Admiralty, Saint Petersburg

The original design was a fortified shipyard which was later surrounded by five bastions and further protected by a moat.

[2] The Empire Style edifice visible today lining the Admiralty Quay was constructed to Andreyan Zakharov's design between 1806 and 1823.

[2] Located at the western end of the Nevsky Prospekt, The Admiralty with its gilded spire topped by a golden weather-vane in the shape of a small sail warship (Korablik), is one of the city's most conspicuous landmarks and the focal point of old St. Petersburg's three main streets - Nevsky Prospect, Gorokhovaya Street, and Voznesensky Avenue - underscoring the importance Peter I placed on Russia's Navy.

Until merger and relocation to the town of Pushkin in 1998 the building housed one of the Soviet and Russian naval engineering schools [ru] which since 1927 was named after Felix Dzerzhinsky.

Vladimir Nabokov, writer and native of St. Petersburg, wrote a short story in May 1933 entitled "The Admiralty Spire."

The Admiralty tower (1806-23) as seen from the Alexander Gardens . It is the focal point of St Petersburg 's city center : three main avenues converge nearby.