Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul

The Peter and Paul Cathedral is the principal church of the Peter and Paul Fortress in central Saint Petersburg, Russia, completed in the early 18th century and notable as the burial place of Russian emperors.

The cathedral is distinguished by its tall Baroque bell tower, which reaches about 122.5 metres and dominates the fortress complex. Inside, the nave and side chapels contain the tombs and ornate monuments of Romanov rulers and members of the imperial family.

Many visitors combine a visit to the cathedral with the wider Peter and Paul Fortress complex on Zayachy Island, using the fortress ramparts and riverfront for views across the Neva and toward central Saint Petersburg.

Construction began under the direction of architects associated with Peter the Great around 1712 and continued through the 1720s and early 1730s; Domenico Trezzini is closely associated with the design. The cathedral has served as the dynastic burial church for the Russian imperial family since the first interments in 1725 and has been altered and restored several times over the centuries.

The cathedral stands on Zayachy Island within the Peter and Paul Fortress on the Neva river in central Saint Petersburg, adjacent to the historic city centre and within walking distance of Palace Square.

• Founding era: Serves as the oldest surviving church building in Saint Petersburg, built during the city's founding era in the early 18th century.
• Imperial burials: Functions as the principal burial place for many Russian emperors and members of the Romanov dynasty starting with Peter I in 1725.

What to See #

• Imperial tombs: Contains the burial vault of several members of the Russian imperial Romanov family, with tomb monuments from the 18th century onward.
• Bell tower: The cathedral's slender bell tower rises to about 122.5 metres and is a dominant feature of the St. Petersburg skyline; it was part of the original 18th century design.