The Church of the Annunciation in Staraya Derevnya was built in 1805-1809, when this northern edge of Saint Petersburg still felt like a holiday suburb. Its classical lines and cemetery setting give it a quieter mood than the grand churches in the city centre.
Alexander Pushkin visited the area in 1836 and later drew on the cemetery walk in a poem. That literary connection adds a reason to stop if you are already exploring Saint Petersburg's northern districts.