Saint Petersburg

Saint-Petersburg is the second city of Russia (more then 4,5 million inhabitants in 2007) after capital Moscow. It is located on 42 islands in the northwest of the country on Neva river` s delta at the head of the Gulf of Finland. Saint Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and it is an important centre of tourism. In 2005 about 2,18 million foreign tourists had visited Saint Petersburg.

Saint Petersburg had been founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter I. By its resolutely modern town planning and its aesthetics of foreign origin the new city had to allow Russia «to open a window in Europe» and contribute, according to Peter I wishes, to hoist Russia at the rank of the European Great Powers. The city centre, built on directives of Russian governors, introduces an unique architecture which combines architectural styles (baroque, neoclassical) mastered way by architects of Italian origin. Saint Petersburg received some poetic names, like "Venice of the North" because of its numerous canals. Since 1990 the city is included on the list of the worldwide heritage of the UNESCO.

 

The capital of Russia from 1712 till 1918, St. Petersburg played a great role in the country's history. It's been called for a long time "the city of 3 revolutions", it also changed its name some times. It had named Petrograd, then Leningrad and in 1991 the city regained its original name - St. Petersburg, "the city of Saint Peter".

 

Saint Petersburg is an important economic, industrial, scientific and cultural centre of Russia. It is a big knot of transport. There are 221 museums, 2000 libraries, more than 80 theatres, 100 organizations of concerts, 45 galleries and centers of Expo, 63 cinemas, 80 organizations of culture in Saint Petersburg. Every year 100 different local and international festivals take a place in Saint Petersburg.

Its geographic location is responsible for the phenomenon that attracts crowds of tourists to the city during summer - the white nights. The white nights season begins on May 25-26 and ends in the middle of July with the peak on June 21-22, during this period you will not notice the evening twilight turning into dawn.

 

We invite you to go to Saint Petersburg to visit its museums, palaces, parks, cathedrals, theatres, galleries, to walk by boat on channels or to walk in the streets which keep a history` s breath of this splendid city.