St Petersburg

One of the most beautiful cities in Russia and in the world is St Petersburg. It was founded by Peter the Great in 1703. St Petersburg was the capital of Russia from 1712 till 1918. The city is situated on the Neva River and is an important seaport. The population is about five million people.

Petersburg is a big cultural center of Russia. It is famous for old architectural monuments and museums.

One cannot but admire the ensemble in Palace Square. The Winter Palace was the residence of Russian tsars until the revolution.

The Hermitage is the most important artistic museum in Russia. It occupies the Winter Palace and three other buildings. The foundation of the Hermitage Picture Gallery was laid in 1764. The first works were bought by Catherine the Great. The Hermitage houses masterpieces of the outstanding artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, Velazques and others.

The Russian museum is located in the Mikhailovsky Palace, designed by K. Rossi. Marvellous paintings of the famous Russian artists - V. Tropinin, K. Brullov, I. Repin, V. Surikov, V. Serov, the works of sculptors — K. Rastrelli, F. Shubin, M. Antokolsky and others are exhibited here.

Nevsky Prospect is the main street of the city. There is the remarkable Kazan Cathedral (arch. A. Voronikhin) with a colonnade and monuments to M. Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly. Here in the prospect one can see the building of the Admiralty and an ensemble of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Famous Russian writers, painters, composers and actors were buried in the Lavra.

A lot of bridges cross the Neva, the Fontanka, the Moika and the canals, but the Anichkov Bridge is the most beautiful one.

Citizens and guests enjoy visiting the suburbs of St Petersburg: Petergof, Pushkin, Pavlovsk with wonderful palaces, parks and fountains.

Exercises

I. Answer the questions, please

1. What city is one of the most beautiful cities in Russia?

2. What river is St Petersburg situated on?

3. Can you name some of the places of interest in St Petersburg?

4. Whose pictures can we see in the Hermitage Picture Gallery?

5. Is there anything interesting in the suburbs of St Petersburg?

II. Put the questions in English

1. Почему Санкт-Петербург крупный культурный центр Рос­сии?

2. Какая самая главная улица в Петербурге?

3. В Петербурге много мостов, не так ли?

4. Можно ли сказать, что Аничков мост самый красивый в этом городе?

Задание 13

Составить сообщение о Новгороде.

Задание 14

Студент должен:

• Ознакомиться и овладеть новой лексикой

• Прочитать текст «Великобритания» («The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland») и ответить на вопросы.

Words to know

1 mile = 1609 метров the Scots — шотландцы

mild — мягкий the Welsh — уэльсцы, валлийцы

flat — плоский, ровный the Irish — ирландцы

monarchy — монархия barge — баржа

oats — овес suburbs — пригород, окраина

the English — англичане