Welcome to Saint-Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a phenomenon of world culture. Being one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it was created by the talent of Russian people and magnificent architects both from Russia and Europe. Its captivating architecture ensembles, the beautiful bridges, railings, embankments of the Neva river and the numerous canals, the palaces and parks - all these impress anybody who comes here.

Starting in 1712, St. Petersburg was the capital of the Russian Empire. The city had its triumphs and its tragedies: in the 18th century - from the first humble huts to the brilliant reign of Catherine II, in the 19th century - from serfdom to industrial, financial and cultural upsurge, and in the 20th century - from the great ideas and illusions of the socialist revolution, through the great feat of the defenders of Leningrad during the siege of World War II, until, after the fall of Communism in 1991, the city regained the name given to it at its birth.

Today St. Petersburg is a large industrial, transport, scientific and cultural centre of Russia, with a population of 5 m. people. It covers 620 sq. km on 42 islands, formed by the Neva and its arms, and it has grown until it reaches the coast of the Gulf of Finland.

The great Russian poet Pushkin called St. Petersburg the window into Europe. The city is ready for cooperation and development. Every day dozens of businessmen from the East and the West come here to get to know the city better and to establish business contacts. St. Petersburg is one of the largest centres of world tourism, with European standards of service,and with an enormous infrastructure for holidaymaking and entertainment. It is the city of festivals and congresses, holidays on the Neva river, regattas on the Gulf of Finland and in the Baltic.

F. Dostoyevsky said: "Beauty will save the world." St. Petersburg is beauty at every step. The best way to find it out is to come here.

Saint-Petersburg can be named the tourist capital of Russia, as a tourist attraction this city leaves the capital Moscow behind.

The unique architectural harmony and elegance of one from the most beautiful cities in the world have hymned by poets and musicians, also have rated highly by historians, architects, fine arts experts. The historical center of Saint-Petersburg and palaces and parks of its suburbs were included in the Unesco world heritage list.

St Petersburg is a relatively young city by world standards, and was only founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great on the flat and marshy shores of the Neva River at the place where it flows into the Gulf of Finland. Despite its short life so far, Petersburg has a rich and exciting history. For 200 years of its life the city was the capital of Russia.

The city's been labeled "The Venice of the North" to underscore the perfection of architecture and amazing harmony and its many canals and rivers. There are more than 90 rivers, canals with a total spread of over 300 km. The Neva River is the main water-way and at the same time the shortest river among the big rivers of Europe (74 km). This very beautiful but fast-flowing river can flood the city in the period from September to December. There have been more than 300 floods during the life of the city.

The city on the Neva River has an advantageous geographic location, it's the center of transport-, trade- and other communications. It is the biggest sea and river port of Russia, through which Baltic Sea connects with the Black and Caspian seas, North Ocean. Airways from Britain, Scandinavian countries go through Saint-Petersburg to the East to Indochina and Japan. 12 railways and 11 auto ways go through the city.

The climate is maritime, damp and mild with frequent rains. Cities on the shore of the Gulf of Finland as Tallinn and Helsinki are quite similar to climate conditions of Saint-Petersburg. The famous "White nights" start on 25th May and end on 20th July. June 21th-22th are the longest days (18 hours 53 minutes). But whether you chose to visit this city in the snowy Russian winter or during "The White Nights" of the summer months, you will be spellbound by St. Petersburg's culture and beauty.