Urban Explorer Gives Viewers an Interior Tour of St. Petersburg’s Architectural Gems

Urban explorer Sergey Prokopenko sees the inner beauty that’s concealed within St. Petersburg’s most impressive architectural structures. When referring to the splendor he finds while exploring various interiors, the photographer states, “It’s hidden from intruders behind closed doors and security locks, inside the courtyards. This is the world of century-old stained glass, old oak staircases and abandoned attics, which still keep the possessions of the long gone occupants of the tenements.”

Before him, Prokopenko has the entire city of St. Petersburg, which is home to palaces, government buildings, mansions, and museums that act as structural gems. “For me, finding such locations becomes somewhat of a gamble: you never know what to expect behind the closed doors–an angry janitor or a gorgeous fireplace that hasn’t been affected by time,” the architecture blogger explains. Interestingly enough, Prokopenko doesn’t refer to his missions as Instagram-related trips. Instead, he calls these photography projects a quest. And with a growing portfolio of visual artifacts, he finds himself venturing out, capturing hints of St. Petersburg’s influence in neighboring cities and nations.

The Yusupov Palace