Staro-Nikolskii bridge

The Staro-Nikolskii bridge crosses the Kryukov Canal along Sadovaya Street, linking the Spassky and Pokrovsky Islands in Saint Petersburg. This three-span structure with granite-faced supports allows trams, vehicles, and pedestrians to traverse the waterway.

Engineers completed the original wooden bridge with masonry supports between 1784 and 1786, replacing an earlier structure from 1717. A major renovation in 1887 added tram tracks and reinforced the foundations to support the new transportation system.

The bridge sits near the Nikolsky Market and Cathedral, areas where trade and local community life centered for generations. Today, visitors can observe how people move across this crossing as part of their daily routines in this part of the city.

The bridge is easily accessible to pedestrians and open to crossing at any time to explore the surrounding islands and area. Walking along Sadovaya Street gives visitors a chance to see nearby monuments and buildings in this historic district.

The bridge forms part of an architectural trio with the Pikalov and Krasnogvardeysky bridges, positioned side by side along the canal. These three consecutive crossings reveal how different periods approached bridge design and engineering.