Destination St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great in 1703. It was designed to rival the splendor of the most impressive cities of Western Europe. A city of infinite charm with its majestic palaces, churches and cathedrals, river embankments, beautiful parks and innumerable bridges has a relatively short but outstanding history. For almost 200 years it was the capital of the Russian Empire. No longer a capital city now it still preserves its imperial grandeur.

The city was planned and built with the help of leading architects from all over the world, and the result is an eclectic blend of European and traditional Russian styles. St. Petersburg reminds some visitors of Rome, others of Paris, still others of Venice, Vienna or Amsterdam. Elements of all these cities are here, yet at the same time it resembles none.

Discover one of the world's greatest open-air museum: the Winter Palace, a pearl of the Russian baroque architecture, the Palace Square, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress and summer residences of the Russian Czars. One huge palace after another, imposing architectural ensembles and austere granite embankments bear testimony to a magnificent kingly past of the city.

A city of imperial proportions and romantic vistas, St. Petersburg has been a source of inspiration to generations of artists. A museum in its own right, this lovely city boasts of the world's greatest museum collections, making it a superb destination for art-lovers.

The period from the end of May to mid-July is a truly magical time to visit St. Petersburg as the city is embraced by White Nights, when the sun disappears below the horizon for only a brief respite and the skies never completely darken. During this restless time of midnight sun romantics flock to the river embankments to witness the rising bridges in twilight hues, and the city's architectural jewels take on new life in the strange luminescence.

Autumn and winter period is also an ideal time to visit St. Petersburg. The museums and restaurants are less crowded than in summer, and the theater season is in full swing. Golden leaves cover alleys of city gardens and make Imperial parks in the environs look picturesque. While it is cold in winter, the Baltic Sea has a moderating influence, and the temperature usually does not drop much below 10oC. The magical winter scenes - the frosty breath of horses pulling a troika, snow-dusted onion domes, gilded spires reflected in the ice-misted rivers - make winter in St. Petersburg an unforgettable time!

There are many reasons to visit St. Petersburg, a city filled with cultural, historical, and architectural treasures, and the people are hospitable and generous, doing their utmost to make visitors feel welcome.