St. Petersburg was built on the delta of the River Neva and is spread out over numerous islands of varying sizes, frequently prompting the nickname the "City of 101 Islands". Over the centuries numerous bridges were built to connect these islands across the various tributaries of the Neva and the city's many canals (Moika, Fontanka, Kanal Griboyedova, etc.).

During the summer months when the river isn't frozen, the bridges across the Neva open at night to allow ships to pass up and down the river. Bridges open from May to late October according to a special schedule. Make sure you check the schedules and don't get caught on the wrong side of the river after 2 a.m., or you will be stranded on the wrong side of the river until the drawbridges are lowered between approximately 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m.

The Alexander Nevsky Bridge

The Alexander Nevsky Bridge was built in the 1960s to solve a major transport problem. Effectively, the bridge links the outlying Malaya Okhta district with the rest of the city.

The Alexander Nevsky Bridge also boasts several innovations, including iron-and-concrete support shells, improved beam span support, and eight-sided columns for stronger bank abutment. The bridge's railings, lamps and other features are in a strictly functional, modern style.

The bridge is the longest in St. Petersburg at 905.7 meters, and is 35 meters wide.

Anichkov Bridge

Anichkov Bridge was the first bridge across the Fontanka River, and combines a simple form with some spectacular decorations. As well as its four famous horse sculptures, it has some of the most celebrated ornate iron railings in St. Petersburg.

The first bridge was built in 1715-1716 by order of Peter the Great, and named after its engineer, M. Anichkov. The bridge was made of wood with several spans built on piles of supports lying just above the Fontanka River. Nothing remains of this first bridge.

As the city grew and river traffic increased, plans were unveiled in 1721 to create a new drawbridge. Anichkov Bridge was one of seven three-span stone drawbridges with towers built across the Fontanka River in the late 18th century, of which Lomonosov and Stary Kalinkin Bridges are the only two other bridges from that period which still survive. The bridge was an especially popular attraction on Nevsky Prospekt in this period, as well as a popular subject for illustrations and paintings.

But by the 1840's this design, especially its large towers, was already deemed unsuitable for the growing amount of traffic passing over Anichkov Bridge along Nevsky Prospekt. In 1841-1842 yet another bridge, which corresponded more with the width of Nevsky Prospekt and the design of the current bridge, was built on the site under the leadership of Lt. General Gotman. The new bridge was made of stone, and had three spans closed off with gently sloping arches. This simple, concise form corresponded well with the massive cast-iron fencing bordering Anichkov Bridge and stylish castings designed by German architect K. Shinkel. However, the bridge's stone arches were a continual source of problems, and in 1906-1908 the bridge had once again to be reconstructed and its arches reinforced.

The most impressive aspect of Anichkov Bridge is the group of four sculptures which embellish it. The sculptures, entitled "The Horse Tamer", were executed by Pyotr Klodt (who also produced the sculpture of Nicholas I on St. Isaac's Square) and are one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. They have an interesting history. Nicholas I gave two of them to Prussian King Fredrick William IV in 1842, and another two were sent to Italy as a sign of gratitude for the hospitality shown to the Tsar during his trip there in 1846. During the Second World War, the sculptures were taken down from their platforms and sheltered from German artillery in the Pioneer Palace garden. The bridge suffered serious damage during the war, but has been fully restored.

The Bank Bridge

Bank Bridge is one of St. Petersburg's most recognizable landmarks, and features in numerous guidebooks. It takes its name from the neighboring building, which used to house the state bank. The bridge's four famous cast-iron griffins - winged lions - are representations of mythical creatures reputed as guardians of treasure.

The bridge is only 1.85 meters wide, and was designed by the engineer V. Tretter. The griffins were the work of Pavel Sokolov, who also created the lions for the Lion Bridge and the sphinxes on the Egyptian Bridge. In design terms, Bank Bridge is similar to Pantaleimon and Egyptian Bridges across the Fontanka, but Bank Bridge is for pedestrians only, and its main support comes from its decorative griffins.

Another important element is the bridge's cast iron fencing. Although very different from the Quarenghi-designed stone fence of the neighboring Finance and Economics University, the impression is nonetheless of a harmonious artistic ensemble.

The Blue Bridge

At 97.3 meters wide, Blue Bridge is the widest bridge in St. Petersburg. In fact, most people don't notice it, as it has much of St. Isaac's Square on top of it. The bridge, which spans the Moika River, is located in front of the Mariinsky Palace in the heart of the city's historic center.

The first iron bridge on the site was designed in 1805 by the architect V. Geste, who only got round to realizing his plan in 1818. This Blue Bridge was a single-span bridge resting on stone supports, and measured 41 meters across. In 1843, Blue Bridge was widened on its northern side to its present width.

The bridge's name dates from the 19th-century tradition of color-coding the bridges crossing the Moika River. Today only four colored bridges survive, the other ones being the Red, Green and Orange Bridges.

Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge

Bolshoi Okhtinsky Bridge was a revelation when it opened to traffic in 1911. It has only three spans, with the center span guarded by Romanesque granite towers, while the two outer spans are framed by the contours of massive 136-meter girders which present a sharp contrast to the surroundings.

The problem of a permanent bridge to span the river vexed architects from the early 19th century. A special commission saw dozens of plans before plumping for one drawn up by the engineer G. Krivoshein and the architect Apishkov in 1901. Krivoshein and Apishkov's revolutionary design called for just three spans, of which only the middle one - just 14.6 meters wide - would open to let river traffic through. The two opens on either side measure 128 meters each, and are topped off with two massive double-jointed girders, which rise to a height of 22.6 meters, and under which pass foot and automobile traffic.

The bridge's most innovative feature was its quick-rising middle span - the first and only one of its kind in the city. This section was designed to rise up in as little as 30 seconds, using an innovative electro-mechanical system. Just in case, an alternative option using manpower allowed the bridge to be raised in as little as 10 minutes.

Another important feature is the two impressive granite towers, designed to look like lighthouses, which rise up at each end of the elevating span. The towers are built in the form of four-sided cubes capped off with lamps. On one side of the towers, half-circle mini-towers are topped off with abruptly-ending half cupolas. Throwbacks to castles of the Middle Ages, these towers clash awkwardly with the colder industrial-style girders of the bridge.

Egyptian Bridge

The Egyptian Bridge was the first metal bridge in Russia. P. Sokolov's 150-year-old cast-iron sphinxes sit gracefully on granite pedestals adorning the bridge's entryways, and make the bridge easily one of the most enchanting in the city.

The original chain bridge collapsed into the Fontanka River in 1905. Fortunately, however, the bank supports and four magnificent sphinxes were salvaged and used to adore the successor Egyptian Bridge, which was completed in 1955 after almost half a century of planning. At least 17 different plans for a new Egyptian Bridge were reviewed before a plan by architects V. Vasilkovsky and P. Areshev was accepted.

The new Egyptian Bridge is single-spanned with a double-jointed frame and welded metal cross section. It spans the Fontanka River at a slight angle, making a 20-degree angle with the banks of the river. The handsomely styled frame above the arch of the bridge rises just above the river and is especially pleasing to the eye.

As well as making the bridge stronger and more durable by working in metal, Vasilkovsky and Areshev also aimed to adore the sturdy framework with beautiful Egyptian themes. The Egyptian Bridge's facade is decorated with ornate brackets and rosettes, which also adorn the cast-iron obelisks with their charming lanterns that stand at each corner of the bridge. The bridge's ornamented cast-iron railings remain unpretentiously in the background.