The historic city of St. Petersburg, often called the Venice of the North, is dissected by hundreds of small rivers and canals. There are over 300 bridges of all shapes and sizes that are necessary for travel.

Bridge-building has been a vital part of St. Petersburg’s infrastructure since the founding of the city and many of Russia’s greatest architects and engineers have taken up the challenge over the last three centuries.

The Palace Bridge is one of the most famous sights of the city, linking Palace Square with the Strelka on Vasilevsky Island. A competition for designs was announced in 1901 and it took 8 years for a jury to decide on a winner. The construction was fully completed in 1939 and the bridge is decorated with ornate cast-iron railings, lampposts, lion sculptures, and pavilions. Today the bridge carries over 30,000 cars each day and the views are some of the most impressive in the city.

Another famous overpass is the Trinity Bridge which connects central St. Petersburg to the Petrograd side. It was opened in 1903 as part of the city’s 200th anniversary celebrations. Ideas for its eventual Art Noveau design were once again chosen by a competition which attracted international attention. The initial winner was the company of Gustav Eiffel, the engineer of the famous Paris landmark, but a later decision gave the job to the Batignolles Building Company instead.

Some bridges are simple and practical, while others are quite technical and intricately decorated. A romantic boat ride around the city with your favorite Russian bride is a beautiful way to view some of these masterpieces. Here are just a few of the hundreds of bridges in St. Petersburg.

Palace Bridge

Trinity Bridge

Anichkov Bridge

Bank Bridge

Egyptian Bridge

Hermitage Bridge

Italian Bridge

Lions Bridge

Lomonosov Bridge

Source: www.saint-petersburg.com