City info

City info

Saint-Petersburg is an unusual city in many ways.

According to European standards, it is very young – we only celebrated its tercentenary in 2003. But in spite of this fact, St. Petersburg gained big historical importance in such a short period of time.

It was founded by Peter the Great on the banks of the Neva river as a fortress after the victory over Sweden in the protracted 21-year Northern War.

The history of the city is rich in significant and tragic events. The city saw the glory of the Imperial Age and witnessed the exultation and cruelty of revolutions.

It survived floods and fires, suffered from famine and was demolished a great deal during the World War II.

But this unique and wonderful city could survive all these misfortunes, rose from ashes like the fairy-tale bird Phoenix and continues to delight us by its cultural heritage, greatness and beauty.

Saint-Petersburg has many fine names - and they were given to it not by chance.

“The city of white nights” - if you are lucky to come to our city from the end of May till the beginning of July, you will be able to admire miraculous white nights.

“The Northern capital of Russia” - everyone knows, that Moscow was and is the capital of Russia, but only a few people know, that for two centuries St. Petersburg was the capital of the Russian Empire - since 1712 till 1918.

“The Venice of the North” - our city is often compared with Venice, that magical Venice in Italy - and there is the reason for it - Saint-Petersburg is located on the islands (47 islands) and 65 rivers crisscross the city in different directions. You can find here more than 580 bridges - 20 of them are span ones.

“The cultural capital of Russia” - the city has been famous for its theatres, art galleries and museums. Here are the figures that will tell you better about everything - in our city there are more than 80 museums, more than 60 theatres, more than 100 churches and temples, 2000 libraries, 45 galleries and exhibition halls, 100 concert organizations and 62 cinemas. More than 100 festivals and contests take place in our city annually.

Many prominent people lived and worked in Saint-Petersburg, such as Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Mendeleev, Lomonosov, Kuindzhi, Repin , Pavlov, Popov and many others.

“The museum under the open sky” - Saint-Petersburg is famous for its architectural ensembles and historical monuments such as Palace Square, the Admiralty, Decembrists Square, St.Isaaс's Square, the Bronze Horseman, the Smolny, the Kazan Cathedral and many others - it is really the museum city.

And, certainly, we can’t help mentioning about the admirable suburbs of the city - Peterhof with its fountains, Catherine Palace in Pushkin with its Amber room, Pavlovsk with its marvelous park and Palace and not only these.

Now Saint-Petersburg is the second important industrial, scientific, political, economical and cultural centre of the country and its first seaport.

But it is difficult to find the words could describe and convey all beauty and wealth of cultural heritage of our city- better to see it yourself!

You are welcome to Saint-Petersburg!

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