One of Russia’s most iconic cathedrals ranked seventh in the Landmarks category of the 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards, thus surpassing such iconic sights as the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco, Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, the Eiffel Tower, Acropolis and Big Ben in terms of popularity.
© FLICKR/ KEVIN JONES. Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Saint Petersburg
“The whole church is a piece of art. So colorful outside and even more impressive inside, with mosaics covering every inch,” an excerpt from the cathedral’s description on the website reads.
The cathedral was founded in 1883 at the site where Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded in a terrorist attack. When the Tsar’s armored carriage was hit with a bomb in 1881, the unscathed Alexander II, who had liberated Russia’s serfs in 1861 and planned further reforms including the country’s first constitution, rushed to attend to his injured coachman.
Unfortunately, a second terrorist was waiting with the bomb that ended his life. He was succeeded by his 36-year-old son, the repressive Alexander III, who rejected his father’s commitment to reform but nonetheless honored him by building the cathedral on the spot where he died. For many Russians, the church represents a cruel turning point in the nation’s history.
© FLICKR/ ROB WILLIAMS. Ceiling of the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood
First place was awarded to Machu Picchu, with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center and Angkor Wat ranking second and third, respectively. St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome ranked fourth, Taj Mahal ranked fifth and the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba ranked sixth, according to TripAdvisor.
In 2015 the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood also featured in TripAdvisor’s list of top landmarks, but only ranked 12th.
