Modern Architecture & Design
Many of the city’s modern shops and business centres are
located in downtown St. Petersburg. It is impossible to pictorially
present St. Petersburg without bewitching panoramas of the River
Neva and the numerous rivers and canals that dissect the city.
Today the city boasts more than 300 different bridge constructions,
21 of which are raised or opened at night.
City Life and Outdoor Activities
After celebrating the city’s 300th anniversary in 2003
the entertainment industry in St. Petersburg has developed rapidly.
There are clubs and movies for all kinds of people, from children
through to senior citizens; up-market casinos for the rich; and
gambling arcades for those still aiming for their first million.
There are so many events and special activities to suit anybody’s
tastes, such as film festivals, the “White Nights”
art festivals, yoga master classes, jazz dancing lessons, poetry
readings and many other activities for a diverse group of people.
Nikolayevsky Palace holds special performances of Russian folk
dances and songs everyday, so make sure you don’t miss out!
Great Shopping and Fine Food
Walking around a shopping mall in St. Petersburg is a tourist
attraction in itself, you could actually get lost. With the hundreds
of shops to explore that would not be a very bad thing. There
are shops that a known throughout Russia and beyond. Dom Knigi
(Book House); Eliseevsky supermarket, where the chandeliers are
said to be made of gold; the Gostiny Dvor and Passage malls, etc.
There are also supermarket chains throughout the city selling
everything from cherry yogurt to car tires. A great selection
of souvenirs is available from art and book stores. Don’t
miss out on some classic Russian souvenirs: Matreshka dolls, china,
red and black caviar, and amber.
For when you are in need of a well earned break from shopping
St. Petersburg offers a wide variety of Russian and international
restaurants representing every type of cuisine. For a truly authentic
Russian dining experience, the Elki-palki and Podvorye taverns
are recommended.
Ancient & Modern
The first buildings that make up modern-day St. Petersburg were
constructed near the Peter and Paul Fortress 300 years ago. The
city grew unbelievably fast, from the Alexander Nevsky monastery
being founded to the Admiralty and the shipyard being built.
On the left bank of the river a summer palace for Peter the Great
was constructed by architect D. Trezzini. Around the palace, the
Summer Gardens were planted and separated by the Swan Canal from
the Big Meadow, or Amusement Field (today the Field of Mars),
where festivities and fireworks were held to honour war victories.
St. Petersburg is also the birthplace of famous chemist Dmitry
Mendeleev and writer Fyodor Dostoevsky. The city was the seat
of power during the reign of the last Emperor of Russia, Nikolas
II. And it is the birthplace of Russia’s present-day president
Vladimir Putin, the place where he studied and embarked on his
career.
Top 10 attractions
St. Petersburg Top 10 – don’t miss
• World-famous Heritage Museum - Put together throughout
two centuries and a half, the Hermitage collections of works of
art include more than 3,000,000 items.
• Russian Museum - The State Russian Museum is the world’s
largest museum of Russian art.
• St. Isaac’s Cathedral - The dome of St. Isaac’s
Cathedral dominates the skyline of St. Petersburg and its gilded
cupola can be seen glistening from all over the city.
• Peter & Paul Fortress - When Peter the Great re-conquered
the lands along the Neva River in 1703, he decided to build a
fort to protect the area.
• Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood - This marvellous
Russian-style church was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander
II was assassinated in March 1881.
• “White nights” arts festival and Russian Ballet
in the Mariinsky Theatre - The opera and ballet companies are
famous world wide.
• Summer Garden – Visitors pass by the Summer Palace,
the marvellous marble statues and the pond.
• White nights Canal and River Tours
• Suburban Royal Residences (including Perterhof with great
fountains)
• The Amber Room in Tsarskoe Selo |
