RUSSIA: THE PETER AND PAUL CATHEDRAL

The kids will be touring the Peter and Paul Cathedral - located inside the Peter and Paul Fortress.  Its the first and oldest landmark in St. Petersburg and started out as the first stone church.  It was built between 1712 and 1733.  Both the cathedral and the fortress were originally built under Peter the Great.  



It houses the remains of almost all the Russian emperors and empresses from Peter the Great to Nicholas II and his family.   

Its gold painted spire reaches a height of 404 feet and at its top is an angel is holding a cross.  This angel is one of the most important symbols of St. Petersburg.  

The carillon presently has 51 bells with a gross weight of 15,160 kg; the biggest bell weighs about 3 tonnes, the smallest only 10kg. 

Compare the outside of this church with the Spilled Blood (earlier post).  What different styles.