Smolny Cathedral
Smolny Cathedral
4.5
08:00 - 20:00
Monday
08:00 - 20:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 20:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 20:00
Thursday
08:00 - 20:00
Friday
08:00 - 20:00
Saturday
08:00 - 20:00
Sunday
08:00 - 20:00
About
This dazzling blue and white Baroque-style cathedral, never fully completed by Winter Palace architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, is now used for concerts and exhibits.
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Neighbourhood: Smolny
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4.5
617 reviews
Excellent
390
Very good
168
Average
53
Poor
3
Terrible
3
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Malgorzata
12,077 contributions
Jul 2019
Smolny Cathedral is considered one of the greatest temples in St. Petersburg. Smolny Monastery was founded by the tsarist Elizabeth, who wanted to settle there permanently after the end of her rule. The construction of the walls of the cathedral and the adjoining monastery, and the decoration of their facades took place in the years 1748-1764. And the interior decoration in the classical style took place in the years 1832-1835. From the high belfry ,68 m, of the cathedral, there is a great view of the city.You can go the top of the tower by a small price. In 1917 it became the seat of communists. During the USSR it was destroyed and transformed into a museum. In 2014, it was handed over to the Russian Orthodox Church, however, the liturgical functions were restored only on January 25, 2016. It is also worth adding that the Smolny Cathedral is one of the highest observation points in St. Petersburg. It's a bit far from the city center but it's definitely worth a visit. A true gem.
Written 3 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
drogilmour
Guatemala City, Guatemala2,750 contributions
Dec 2019
This baroque complex by Giacomo Quarenghi was finished in 1835, known back then as the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, served as the temple of all educational institutions of the city. In the interior you can see some billboards in Russian and English explaining about the education on home chores for young girls at the institution established in the quarters known as Educational Society of Noble Maidens.
After the revolution, the Smolny Cathedral was closed by the Soviet authorities. A warehouse was set up on the marble steps, and all the historic icons and religious property was transferred to museum warehouses until they figured out what to do with it. What we appreciate now is a fully restored and operating cathedral, all the icons date back to the last decade of the 20th century, they are practically new and that is noteworthy since some are truly a master piece.
Worth admiring the huge bell before the entrance. If you are into elevated city sights, visit the belfry with one of the most bewitching views of the city.
After the revolution, the Smolny Cathedral was closed by the Soviet authorities. A warehouse was set up on the marble steps, and all the historic icons and religious property was transferred to museum warehouses until they figured out what to do with it. What we appreciate now is a fully restored and operating cathedral, all the icons date back to the last decade of the 20th century, they are practically new and that is noteworthy since some are truly a master piece.
Worth admiring the huge bell before the entrance. If you are into elevated city sights, visit the belfry with one of the most bewitching views of the city.
Written 14 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rallefus
Aalborg, Denmark44 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Smolny Cathedral is beautiful. Not overly decorated inside but more "clean" than many other cathedrals. The bell tower should also be visited because it offers a good view of the city on two levels. All in all worth a visit.
Written 5 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marina and Co. Ltd
St. Petersburg, Russia84,724 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Finally, after 9 years of living in St. Petersburg, I finally gathered my courage and made the heroic ascent to the observation deck of the Smolny Cathedral, although I had been in its belly countless times. Having climbed 278 steps of different textures (stone and iron) to the top of the right (of the four, where repair work is underway) belfries, we found ourselves on a small oval platform with three view openings in the belfry. Be careful, there is a niche when climbing, which my husband almost caught with his stupid forehead!☝️The area is open, but there is a horizontal grille installed along the entire perimeter, which, however, does not interfere with the view and photos at all. There are 1 cashless binoculars. Your stay at the observation deck is accompanied by an audio guide. It’s good that we were warmly dressed and had hoods, otherwise the wind from the Neva would be a complete blast from the wind in early March, at an altitude of ~ 50 meters.🤣🤣🤣 You can get up to the belfry by making a (completely optional) donation of 200 karbovanets, this was the case in our case (the clergyman said - at our discretion) and this can be done after the visit, and not before it!☝️I recommend it at any time of the year!
Written 8 March 2024
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Vicky Silve
Abbadia Lariana, Italy684 contributions
Sept 2022
You can easily recognize Bartolomeo Rastrelli’s rococo style in this beautiful light blue cathedral, known as Smolny Cathedral as well as Resurrection Cathedral. It’s a bit uncomfortable to reach by metro but you can go there by bus. It’s considered the masterpiece of Rastrelli, apart from the palaces.
Written 29 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sea Dweller
Dubai, United Arab Emirates6,943 contributions
Jul 2022
Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Word of all educational institutions, the Resurrection of Christ Smolny Cathedral or Smolny Cathedral is part of the architectural ensemble of the Smolny Monastery, which is located on the Smolny Embankment.
In the 1740s, Elizaveta Petrovna wanted to build a majestic monastery on the site of the Smolny House (the palace in which she lived her childhood), where she would end her days in peace and quiet. The monastery complex was to include a cathedral with house churches and a bell tower and an institute for girls from noble families. The project was entrusted to the court chief architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. The solemn ceremony of laying the foundation of the cathedral took place on October 30, 1748. After the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, work gradually stopped. At the end of the 1820s, at the direction of Nicholas I, work began on the completion of the cathedral according to the revised project of the architect V.P. Stasov. As a result, the cathedral was completed in 1835. On July 20, 1835, Metropolitan Seraphim of Novgorod and St. Petersburg consecrated the temple in the name of the Resurrection of Christ.
