Kolomna is the canal-laced district southwest of St Isaac's Cathedral where the Mariinsky Theatre has anchored the cultural scene since 1860. If you're seeing ballet or opera in St Petersburg, this is almost certainly where you'll end up, and the newer Mariinsky II next door has expanded the programming. The neighbourhood itself is one of the city's most atmospheric for walking — the Griboedov Canal and Kryukov Canal intersect here, lined with pastel-coloured buildings and iron footbridges. St Nicholas Naval Cathedral, a blue-and-white Baroque beauty surrounded by a small park, is one of the city's most photogenic churches and far less crowded than the big-name cathedrals. Kolomna retains an authentic residential feel, with courtyard apartments and local cafes that give you a sense of how ordinary Petersburgers actually live, away from the Nevsky Prospekt tourist trail.