Izmailovsky Cathedral

Izmailovsky Cathedral

Introduction Located in the city center, Izmailovsky Cathedral is ranked among the world's four great cathedrals, alongside those in Vatican City, London, and Florence. The grand scale of the cathedral leaves a deep impression. It stands 102 meters tall, 112 meters long, and 100 meters wide, with an interior that can accommodate up to 12,000 people.

Construction of the cathedral began in 1818 and was completed in 1858, taking 40 years and involving 440,000 workers. Each of the four sides features 16 massive stone pillars arranged in double rows to support ornate pediments. Each pillar weighs 120 tons. After the colonnades were built on all four sides, the walls were constructed, followed by the erection of the upper-tier slender pillars, and finally the dome was added, making the entire structure a magnificent sight.

The exterior of the cathedral is clad in gray marble, while the interior is decorated with materials such as marble, porphyry, jade, and lapis lazuli, using a total of 410 kilograms of gold. The external gilding of the dome alone required 100 kilograms of gold. Since its completion in 1858, the dome has not been regilded for over a hundred years, yet it still shines brilliantly. The cathedral suffered severe damage during World War II and took 20 years to restore after the war. Today, the smooth granite pillars still bear bullet marks, which have not been repaired — a deliberate choice to remind future generations of the past.

Izmailovsky Cathedral now houses a museum, and after visiting the museum, visitors can also climb to the rooftop of the cathedral for a panoramic view, taking in the beautiful scenery of St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg, Russia