St Petersburg

Second biggest city in Russia. It's called by Russians a 'window to Europe' and a 'second' capital of Russia.

As you know at present Moscow is a capital of Russia, and it is a city with a very rich history and culture. Without a doubt, it is also the center of contemporary Russia, but if you are going to come to Russia or if you are living here, we recommend that you definitely visit St. Petersburg. Called the northern capital of Russia, St. Petersburg was founded and built by Russian Emperor Peter the Great in 1703, after which it remained the capital of Russia straight up until 1918. This city captivates no less than Moscow does. Located on the banks of the Neva River and straddling over three hundred separate islands, the city will strike you with its beauty. It is full of magnificent palaces designed by leading masters of the time. Most notable amongst these gorgeous buildings is the opulent Zimny Palace. Majestic squares, embankments, bridges, monuments, museums, and cathedrals also fill up the city, not to mention the Hermitage Museum, a world-famous treasure- house of the finest works of art from around the world. There is also the LetnySad ("the Summer Garden"), where Pushkin used to enjoy taking his strolls, as well as the Russian Museum, famous Nevsky Prospect, the Petropavlovskaya Fortress, the Smolny, and St. Isaac's Cathedral. All the sights of St. Petersburg, as with those of Moscow, are impossible to enumerate.

The environs of St. Petersburg also evoke the interest of everyone who visits them. Magnificent Peterhof with its unique palace and park ensemble is the favorite spot of many, especially its wide array of diverse fountains and famous Amber Chamber. Others prefer Oranienbaum, Pavlovsk, or Tsarskoye Selo — the country residences of the Russian tsars, boasting excellent palaces and parks.

St. Petersburg differs from Moscow greatly. From the very beginning, it was conceived of and built as a European city. Even now it is likened to Venice, while nearby Peterhof draws comparisons to Versailles. All the same though, Petersburg is a Russian city with a Russian soul, and it has given Russia so many of its great writers, poets, and scientists. Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Blok and so many others have dedicated an endless number of lines to this home of theirs! The most famous of them though, remain Pushkin's lines.

In 2003, the whole country celebrated the city's 350th anniversary. In preparation for this day, many unique palaces, monuments and temples were restored throughout St. Petersburg. The city beamed with a new beauty as numerous European and American leaders arrived to celebrate the city's founding, and their hearts were won over by St. Petersburg's extraordinary beauty.