Unfortunately, on October 7, 1922, the Petrosoviet decided to close the cathedral, and in 1990 a concert and exhibition hall was even opened in the cathedral. And only on January 25, 2016, on the day of the holy martyr Tatiana, the Smolny Cathedral was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church and re-consecrated.
Today, restoration work continues in the cathedral, despite the fact that it is open for divine service.
In the 1740s, Elizaveta Petrovna wanted to build a majestic monastery on the site of the Smolny House (the palace in which she lived her childhood), where she would end her days in peace and quiet. The monastery complex was to include a cathedral with house churches and a bell tower and an institute for girls from noble families. The project was entrusted to the court chief architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. The solemn ceremony of laying the foundation of the cathedral took place on October 30, 1748. After the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, work gradually stopped. At the end of the 1820s, at the direction of Nicholas I, work began on the completion of the cathedral according to the revised project of the architect V.P. Stasov. As a result, the cathedral was completed in 1835. On July 20, 1835, Metropolitan Seraphim of Novgorod and St. Petersburg consecrated the temple in the name of the Resurrection of Christ.
Unfortunately, on October 7, 1922, the Petrosoviet decided to close the cathedral, and in 1990 a concert and exhibition hall was even opened in the cathedral. And only on January 25, 2016, on the day of the holy martyr Tatiana, the Smolny Cathedral was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church and re-consecrated.
Today, restoration work continues in the cathedral, despite the fact that it is open for divine service.
Written 20 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valentin
St. Petersburg, Russia1,450 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
This place is magnificent and very romantic ☑️ ♾
You can see 👀astonishing views on Neva river from the bell tower 🔔 🏰
There are some Sakura trees in the park nearby 🌸
Recommended for those who are in love 😍 to climb to the highest point in Saint-Petersburg 💕⬆️💍
You can see 👀astonishing views on Neva river from the bell tower 🔔 🏰
There are some Sakura trees in the park nearby 🌸
Recommended for those who are in love 😍 to climb to the highest point in Saint-Petersburg 💕⬆️💍
Written 3 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexander_Kudrin
Samara, Russia13,701 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Smolny Voskresensky is very elegant, painted in pleasant white-blue colors, which gives it additional airiness.
The inside of the cathedral turned out to be very bright - the interior is still being renovated. Large icons are installed along the walls in white frames, the iconostasis is also in the process of restoration. It stands out beautifully in gold against the white background of the walls.
We decided to climb the bell tower - 200 rubles. The ascent seemed more convenient than the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral, although the height of the ascent is the same - 50 m. First, the steps are wide and stone, then you move on to a narrower and steeper metal staircase. The moment of transition over the dome of the bell tower along the shaky thundering coating is very interesting. You can study the interior of the cathedral.
The observation deck offers a beautiful view of the city. The audio guide tells which buildings we can see.
A free binocular is installed here and it is easy to see most of the sights from a bird's eye view.
The inside of the cathedral turned out to be very bright - the interior is still being renovated. Large icons are installed along the walls in white frames, the iconostasis is also in the process of restoration. It stands out beautifully in gold against the white background of the walls.
We decided to climb the bell tower - 200 rubles. The ascent seemed more convenient than the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral, although the height of the ascent is the same - 50 m. First, the steps are wide and stone, then you move on to a narrower and steeper metal staircase. The moment of transition over the dome of the bell tower along the shaky thundering coating is very interesting. You can study the interior of the cathedral.
The observation deck offers a beautiful view of the city. The audio guide tells which buildings we can see.
A free binocular is installed here and it is easy to see most of the sights from a bird's eye view.
Written 28 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philip_Herring
Washington DC, DC188 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
Smolney is out of the way and not easy to get to without taking a taxi. It is not built up like the other museums but I love the architecture and the style and color are unique. worth a visit if you are staying MORE than a week or if one of their frequent concerts are bring offered.
Written 20 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ander-Laurie
Henderson, North Carolina47 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
Smolny Cathedral is not one of the regular stops on most tours of St. Petersburg. In Soviet times it was converted into a concert hall because of the incredibly fine acoustics. It continues to function as such to this day. However, a side chapel has been restored as a place of worship for the Orthodox Church. The church is part of an ensemble of buildings built in what is sometimes called Russian Baroque. While the interior is very plain the exterior is veritable riot of decoration. It you cannot attend a concert or worship service so as to hear the magnificent acoustic it is worth buying a recording of music done in the building. As a bonus prize, there are often exhibitions of the work of significant, living Russian artists. My visit was an unexpected highlight of my time in St. Petersburg.
Written 12 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Работает ли смотровая площадка? И как на неё попасть?
Written 11 July 2020
Hola Si estoy por ejemplo en el Hermitage, como llego a Smolny
Gracias
Written 8 April 2017
Hola! Puedes cojer el tranvia (se llama Trolleybus) Numero 7 en la parada Dvortzoviy proezd oder Nevskiy prospekt, la parada al Lado de Smolniy se llama "Tulskaya uliza".
Written 12 April 2017
poppy_coloured
Moscow, Russia
Как попасть на смотровую площадку? Какие у нее часы работы, сколько это стоит?
Written 21 August 2016
Не знаю, что со смотровой площадкой, но собор сейчас на реконструкции и в лесах.
Written 21 August 2016
По состоянию на июль 2016 года - закончена ли реставрация, сняты ли леса??
Written 11 July 2016
Реставрация не завершена, планируют завершить осенью, а леса снимать еще месяца 3, так что во всей красе увидим только к зиме.
Written 13 July 2016
when will the scaffolding come down on the outside??
Thanks
Written 21 January 2016
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