The English Embankment or English Quay is a street along the Neva River

Neva River

The Neva is a river in northwestern Russia flowing from Lake Ladoga through the western part of Leningrad Oblast to the Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland. Despite its modest length , it is the third largest river in Europe in terms of average discharge .The Neva is the only river flowing from Lake...

 in Central Saint Petersburg

Central Saint Petersburg

Central Saint Petersburg is the central and the leading part of Saint Petersburg, Russia. It looks nothing like the downtown district of a typical major city, and has no skyscrapers...

. It has been historically one of the most fashionable streets in Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...

.

The English Embankment spans between the New Admiralty Canal, and the Decembrists Square

Decembrists Square

Senate Square , formerly known as Decembrists' Square in 1925-2008, and Peter's Square , before 1925, is a city square in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is situated on the left bank of the Bolshaya Neva, in front of Saint Isaac's Cathedral...

, where it becomes the Admiralty Embankment

Admiralty Embankment

The Admiralty Embankment ) or Admiralty Quay is a street along the Neva River in Central Saint Petersburg, named after the Admiralty Board.Between 1919 and 1944 the street was known as Roshal Embankment, named after the revolutionary S. G. Roshal....

.

History

The English Embassy and church

The English Embankment was built between 1763 and 1767. It is named after the former English (British) Embassy and the English church that was located at No48, the building is now occupied by the Travel and Sightseeing Bureau. The English church was built in 1814 and 1815 to a design by Giacomo Quarenghi

Giacomo Quarenghi

Giacomo Quarenghi was the foremost and most prolific practitioner of Palladian architecture in Imperial Russia, particularly in Saint Petersburg.- Career in Italy :...

, it is preserved as architectural landmark. The interior of the English church is highlighted with marble, historic paintings, and boasts a large pipe organ - the only English organ existing in Russia. The last English (British) Ambassador left in 1918, after the Russian Revolution.

Battleship Aurora during the revolution

Next to the Annunciation Bridge

Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge

The Blagoveshchensky Bridge is the first permanent bridge built across the Neva River in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It connects Vasilievsky Island and the central part of the city . The bridge's length is 331 meters and the width was 24 meters. The original name of the bridge was Nevsky Bridge. It...

 is a monument commemorating the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. From this historic spot, at 2 AM on October 25, 1917, the gunshot from the Aurora

Aurora (cruiser)

Aurora is a 1900 Russian protected cruiser, currently preserved as a museum ship in St. Petersburg. She battled the Japanese Navy in the Russo-Japanese War. One of the first incidents of the October Revolution in Russia took place on the cruiser Aurora.-Russo-Japanese War:Aurora was one of three...

sent the signal to storm the Winter Palace

Winter Palace

The Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia, was, from 1732 to 1917, the official residence of the Russian monarchs. Situated between the Palace Embankment and the Palace Square, adjacent to the site of Peter the Great's original Winter Palace, the present and fourth Winter Palace was built and...

. The symbolism of the name "Aurora" was its meaning as "the dawn of a new era" in history. This historic spot has been since a traditional location for a swear-in ceremony for new members of the Pioneers

Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union

The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer...

 and the Komsomol

Young Communist League

The Young Communist League was or is the name used by the youth wing of various Communist parties around the world. The name YCL of XXX was generally taken by all sections of the Communist Youth International.Examples of YCLs:...

 organisations.

Annual appearance of the "Scarlet Sails"

Another historic tradition that started at the English Embankment in St. Petersburg has been the popular appearance of a boat with "Scarlet Sails

Scarlet Sails

Scarlet Sails may refer to:* A 1923 adventure novel by Alexander Grin *Scarlet Sails , a Soviet film starring Vasily Lanovoy and Anastasiya Vertinskaya...

" . This tradition began here after the end of WWII, when schools united to celebrate the ending of a school year in connection with symbolism of the popular children's book "Scarlet Sails" by Alexander Grin

Alexander Grin

Alexander Grin was a Russian writer, notable for his romantic novels and short stories, mostly set in an unnamed fantasy land with a European or Latin American flavor...

. At that time a boat with scarlet sails was sailing along the English Embankment and the Admiralty Embankment towards the Winter Palace

Winter Palace

The Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia, was, from 1732 to 1917, the official residence of the Russian monarchs. Situated between the Palace Embankment and the Palace Square, adjacent to the site of Peter the Great's original Winter Palace, the present and fourth Winter Palace was built and...

. Although it was designed to update the rusty revolutionary propaganda, the "Scarlet Sails" tradition became the most popular public event ever since, celebrating the ending of school year in June, annually. The "Scarlet sails" appearance is now part of the White Nights celebration.

Today

One of the most prestigious locations in St. Petersburg, the English Embankment today is mostly home to corporate offices located in former palatial houses of imperial Russian nobility and pre-revolutionary foreign embassies. It is very a popular sightseeing destination among tourists because of the wonderful view of the Neva and palaces across the river. The Menshikov Palace

Menshikov

Menshikov may refer to one of the following persons*Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov *Aleksandr Sergeyevich Menshikov *Alexei Menshikov *Mikhail Menshikov , various...

 and the Academy of Arts building

Imperial Academy of Arts

The Russian Academy of Arts, informally known as the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, was founded in 1757 by Ivan Shuvalov under the name Academy of the Three Noblest Arts. Catherine the Great renamed it the Imperial Academy of Arts and commissioned a new building, completed 25 years later in 1789...

 on the Vasilevsky Island across the river. Many boat tours start at the embankment, taking tourists on a journey about canals and bridges of St. Petersburg.

The Constitutional Court of Russia is scheduled to move to the former Senate and Synod buildings at the Decembrists Square

Decembrists Square

Senate Square , formerly known as Decembrists' Square in 1925-2008, and Peter's Square , before 1925, is a city square in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is situated on the left bank of the Bolshaya Neva, in front of Saint Isaac's Cathedral...

and English Embankment in St. Petersburg by 2008. The move will partially restore Saint Petersburg's historic status, making the city the second judicial capital.