A rather young city, whose architectural appearance reflects its three-century culture, is covered with myths. Mysterious and seemingly unreal, it is built on bones and human suffering. Its past, since its founding, is shrouded in mystery, and even the locals do not know much about their beloved St. Petersburg.
Will it be possible to learn all the secrets and distinguish truth from fiction? Let's try to lift the veil of secrecy and talk about the legends of St. Petersburg based on historical facts.
In honor of whom is the city on the Neva named after?
The main myth is connected with the name of the city. Many believe that St. Petersburg is named after its founder - Peter I. However, in fact, St. Petersburg is named after the heavenly patron of Russian emperors - the Apostle Peter.
Who holds the record for most bridges?
The second legend of St. Petersburg says that Venice of the North holds the record for the number of bridges in the world. This is a very flattering statement for Petersburgers, but in fact a palmchampionship holds Hamburg. Germany's second largest city has 2,300 man-made structures built over canals, and is well ahead of all cities in this indicator.
Golden riveting of the Bolsheokhtinsky bridge
It is with the bridges - the hallmarks of the city - that numerous myths and legends of St. Petersburg are associated. So, in 1911, the construction of one of the most beautiful crossings, made of metal structures, which are connected with rivets, was completed. It must be admitted that the Bolsheokhtinsky bridge was not to the taste of the townspeople, who called it ugly and too cumbersome.
After the construction of the highway, there were rumors that one in a million rivets was made of pure gold. Allegedly, the builders put it on good luck and covered it with a metal film on top to protect it from thieves. Petersburgers rushed to search, but so far they have not been successful. Believe it or not - everyone decides for himself.
Ghost of S. Perovskoy
One of the most terrible urban legends of St. Petersburg is connected with the bridge over the Griboyedov Canal, which is located next to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. The famous landmark was built on the site where the blood of Alexander II was shed in 1881. After five unsuccessful attempts on the emperor, the sixth was successful. A bomb thrown by a Narodnaya Volya member ended the life of the ruler, nicknamed "The Liberator" for the abolition of serfdom. The day after the tragedy, it was decided to immortalize it. This is how the national museum-monument appeared - the architectural dominant of the centerglorious city on the Neva.
Petersburg residents claim that sometimes the silhouette of a young girl appears on the bridge in the late evening, on the neck of which strangulation marks are visible. She holds a white handkerchief in her hands and waves it. This is the ghost of Sofya Perovskaya, who was a member of the Narodnaya Volya organization and gave a signal to the bomber. The ghost of a terrorist hanged on the parade ground of the Semyonovsky regiment horrifies late passers-by. It is no coincidence that the bridge is notorious among the locals: as soon as the girl waves her hand, the unfortunate person who meets her on the way goes under the water like a stone. And after a few days, one drowned man becomes more.
There is information according to which Perovskaya stood at the fence of the Mikhailovsky Garden, and not on the bridge. Many do not believe in the city's "horror story", but late at night, few people risk checking its truth for themselves.
The Foundry Bridge that appeared in an enchanted place
Another urban legend of St. Petersburg is connected with the Liteiny Bridge, during the construction of which there were great difficulties. Appeared at the end of the 19th century, it gained mystical fame during its construction. During underwater work and the construction of the foundation, several dozen people died. This fact did not surprise the indigenous people, because the masterpiece of engineering was in an enchanted place, under which the so-called bloody stone rested at the bottom.
Historians say that ancient tribes who settled at the mouth of the Neva made bloody sacrifices to the boulder. The unfortunate prisonersexpecting a fierce death, begged the river to save them, and one day it changed its course. A huge cobblestone, sprinkled with blood, was at the very bottom, and since then the stone began to take revenge on everyone indiscriminately. Here every now and then people drowned, boats capsized, and sailors unexpectedly found themselves overboard a ship sailing over a boulder. More than 100 people are believed to have disappeared without a trace in a mysterious whirlpool.
Mystical crossing
The massive bridge with cast-iron railing leaves an ambiguous impression. On the structure shrouded in a mystical aura, ghosts are often seen dissolving into darkness. Here, the ghost of Lenin, revolutionaries and entire companies of soldiers from the time of the Civil War were observed, who disappeared as suddenly as they appeared.
In addition, this is where suicides rush to end their lives, and criminals often attack defenseless victims. As already mentioned, the depth of the Neva here is 24 meters, and the bodies of people are not found, despite the search for detectives.
Local residents warn that after dark it is best not to walk near the Liteiny Bridge, so as not to meet guests from the other world and not fall into a black funnel that sucks passers-by. Whatever it was, but the taxi drivers refuse to go through the ferry at night.
Ghosts of the Hermitage
If we talk about ghosts, they have long become an unusual attraction of Northern Palmyra. Walking through the streets of the city, you can meet many historical eras, closely intertwined with each other. Psychics claim that St. Petersburg is a unique place where times and spaces shift, giving rise to inexplicable phenomena.
