Russia Regions: Saint-Petersburg

St. Petersburg truly is one of Europe's most magnificent cities!

Known as the Venice of the North due to its extensive canal system, St Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, who made it his capital city.

St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia after Moscow.

Besides, it is one of the most elegant cities in Europe and boasts famous palaces such as Peterhof and Pushkin, world class ballet and opera in the Mariinsky Theatre and one of the world's largest art collections in the Hermitage.

The city has become a Must for travelers looking for

a City Break 

Or even a two-center holiday combined with Moscow

Russia's Northern Capital developed at a very different rate from its older sister Moscow.

Over a similar period, St. Petersburg was constructed from scratch, became the imperial capital and one of the cultural centers of Europe, witnessed a series of uprisings culminating the Bolshevik revolution, lost its status as capital, endured one of history's longest and most destructive sieges (with over a million of civilians dead), and became the center of one of the most ambitious urban regeneration projects of modern times.

The city changed its name three times, was largely destroyed by fire in 1737, and flooded over 300 times.

Although no longer the national capital, St. Petersburg today is still the 3rd most populous city in Europe after Moscow and London, with around 4.5 m inhabitants, or slightly less than the total population of Norway.

Although the city's population is pretty large, it feels quite compact compared to Moscow.

St. Petersburg charms with its palaces and canals, and is increasingly a tourist-friendly city.

Being carefully planned and logically laid out, St. Petersburg is easy to navigate, with a manageable number of must-see sights.

This captivating city is often referred to as the Venice of the North for its palace-lined waterways and elegant boulevard.

A particular attraction of St. Petersburg is its White Nights, an amazing phenomenon on earth in midsummer when the skies stay light all night, and the city never sleeps.

This natural phenomenon coincides with city's major festive cultural season that begins with the highly acclaimed White Nights Festival.

Concerts, ballets and other performances take place all over the city. 

Renowned for ballet, art, literature and music,

Saint-Petersburg remains Russia's Cultural Capital

City's Premiere Must-See sight: 
The Hermitage is the city's premier attraction, not only for its staggering collection of artworks and historical artifacts, but also for the palatial gallery's stunning interiors

Larger-Than-Life:
More than 100 meters high, St. Isaac's Cathedral tower over the city, dominating the skyline and offering awesome views from its colonnade

Most Magical Church:

The Church on The Spilled Blood is the northern capital's dramatic answer to St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow

Most Historically Significant:

The Peter-and-Paul Fortress is the birthplace of the city, packed with historical and architectural landmarks - along with a beach at its foot

Best Graveyard:

Alexander Nevsky Lavra ('Lavra' means Monastery of the highest ranking) is one of city's true landmarks. Part of the Monastery is Tikhvin Cemetery, known as the Necropolis of the Masters of Arts.

It is Who is Who of art, music, and literature, with the graves of Dostoyevsky, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov, Kustodiev, and Shishkin, among other internationally famous names

 

 

Calendar of Events, St. Petersburg

 

 

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