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Saint Petersburg
Known as the City of White Nights and by many other names, Saint Petersburg is renowned for being one of the largest economic, cultural and scientific centres of Russia Europe and the entire world.
As the cultural capital of Russia, the museums, galleries and theatres have acquired some of the best masterpieces in art, sculpture and talented musicians and dancers. If you decide to visit this wonderful place, the summer months are when you will be able to experience the white nights with daylight persisting throughout the small hours.
The main attractions (and there are many) not to be missed, start with The State Hermitage Museum. The museum is housed in the Winter Palace and contains 2.7 million exhibits including some of the world’s greatest works of art. You could spend a week dedicated to experiencing all that is on offer.
Second on the list is Peterhof Grand Palace, a beautiful garden dedicated to Peter the Great and still housing more than 80 of the original marble statues. Inside the building, you can see many of the monarch’s original artefacts.
Next on our list is St Isaac’s Cathedral, dominating the city’s skyline, with lavish interior decorations that are open as a museum. Most visitors bypass the museum and climb up the 262 steps to the colonnades at the top for spectacular panoramic views.
The Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood is one of the most dramatic church’s and buildings in Saint Petersburg. Originally known as the Church of Resurrection of Christ, the more colloquial name is in reference to the assassination attempt on Tsar Alexander the second at the church in 1881.
If you’re interested in purely Russian art, head to the Russian museum, displaying pieces from early church icons to 20th century paintings. The Shadow Museum offers a unique experience showing the interplay between light and shadow.
There are a variety of restaurants and eateries, be sure to try out local Russian cuisine. There are many humble cafés offering traditional soups and pancakes. For a more upmarket experience, why not try the Literary Café, a favourite of Russian poet, Pushkin. Why not have lunch at Café Idiot, named after Dostoyevsky’s novel (The Idiot), with a pre-revolutionary setting, they also serve vegetarian versions of traditional Russian food. Whatever you end up seeing and experiencing, it will be memorable in this unforgettable city!
