Smolny Cathedral in St. Petersburg is a masterpiece of world architecture due to its picturesque beauty, expressive composition and exterior decoration. Thanks to its fluid, literally melting shape the construction creates the impression that the church is hovering over the ground. Every day hundreds of people visit Smolny to witness architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli’s great work. Tourists are often even lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a ceremonial religious procession of Orthodox believers. RTG’s new programme explores the history of the cathedral’s construction, what happened to Rastrelli and why the famed architect decided not to build a bell tower, which would have been the tallest building in the city.