Russia: Saint-Petersburg

St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and one of the world's major cities, which has more to offer than just the Hermitage Museum and the Kirov Ballet. It is one of the biggest cultural centres in the world, a city with an exceptionally rich history, centuries old traditions and a promising future.

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Almost all basic trends in the world and Russian architecture of the 18th-20th centuries are represented in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg has played a vital role in both Russian and European history. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703 it was the capital of the Russian Empire for two centuries.

The city has changed its name three times: St. Petersburg (1703-1914), Petrograd (1914-1924), Leningrad (1924-1991) and St. Petersburg again from 1991. He crafted the world's most fascinating city on more than 45 islands, modelling it in a French style by employing the world's greatest architects.

The islands are connected by more than 342 bridges, of which 21 are raised at night. This gives the city its name «The Venice of the North». It is therefore little wonder that the city is called a «Museum in the Open Air». Among the majestic memorials, you can feel the breath of intellectual life, which was brought into St. Petersburg by Peter the Great. The most famous professors, such as Leibnitz from Germany, worked on a project for the creation of the Science Academy and other institutes.

Today St. Petersburg is ranked alongside Paris and Rome as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Population: more than 5 million.

Area: approximately 600 sq kms.

Climate: moderate, maritime. Average temperature in winter: 10LC to -8LC, spring: 0LC +10LC, summer: +18LC to +20LC, autumn: +10LC to 0LC. Where to stay: There are few hotels located in central St Petersburg. Most of the hotels, however, can be found outside of the centre.

Where to eat: Restaurants and cafes are scattered around the city with the largest concentration along the Nevsky Prospekt.

Shopping: Most shops are located around the city's main streets such as Nevsky, Kamennoostrovskiy and Bolshoy Prospekt. Opening hours are from 10 am till 7 pm.

Places of Interest: inside the city - The Hermitage, St Isaac's Cathedral, Church on Spilled Blood, Nevsky Prospekt, Mariinsky Theatre, Alexander Nevsky Monastery, SS Peter and Paul Cathedral, Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, Russian Museum, Stieglitz Museum.

Entertainment: St Petersburg is a city of cultural and night life entertainment. The intensive opera, ballet and classical music programmes are run during the White Nights Festival, whereas most of the theatres are closed for the period of July, August and September because their companies go on tours. 

Getting around: There are five railway stations, three aiports, two bus stations, a seaport and a river station. The public transport is very efficient and cheap, with a highly developed network of underground (metro) trains, buses, trolleybuses, trams reaching all the main sights in the centre. 
Among the majestic and poignant memorials, one can feel a breathe of intellectual life, which was also brought into St Petersburg by Peter the Great. The most famous professors, such as Leibnitz from Germany, worked on a project for the creation of Science Academy and other institutes.

Now St Petersburg is ranked alongside Paris and Rome as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. City has changed its name three times: St Petersburg (1703-1714), Petrograd (1914-1924), Leningrad (1924-1991) and St Petersburg again from 1991.

During 200 years St Petersburg was the capital of Russia. It is one of the biggest cultural centres in the world, the city with very rich history, traditions and promising future. Almost all basic trends in world and Russian architecture of the 18th-20th centuries are represented in St Petersburg. That's why the city called «A Museum in the Open Air». Its architecture is fantastic. There are about 120 museums, 40 theatres, 50 universities, 400 research organizations.

//visitrussia