Photo Tour Through St. Petersburg

By Kerry Kubilius, About.com Guide

Most visitors to St. Petersburg will find the Church of the Spilt Blood (or the Church of the Savior) to be a beautiful example of Russian architecture. Indeed, the structure seems to sparkle in the sunlight and is luminous at night. Its colorful domes can be viewed through the foliage of St. Petersburg's greenery during any bus tour of the city.

However, the Church of the Spilt Blood is not without its critics. Built by Alexander III to give St. Petersburg a dash of Russian tradition, the Church of the Spilt blood is often seen as an artificial, "modern" eyesore that detracts, rather than adds, to St. Petersburg's image.