Named after Saint Peter

I. Memorize the following words and expressions:

a pearl – жемчужина

to link – соединять, связывать

to stretch – лежать, простираться, располагаться

fancy – фантазия

swampy – болотистый

the mouth of the river – устье реки

to provide – обеспечивать, предоставлять

dedication – зд. освящение

Patron Saint – святой покровитель

to found (founded, founded) – основывать

to charge – взимать, назначать

an obligatory tribute – обязательная дань

a carriage – экипаж, карета

straight – прямой

monumental ensemble – архитектурный памятник

to attract – привлекать

to display – демонстрировать

remarkable – замечательный

to boast – гордиться

treasures – сокровища

private – частный

masterpiece - шедевр

II. Read and translate the text.

The beautiful city of St. Petersburg is built on water, which gives a magical and romantic atmosphere. Poets and writers often call it the “Northern Venice”, the “Pearl of the Baltics”. The city was born and grew up on 42 islands. Now they are linked by 363 bridges. It stretches along the Neva River (the word “neva” means “swamp” in Finnish). It was the Tsar’s fancy to construct a new fortress on this swampy, almost uninhabitable land, because this territory was of great importance for Russia. Peter came to the conclusion that it should be located on a small island named Zayachy, or Hare Island. He believed that the new city would provide a port for trade through the Baltic Sea giving Russia a “window on Europe”.

The official dedication of the fortress took place on May 27, 1703, and this date is still celebrated as the birthday of the city. The fortress was named after Saint Peter, the Patron Saint of the Tsar, and it gave its name to the future northern capital of Russia.

At the beginning of its construction the city charged everyone an obligatory tribute. Those who arrived by carriage were to bring three stones, and those who came by river or sea – ten stones.

Many famous European and Russian masters did their best work while constructing the city. Palaces, cathedrals, buildings of rare beauty rose along straight avenues and streets, squares and parks. Among the famous architects who contributed to the construction of St. Petersburg we should mention Trezzini, Rastrelli, Rossi, Bazhenov, Voronichin, Lvov and many others.

The first monumental ensemble of the city, Peter and Paul fortress, attracts lots of tourists. The Cathedral of Peter and Paul fortress built by architect Trezzini in 1712-1733 became the necropolis of Russian tsars.

St. Petersburg displays a remarkable richness of architecture. Its Winter Palace, the Kazan and St. Isaac’s Cathedrals, the Admiralty, Vorontsov and Stroganov palaces are world famous.

It is a European city; it does not look like any other Russian city or town. You can’t find intricate floridity which is typical for Moscow in its architecture. There are no specific Russian white churches which decorate ancient Russian cities such as Suzdal, Rostov, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, etc. It’s because since the very first days the city was built after the European pattern. All architectural styles are represented here: classicism, baroque, rococo.

Museums are the city’s pride. One of the most famous museums, the State Hermitage, is situated here. Its collection boasts of tsar’s treasures, works of well-known artists, and paintings from private galleries of Yusoupovs, Stroganovs, Sheremetevs, Shuvalovs and others. Some 2,5 million masterpieces of various epochs, countries and nations are located in more than one thousand halls. It is one of the largest museums in Europe.

St. Petersburg played a vital role in Russian history. Now it plays an important role in Russian economy, culture and international cooperation.

III. Find English equivalents in the text.

Прекрасный город Санкт-Петербург; «Северная Венеция»; «жемчужина Балтики»; на болотистых землях; «окно в Европу»; северная столица России; обязательная дань; здания редкой красоты; вдоль прямых проспектов и улиц; первый архитектурный ансамбль города; усыпальница (место захоронения) русских царей; замечательное разнообразие архитектуры; замысловатая напыщенность; по европейскому образцу№ гордость города; картины из частных галерей шедевры различных эпох; жизненно важная роль в истории России; важная роль в экономике России.

IV. Answer the following questions:

1. Where did Peter I decide to build a fortress?

2. Why did he decide to build the city there?

3. Why was the city named St. Petersburg?

4. When and how was the city renamed?

5. Why does Peter and Paul fortress attract many tourists?

6. What is the Winter Palace famous for?

7. What churches and Cathedrals do you know in St. Petersburg?

8. What bridges across the Neva do you know?

9. What kind of city is St. Petersburg?

10. What else is St. Petersburg famous for?

V. Say what architect (sculptor) the building (monument) was constructed by:

a) the Winter Palace – Rastrelli;

b) the Admiralty – Zakharov;

c) the Mikhailov Palace – Voronikhin;

d) the Monument to Peter the Great (the Bronze Horseman) – Falconet;

e) the monument to Nicholas I – Clodt;

f) Alexander Nevsky Monastery – Trezzini

g) St. Isaac’s Cathedral – Monferrand;

h) the Russian Museum – Rossi;

i) the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island – Thomas de Thomon;

j) Smolny – Quarenghi;

k) Taurida Palace – Starov

VI. Name your favourite place in St. Petersburg. Use: the Summer Garden; the Palace Square; the Neva Embankment; Nevsky Avenue; Decembrists’ Square; Monument to Catherine the Second; St. Isaac’s Square; the Field of Mars; Saviour-on-the Blood Church; Peter the Great’s Cottage; the Menshikov Palace; the Admiralty; the Anichkov Bridge.

VII. Translate into English.

1. Санкт-Петербург, второй по величине город России, был основан в 1703 году.

2. Тысячи рабочих, привезенных изо всех частей России, построили великолепный город.

3. При более поздних правителях западные архитекторы спланировали город, а строители построили здания из серого и розового камня.

4. Петербург был объявлен столицей Российского государства в 1712 году.

5. Первым историческим центром города был Березовый остров, который впоследствии называли Городским, Городовым, Петербургским и, наконец, Петроградским.

6. Петербург – город мостов. Иногда его даже называют музеем мостов. Первый мост соединил Заячий остров с Березовым. Петр не поощрял (encourage) мостов, он предпочитал суда в качестве средства передвижения.

7. Своим названием Невский проспект обязан Александро-Невскому монастырю.

8. Город называют «Северной Венецией», потому что здесь 65 рек и каналов.

9. Русский музей был открыт в Михайловском дворце по приказу императора Александра III.

10. Александринский театр получил свое название в честь супруги Николая I, Александры.