A Glance At St Petersburg Russia Travel
Any good travel guide will include a chapter on St Petersburg Russia. In fact there are books that are entirely dedicated to St Petersburg Russia travel. That is because there is so much to see and do in this city on the River Neva. Travel books on this city will be loaded with ideas for sightseeing as well as lists of entertainment, shopping, restaurants and St Petersburg hotel. Before we get into the city's main attractions, let us take a brief look at some of its history.
In the year 1704, St. Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great to be the capital of the Russian Empire. It remained the capital until 1917 after the Russian Revolution. At that time the communists selected Moscow to be the nation's capital city. St. Petersburg's name was changed in 1918 to Leningrad, after Vladimir Lenin, the man behind the revolution. The name St. Petersburg was given back to the city in 1991.
First on virtually every sight-seer's list is the Hermitage, which can be found as part of the Winter Palace. Officially known as the State Hermitage Museum, this jewel is filled with some of the world's finest pieces of art. The original gallery was finished in 1770 and visitors today can explore three floors worth of masterworks from such artists as Leonardo, Matisse, and Rembrandt.
The Winter Palace, home to the Hermitage, comprises one thousand and one rooms and was home to Tsars, from Catherine the Great to the last Tsar, Nicholas the Second. Only a small portion of this palace is open to public visitors, however those rooms accessible by the public, as well as the Hermitage, impart an indelible sense of grandeur upon the visitor.
You also will not want to miss the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. This is one of the four monasteries in Russia. Commissioned in 1710 by Tsar Peter the Great and named for the Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky, this monastery will give a good look into the traditions of Russian religion.
The city also offers lots to see for free. Strolls throughout the city provide spectacular views, numerous statues and plenty of opportunities to "people watch." A couple of spots to check out are the Admiralteyskaya Nab along the River Neva to the west and Summer Gardens to the east.
St. Petersburg is a truly a "must see" in Russia. Any visitor will find something compelling whether historical sites or just the simple beauty of the city.
