakes served with blackberry jam and honey.

It was interesting to visit with the women and to see how three generations lived in a small apartment.  The granddaughter was supposed to be our interpreter, but since she wasn't there, our tour guide stayed and ate lunch with us.

After lunch we visited the Peter and Paul Fortress.  We went inside the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which is the burial place of the Romanovs.

Then it was on to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.  It was built as a memorial to honor Russian Emperor Alexander II, who was murdered on that spot by terrorists.

Khram Spasa na Krovi

The interior contains over 7,500 square meters of mosaics, supposedly more than any other church in the world.  The walls and ceilings are completely covered in mosaic pictures depicting scenes from the Bible and figures.