Ostrova

Ostrova is an island group and historic district in Saint Petersburg that stretches along the Neva River and contains a wide mix of architecture. The area consists of several islands connected by channels and bridges with squares, residential buildings, and public spaces distributed throughout.

Peter the Great founded Saint Petersburg in 1703 as a new capital on swampy islands, and Ostrova quickly became a populated center of this expansion. Over two centuries the area developed from marshland into an established urban district with significant institutions and residences.

The district mixes grand noble residences with everyday apartment buildings, showing how different social classes lived side by side over centuries. Walking through its streets, you notice imperial details woven into the architecture and street patterns.

The best time to explore is during daylight when you can clearly see the buildings and bridges and public spaces feel active. The area is easy to walk through, but good footwear matters since streets can be uneven and damp.

The network of channels and bridges came from plans to make the swampy islands habitable, and these waterways still shape how the district looks and how people move through it. Small island bridges connect blocks of buildings, creating a maze of water and land.