Kazan Cathedral, Eastern Orthodox cathedral on Nevsky Prospect, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Kazan Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox place of worship in Tsentralny District, Saint Petersburg, Russia. The façade along Nevsky Prospect displays a curving colonnade of 96 Corinthian columns arranged in a semicircular sweep toward the avenue.
Construction began in 1801 following designs by Andrey Voronikhin and ended ten years later. The architect looked to Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome but adapted the concept for Russian Orthodox liturgy and northern climate.
The building houses General Mikhail Kutuzov's burial place, commander of forces against Napoleon. Worshippers gather here for services while visitors examine military trophies from early 19th-century campaigns displayed inside.
The building opens daily for services and visits, with the main entrance directly on Nevsky Prospect. Visitors should dress with covered shoulders and knees, and women often wear a headscarf when entering the worship spaces.
The bronze entrance doors replicate the famous Baptistery doors in Florence, crafted by sculptor Vasily Yekaterinich. Only three other copies of these Renaissance doors exist worldwide, making the entrance a rare example of this artistic tradition.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
