St. Petersburg is sometimes called Venice of the North because of the numerous canals and Italian motives in its architecture. But recently I visited a courtyard which has been turned “Italian” by true lovers of Italy.
Not so many people know about and no travel guides highlight this spot, despite the fact that it’s located right in the center near Nevsky prospect, the Hermitage, i.e. the main sights.
In 2013, the residents of a couple of houses on Italian Street decided to decorate their yard and make it more comfortable and beautiful. They invited a talented artist to implement their plan. Romantic Venice, eternal Rome and classical Italian architecture – this is what he painted on the walls of the courtyard. He actually turned it into a real masterpiece, such that the yard has become an unofficial attraction of St. Petersburg among the locals.
The inner territory of the courtyard is very clean and well-maintained. There are comfortable benches and a children’s playground. During summertime, everything is buried in greenery.
The gates are usually closed, so in order to get inside, it is necessary to wait for one of the residents. As for me, I just called an organization which has an office there and they opened the gate for me 😉 They might already be used to such calls from strangers.
