Fontanka, Central waterway in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Fontanka is a river flowing through central Saint Petersburg that reaches up to 70 meters wide and 3.5 meters deep. Around 15 bridges link both shores and create multiple ways to cross while exploring the waterway and its surroundings.
Until the mid-1700s, this waterway marked the southern edge of the city and supplied water to the Summer Garden's fountain system through specialized channels. Later, the area became a preferred neighborhood for wealthy families.
The riverbanks hold many former palaces that now serve as museums, including the Sheremetev Palace with collections about music and the poet Anna Akhmatova. These buildings shape how people experience the water today and reveal how artists and nobles chose to settle along its banks.
Multiple metro stations along the embankment make it easy to access from anywhere in the city. The best time for a walk is spring through autumn, when the water flows freely and the riverside paths are open and welcoming.
At the First Engineering Bridge hides a tiny bronze statue called Chizhik-Pyzhik that measures just 11 centimeters tall. Most visitors pass by without noticing this small figure, which holds a special place in local folklore and beliefs.
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