Saint Petersburg, Russia

The second largest city in Russia after Moscow is also the 4th largest city in Europe. Wherever you say Saint Petersburg, the city is located 715 kilometers further from Moscow, where the Neva River meets the Baltic Sea. St Petersburg, a European city with a population of nearly five million, was the capital of Russia until 1917. It was established by the unification of exactly 42 islands. The city, which has changed names 3 times since its establishment, is also known as Petrograd and Leningrad. Each name has a different story. St. Petersburg was renamed from Russia’s most important military leader and tsar Peter I.  Peter I, St. Petersburg is the proper founder.

The city was established as a fortress against possible attacks from Scandinavia. Petersburg is important in this respect. Due to the fact that Russia was at war with Germany during World War I, St. Petersburg, the city was named Petrograd. After the communist revolution, the city was named Leningrad in honor of the Russian socialist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, during the reign of Boris Yeltsin, the city regained its first name, Saint Petersburg. The city started to be established in 1703 and was built with the work of thousands of workers and artists. It is said that many people died during the construction phase that lasted for many years. A large number of canals and bridges were built in the city, which was completed with the work of architects and engineers specially brought from Europe. There are still 95 canals and 400 bridges in the city today. 21 of these bridges can be opened and closed.

There are so many places to see in the city that you cannot finish it no matter how long you visit. With its palaces, fountains, statues, and churches, it was built with even the smallest detail in mind, and this city was designed to be imposing with the West. The city, where two months of white nights are experienced every year and longing for the sun to set in this period, is a favorite of tourists with this feature. The sun that rises at 03:00 on white nights sets at 24:00, but full nightfall is never experienced. This event, which is a complete natural beauty, adds different magic to the city. The city, which is the center of attention with its historical and artistic works, is also included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.

Hermitage Museum:

Museum, Çariçe II. It was founded by Katerina in 1764 in the Winter Palace of the Royal Family, with fountains and paintings of German painters brought from Berlin. It has become one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, with the largest painting collection in the world today, home to nearly 3 million works of art. The oldest carpet in the world is also exhibited here.

Russian State Museum:

Opened in 1895 in the Mihail Palace built between 1819-1825, it is a must-visit place to learn about Russian culture, where Russian Artworks are collected. The closing time of the museum is 13:00 and the closing time is 21:00.

Mariinsky Theater:

The world-famous Kirov Ballet performs here. Since the tickets of the opera or ballet performances are sold out immediately, it is important to buy them in advance and pay attention to the necessity of a suit or evening dress.

Dostoyevsky Museum:

It was restored and turned into a museum to commemorate the home life and achievements of the famous writer, the Brothers Karamazov.

Tsarskoye Selo:

It was built as a summer palace by Catherine the Great, and later made more magnificent by her daughter Elizabeth, it was severely damaged during the Second World War and returned to its good old days after repairs. The surrounding cathedrals and the 5660-acre Katerina park are worth seeing.

Petergof Palace:

Founded by Peter the Great, it is the first palace built outside of Petersburg. It took a long time to complete because he wanted a palace that could rival the Palace of Versailles, which he could reach by sea. The Great Waterfall surrounded by fountains, the Fountain of Neptune and the Peter and Paul Cathedral must be seen.

St. Isaac’s Cathedral:

Built in 1818, the cathedral is the largest domed structure in the world. 100 kg in the dome. It has gold plating and it is necessary to climb two hundred and sixty two steps for a magnificent city view. This is one of the most magnificent cathedrals in the Orthodox world. The city awaits you with all its beauty, with the Neva River, the Hermitage Museum and the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Dvortsovaya Ploshchad (Palace Square):

It is one of the first places to stop by. It is considered the heart of the city. In the middle is the Alexander Column placed in 1834.

Menshikov Palace:

It is one of the first stone buildings of the city. It was built as a home for the city’s first governor, Prince Alexander Menshikov, today it is part of the Ermitage museum.

Smolny Cathedral:

It is one of the most magnificent works of Bartolomeo Rastrelli. It hosts periodically concerts with its magnificent acoustics.

Pushkin Museum:

The museum house, where the poet Alexander Pushkin was wounded in a duel with the French nobleman Gerges d’anthes and turned into blood, was restored in its appearance.