The West of Petrogradskaya side is a unique example of harmonious co-existence of the refined architecture of “Northern Art Nouveau” and stark, energetic Soviet modernism.

Its dense and diverse urban tissue includes residential and industrial districts, as well as several remarkable university campuses and research institutes that neighbor calm, green parks and gardens. An attentive eye can see through the built environment and notice traces of all three centuries of urban history – and capture the elusive beauty of this multi-layered urban landscape.
Another important side of this walk is its focus on the history of Russian science and technology, but also of arts and architecture. This district was home to many prominent scientists and engineers, such as Ivan Pavlov, the first Russian Nobel prize in physiology and medicine, Alexander Popov, inventor of the radio, and Henrich Graftio, founder of Russian school of hydroelectric engineering. The most famous names of the artistic scene include Mikhail Matyushin, one of the leaders of Russian Avant-Garde movement, Feodor Shalyapin, a prominent opera singer, and Mikhail Anikushin, the world-famous Soviet sculptor. Erich Mendelsohn’s Powerhouse of Red Flag textile factory.is one of the world’s marvels of Modernist architecture. This journey will combine the aesthetic intensity with a complex and fascinating historical narrative.

Starting at: Chkalovskaya subway station
Finishing at: Petrogradskaya subway station
Duration: 3.5 hours