Officially the tip of Vasilievsky Island is known as Stock Exchange Square. St Petersburg's docks were located here at this fork of the Neva from around 1730 to 1880. The architectural design was also dominated by commerce and navigation.The Strelka ("arrow" or "spit") affords a dazzling view of both the Winter Palace and the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Standing on this head of land, the historic centre spreads itself around it in a wide circle.