You may not believe in the existence of St. Petersburg ghosts, but there are more than enough St. Petersburg legends about them. The most beloved ghost of St. Petersburg residents is the shadow of Nicholas I, wandering through the halls of the Hermitage. Employees of the largest art museum often observe at night the silhouette of the emperor, silently wandering through the empty halls.
It's no surprise that the museum complex, which consists of several dozen buildings that are architectural monuments, is haunted by ghosts. From time to time, the alarm goes off, sighs and groans are heard, and the furry guards of the Hermitage, listening to something unknown, scatter in all directions.
Secret passage under the Hermitage
The attention of the myth-makers is not bypassed by the secret underground passages connecting the city buildings with the museum building. Myths and legends of St. Petersburg say that the Hermitage is associated with the mansion of M. Kshesinskaya, who met with the Tsarevich. Now the building houses the Museum of the Political History of Russia. Allegedly, the future Emperor Nicholas II went to visit the famous ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater through a labyrinth dug under the Neva. True, so far no one has been able to find this dungeon.
Mysterious Underworld
If you believe the legends of St. Petersburg, there are enough underground passages in the city and its environs. Recently, local diggers discovered an extensive system of labyrinths located under the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, but they were flooded by the muddy waters of a small riverMonastery.
Besides, on the territory of the Summer Garden back in the 20s of the last century, an underground passage was found that led towards the Fontanka. However, at the present time, no one can find its entrance, as the galleries were littered with stones. Local stalkers exploring abandoned places talk about a whole system of underground utilities located under Sennaya Square and Ligovsky Prospekt. Unfortunately, experts are not engaged in research, and the underground world of St. Petersburg is now as mysterious as it was a hundred years ago.
Labyrinths underground
Mysterious dungeons are part of the myths and legends of St. Petersburg. Children and adults will be interested to know that they really exist and hide amazing secrets. The Venice of the North is built on swampy terrain with many canals, and this fact made it difficult to lay passages.
On the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress, a postern was discovered - an underground gallery connecting the interior with the exterior. The secret corridor, 97 meters long, had a fortification value, but was never useful for defense, so it was most often used as a warehouse. And now it is open to tourists.
Legends of the Peter and Paul Fortress
The city's historical center, turned into a museum, can tell a lot of interesting things. The flow of tourists, who are attracted by the mysterious myths of St. Petersburg and the gloomy history of the Peter and Paul Fortress, which was built for defense purposes, does not dry out.
It is believed that many of St. Petersburg's structures are located in anomalous zones, and some of themstand in the so-called dead places. Before the start of each construction, people carefully checked the place: pieces of fresh meat were hung up, and if they rotted, it meant that there was bad energy here, which did not allow the construction of residential buildings. The Peter and Paul Fortress, according to psychics, stands on the site of a pagan sanctuary where human sacrifices were made.
Pavel Globa agrees with them. He is sure that Peter I laid the foundation for the future attraction on Hare Island, noticing two eagles - birds, which he considered the messengers of another world and symbolizing power. After the proud birds made several circles, the king ordered construction to begin in this place. No one suspected the region's anomalies, and the Russian emperor was guided only by geopolitical considerations.
However, historians claim that these are all urban legends of St. Petersburg, and Peter the Great was not present when the fortress was laid in mid-May 1703. And if we talk about eagles, then mountain birds never appeared in the sky over the swamps. And the question of whether there was a pagan temple under the historical monument remains open.
Revived ghosts of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra
One of the most mystical corners of the city is the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, which appeared on the ruins of an ancient sanctuary. The architectural complex has always been shrouded in a veil of mystery. And until now, Petersburgers believe that representatives of the other world are wandering in the monastery, and not a single scientist can debunk this myth of St. Petersburg (photomysterious place is presented in the article). The most terrible ghost is a drunken gravedigger wandering in the dark in dirty clothes. As soon as a passer-by meets on his way, he asks to treat him with alcohol. If the traveler does not have vodka, then the phantom cuts the person with a shovel.
There are several cemeteries on the territory of the attraction at once, and the peculiar city of the dead attracts guests who want to tickle their nerves. Gloomy ghosts from the crypts get out at the height of the white nights, not favoring the living. And those who, through their own stupidity, penetrate into the grave realm, remain here forever or go crazy from the horror they experienced. Tourists decide for themselves whether to believe in these stories, but even the most desperate do not visit an Orthodox monastery at night.
Legend born in Soviet times
In the Soviet era, the House of Soviets was considered the largest administrative building. According to the legend of St. Petersburg, genetic experiments were carried out inside the building, which was not used for its main purpose. And when the project was closed due to lack of funding, the laboratories were filled with concrete. However, one monster that lost its human form managed to get out of the room. The genetic freak settled underground, not far from the Moskovskaya metro station. And the late pedestrians who descended into the underground passage at night even hear a terrible howl, terrifying.
Petersburg falling in love with itself is covered with mysterious legends, sometimes even too unbelievable tobelieve. Some stories look funny and make exciting walks around the city even more interesting. Northern Venice always has something to surprise, and admiring tourists, captivated by its special beauty, but not comprehended all the secrets, come back here again.
