St. Petersburg is perhaps the most mystical city in Russia. Its streets hold stories of sudden disappearances, curses, and fatal secrets. Here, the urban environment itself heightens the sense of mystery: courtyards like wells, cold stone, and dark, smooth water.

On February 27, Wawelberg Hall will host the first lecture of the Lev Lurie House of Culture this year, dedicated to the legends and myths of St. Petersburg. The lecturer is Alexander Dedikin, art critic and architectural historian.