This week I'm featuring *photo essays from our day in St. Petersburg with TJ Travel.
As we were touring St. Petersburg in the morning, our guide pointed off into the distance and I caught my first glimpse of the onion domes of the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood.
As we were touring St. Petersburg in the morning, our guide pointed off into the distance and I caught my first glimpse of the onion domes of the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood.
I had one of those travel moments that I live for, a deep intake of breath,
tears stinging my eyes and a dream suddenly becoming a reality.
The Russian Orthodox church was completed in 1907 and is dedicated to Tsar Alexander II who was assassinated along the canal at this site in 1881.
Inside there is a shrine and you can see the actual cobbles where his blood was spilled.
Inside there is a shrine and you can see the actual cobbles where his blood was spilled.
The outside is fantastic but when I walked inside I was completely speechless.
Soaring domed ceilings and every inch covered is the most beautiful glittering mosaics,
over 7,500 square meters of mosaics.
This must be what it feels like to be inside an intricately bejeweled Fabergé egg.
The Soviets closed the church in the 30's and it was used for food storage.
The damage from the revolution and the soviet era was extensive.
It was once earmarked for demolition and even used as a temporary morgue.
An artillery shell was dropped onto the main dome but luckily didn't explode.
After extensive restoration the church reopened in 1997.
It was once earmarked for demolition and even used as a temporary morgue.
An artillery shell was dropped onto the main dome but luckily didn't explode.
After extensive restoration the church reopened in 1997.
It is one of the most magical and beautiful structures I've ever seen.
I still can't believe that I was able to experience this place.
I could not stop taking pictures. They had to drag me to the next site.
Where is the most beautiful church you've ever visited?
I could not stop taking pictures. They had to drag me to the next site.
Where is the most beautiful church you've ever visited?
