The former capital of Russia built by Peter the Great and known as The Imperial City, St. Petersburg is a great walking city with impressive royal architecture earning it a designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A must-see is the palatial Hermitage Museum, a massive treasure trove of art and antiques that rivals the Louvre as one of the great museums of the world. Other sights include the imposing Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, with its colorful onion-domed cupolas covered in gold and mosaics, and the impressive fountains and gardens of Peterhof Palace. Just 40 minutes outside the city is Catherine Palace, an astounding Rococo palace that was the summer residence of the czars.
The former capital of Russia built by Peter the Great and known as The Imperial City, St. Petersburg is a great walking city with impressive royal architecture earning it a designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A must-see is the palatial Hermitage Museum, a massive treasure trove of art and antiques that rivals the Louvre as one of the great museums of the world. Other sights include the imposing Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, with its colorful onion-domed cupolas covered in gold and mosaics, and the impressive fountains and gardens of Peterhof Palace. Just 40 minutes outside the city is Catherine Palace, an astounding Rococo palace that was the summer residence of the czars.