The city of Saint Petersburg in
Russia is located at h\the head of Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city
was founded by Tsar the Great Peter in 1703 and hence the name Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg served as the imperial
capital of Russia until 1918 when the government bodies shifted to Moscow and
then Moscow became the capital. It is the second largest city in Russia and attracts thousands of
tourists every year who come to explore the
cultural magnificence of the city. The city is home to World Heritage
Sites such as the Historic Center of Saint Petersburg and Related Group of
Monument. The Hermitage one of the largest are museums in the world is also a
proud property of the city.
The city is connected
internationally by a major airport called the Pulkovo International Airport and
three smaller commercial and cargo airport. There is a 24/7 bus – service that
will take you the city center. The city is also the final destination for a
network of intercity and urban railways and has five railway terminals namely
Baltiiysky, Ladozhsky, Moskovsky and goes international connecting to Helsinki,
Finland, Berlin, Germany and all the earlier republics of U.S.S.R.
The city is also by waterways via a
number of cargo seaports. There is also an efficient network of buses running
across the city. There are also used to
be an efficient tram service but it has
been dismantled now. However there is an underground metro service providing
quick and efficient transportation.
The city attracts tourists who have
a huge interest in discovering the history of the Soviet Union and to also
explore the architecture, arts, culture and music. The city is an ideal place
for youngsters looking to travel and explore the world as well as newlywed love
birds who want to spend some time in a prime cultural city of Europe. The significant
architectural and cultural and heritage of the city has made it an attractive
tourist spot. The architecture of the city built during 18th and 19th century is
still unchanged and well – preserved. Some of the must see places in the city
are:
The State Hermitage
The State hermitage houses around
three million pieces of art. The main museum is a square complex consisting of
365 rooms in Winter Palace, a Small Hermitage, Old Hermitage and New Hermitage
all built around the same time. Once could feast their eyes for long hours in
the imperial state rooms, Raphael loggias which is a copy of the Vatican Gallery
and the War Gallery among various others such as the Treasury Gallery rooms
where you will find gold silver coins as old as 2nd century B.C.
Peterhof
The imperial estate of peterhof
makes for a wonderful daytrip. The Grand palace sparkles of extravagance while
the grand Cascade a series of over 140 fountains and canals. You can lose an
entire day discovering the beauty of the palace.
St. Isaac’s Cathedral
The cathedral has a gold plated dome
that rises over 91 meters. It is one of the tallest orthodox churches in the
world. It is enormous with giant bronze doors and richly decorated interiors.
Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood
The church is modeled after St. Basil’s
Cathedral in Moscow. It is colored of
rainbow and has an onion shaped domes. It is built on the site where
tsar Alexander ii was killed and hence the name Spilled Blood. Saint Petersburg
is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List with its 36 historical architectural complexes and
various other monuments. The city has a vast number of museums, libraries,
galleries, theatres and exhibition halls. The city has never let its culture
bow down to economic intricacies, not a single theatre or museum was closed
during the period of economic stability.
Music
Saint Petersburg has a rich musical
culture and is diverse in various facets. The city and ballet performance have
a very culture of Saint Petersburg. The Petersburg School of Ballet is deservedly
the best institute for learning ballet and their performances are to die for. If
you are lucky may be you will get up to enjoy one.
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