Peter the Great founded Europe's fourth largest city on a swamp during the Northern War in 1703. Historians call St. Petersburg a town built on blood - hard labor, consumption and hunger caused the death of thousands of people.
However, as the new capital of Russia (before Peter's government the capital of Russia was Moscow) St. Petersburg became one of the most fascinating cities not only in the Russian Empire, but in all Europe. The St. Petersburg center was designed and built by famous Italian (Rastrelli, Carlo Rossi, Domenico Trezini) and Russian architects (Bazhenov, Starov, Kazakov). Palaces, built in classic style, fill the city. The most famous is Zimny Palace, the residence of the tsars for 200 years. Don't miss a chance to look at St.Petersburg's cathedrals - Kazonsky (designed by Voronikhin), Montferan's St. Isaac's and, opened after reconstruction, Spas Na Krovi.
The city is a wonderful place for walks. Wandering along the broad streets, lanes and embankments, one can discover countless beautiful sights in the city sometimes called the Venice of North. With its bridges, rivers and channels, the city rivals Venice and Amsterdam. There are 200 bridges, and the widest - The Blue Bridge on St. Isaac's Square -measures 97.3 meters (over 319 ft) across.
The town is exceptionally beautiful in May and June, the time of year when warm golden days, enchanting white nights and lush greenery create a romantic air. The city is frequented by the largest number of tourists - Russians as well as foreigners - during this period.
It is hard to imagine a tourist who's been to Moscow without visiting Red Square. Likewise it's unthinkable that a tourist would visit St. Petersburg in June and not see the all-night raising of the city's draw bridges on a White Night in June. The bridge openings occur only from May to September, when the Neva is navigable. And so if you visit St. Petersburg at this time, don't miss a chance to enjoy the spectacle! You can watch the bridges from either the river bank or from a motorboat hired from any of the numerous piers located on the Dvortsovaya Embankment, the Griboyedova Canal, the Fontanka River and the Moika River.
One can roam about the city on one's own or contact any tourist bureau that organizes individual or group excursions in and around the city.
It can be said that all great Russian culture is concentrated mostly in two centers, St. Petersburg and Moscow. St. Petersburg takes first place and is justifiably considered the culture capital of Russia.
Famous for museums
The splendid collections of the museum Hermitage could be compared only with National Gallery in London or Uffizy in Florence. Theaters and operas (Musorgsky Opera, Mariinsky Theater, Bolshoi and Maly Drama theaters) provide high-class performances. The underground culture is widely represented as well. To see contemporary art exhibitions go the art center at Pushkinskaya 10. To listen to modern rhythms make your way to one of numerous clubs.
My favorite club is Griboyedova, located in a bomb shelter. Operated by Dva Samolyeta (a famous Russian rock group), this club is generally full and cool, with a good practice of booking alternative bands to mix with its usual rave and techno. Art exhibitions and such happenings make it different from other clubs and altogether one of the best places in the city. If one doesn't like to dance, one can linger over a drink in a bar, read newspapers and magazines, play chess or just take a rest in a chill-out room in a club which draws mostly an artistic crowd.
For a good techno sound one can also visit Mama and Metro clubs.
The most innovative and open-minded jazz venue in town is JFC club, where Russian and foreign celebrities usually play. One can hear all styles including avant-garde and impro jazz, and occasionally classic and folk concerts. For a jazz evening one can go also to the Jazz Philharmonic Hall, a staid jazz venue organized by local patriarch Dave Goloschokin, who fills most of the bill, or to Neo Jazz Club that specializes in mellow jazz styles.
Erudite bums
As in all big cities, the population of St. Petersburg (about 6 million), is represented by all classes and ethnic groups. The bums, who read Shakespeare or talk about complicated theories of Bertrand Russell, are a surprise for nobody. Citizens relate to this kind of people with tender care, and when cold winds begin to blow, give them warm clothes and food. During a long winter night, a university professor and a bum might sit in a kitchen, or if the professor is not single, in the attic of a house and sort through different kinds of philosophic problems.
One such character once lived in one of the buildings of the Academy of Art. Students often used him as a model, treated him with vodka, cigarettes and jam. If guests came to their alma mater, he was the first thing to show - as a pride of the Academy.
What is a really good surprise for a tourist is the very low prices of alcohol drinks. For example, for what equals one lat ($1.66), one can get a bottle of vodka (0.7 liters), or two bottles of red Georgian wine, or five bottles of famous St. Petersburg beer which is very different from Latvian Aldaris and Estonian Saku.
But please, don't be too enthusiastic about it. It's not good for your health, and police are strict enough with drunk foreigners.
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