Hermitage and the Horsemen

In Palace square they were preparing for a Rolling Stones concert next to Alexander Column.
This is the Ornate Jordan Staircase at the Hermitage (It doesn't look very Middle Eastern or have any Chicago Bulls logos so I've no idea what Jordan they're talking about). The Hermitage houses untold collections of art, including modern, but 3 hours is my absolute limit for art appreciation in one sitting.
The entrance to Palace square.
I wanted to go to Decembrist Square solely because a indie rock band had named themselves after it (The square is where on the 14th December 1825 Tsarist soldiers fired on 3000 revolting troops and spectators who wanted to turn Russia into a Republic). The square also has the cities most famous statue of Peter the Great (The Bronze Horseman).

Next to Decembrist Square is Saint Isaac's Church and square
where there is another horseman statue, this time of Nicholas the 1st.
St Petersburg is built on Marsh land and canals cross the city in all directions. I took my third and last boat trip of the holiday on an overcast afternoon in St Petersburg.