Location and Climate

Saint-Petersburg stands on the Neva River, on the coast of the Finnish Gulf of the Baltic Sea. The city is situated 60 degrees northern latitude. South of Alaska and Greenland. Stockholm, Oslo, and Helsinki are located at the same latitude.
The climate is humid with frequent fogs and rains. The weather is quite changeable. Rains fall often, and it is not very hot, even in summer. The average temperature in summer is about 16 C, while in winter it falls to -8 C. The maximum temperature in summer raises up to +27 degrees, but it does not happen very often. From the end of May till the middle of July visitors enjoy magnificent White Nights of Saint-Petersburg.

History

Saint-Petersburg was founded in 1703 by the outstanding Russian Emperor Peter the First. Peter the First decided to build several fortresses on Neva River, as the war with Sweden was approaching. Schluesselburg, Kronstadt and Peter and Paul Fortresses were the main fortresses around which the city was later built. On May 16, 1703 the six-bastion Peter and Paul fortress was ceremonially laid on the Zayachy Island on the Neva River. This fortress was located in a strategically important place from both geographical and commercial points of view. It was the first building of the new city.
The city was rapidly expanding. They say that Saint-Petersburg was built “on the bones”, as too many people died in the course of it’s construction. In 1710 the Capital of Russia was transferred from Moscow to St. Petersburg. In 1712 the Tsar Family and the government bodies moved to city.
Peter the Great had an idea of creating a well-planned city with clear layout and designs. Jean Batist Leblon was the architect who developed the general layout of Saint-Petersburg. Domenico Tresini designed the buildings of the Summer Palace of Peter the Great and the Building of the Twelve Boards, that appeared to be of the greatest importance for the city development and ideology. An outstanding sculptor and architect Rastrelli also worked in the city. During that initial period such buildings as the Menshikov Palace and the Kunstkamera Natural History Museum had been constructed. Joint efforts of these architects resulted into the specific style of Saint-Petersburg architecture.
After the death of Peter the Great in 1725 development of the city became less rapid. Saint-Petersburg was a child of Peter the First, while his opponents did not intend to allow the strengthening of the city. The opponents of Peter the Great’s reforms moved the capital back to Moscow. In 1730 Empress Anna ascended the throne and the capital moved to the city again. During her reign the city’s main streets (Nevsky Prospect, Median Prospect (now Gorokhovaya street), and Voznesensky Prospect) and the city centre were completed..
Empress Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1741. She was the supporter of Peter’s ideas.

The reign of Empress.

Under Empress Catherine II (1762 - 1796) many new beautiful palaces in a new classicism style, art centres, trade houses, enterprises and the main cathedrals were built in Saint-Petersburg. At that time the Russian baroque style of Saint-Petersburg was created and realized in the designs of the Winter Palace, Smolny Monastery (Rastrelli), and St. Nicolai Church (Chevakinsky).
After the victory over Napoleon’s troops in 1812 many historical monuments including the Mikhaylovsky Palace, Alexandrinsky Theater, The Senate building and Triumphal Arch were built. The complex of the Palace Square was completed with the Alexander Column, and the biggest cathedral in Russia, the St. Isaac Cathedral was erected in the Isaac Square by architect Montferrand.
Under Nicolai I architect Stakenschneider came to work in Saint-Petersburg. He created the Mariinsky Palace in the Isaac Square, the Nicolaevsky Palace, etc. These trends in the city development were followed during the reign of Emperor Alexander III (1881-1894). During the WWI, in 1914, Saint-Petersburg was renamed Petrograd as the previous name of the city sounded German.
The October Revolution inspired by the Bolsheviks headed by Lenin on November 6-7 1917 led to changes in the political system in Russia. The Bolsheviks renamed the city into Leningrad "to immortalize Lenin’s name". The Civil War and the mess in economy followed these events. Private property was nationalized. Saint-Petersburg became more of a industrial city.
The Great Patriotic War with Nazi Germany was the hardest time for the whole country and particularly for Saint-Petersburg. According to Hitler’s plan, Leningrad was supposed to be demolished. The Blockade of Leningrad was the most tragic period for the city during the World War II. It lasted about 900 days – from September 08, 1941 till January 27, 1944. Many people died during the blockade and the city was almost ruined. The restoration works started right after the war. During 50s and 60s the city was rebuilt and major restoration works finished.
In 1960-1980s the city was under reconstruction. During the Soviet times Victory Square, Oktyabrsky Concert Hall, Yubileiny Palace of Sport, Pulkovo Airport etc. were built.

Modern Saint-Petersburg

After the perestroika and introduction of the market economy the government bodies and economic policy of Saint-Petersburg experienced big changes. In 1991 the name of Saint-Petersburg was returned to the city. In 1994 St.Petersburg became the place of the Good Will Games. After the UNESCO decision, St.Petersburg is a Monument of the Works Culture. In 2003 Saint-Petersburg celebrates it’s 300-year anniversary. The territory of the city and the suburbs is about 1500 sq km with about 4,800,000 people living in the city.
St. Petersburg is one of the most famous Russian cities. Called “Northern Venice”, it has dozens of attractions. Apart from historical buildings and beautiful canals, you can see many museums, churches and other interesting places. Visit the Peter and Paul Fortress, then cross the river to see the statue of Peter the Great. Cross the street and have a look at St. Isaac’s Cathedral and choose one of the following sights to visit at the end of the day.

The Hermitage and The Russian Museum – very well-known museums housing variety of collection (sculpture, paintings, glass, jewellry etc).
Alexander Column – The famous column in the middle of Palace Square near the Winter Palace
Church of Saviour on the Blood - Beautiful church in the middle of St. Petersburg built after the murder of Russian Emperor Alexander II
Bronze Horseman - Monument to Peter the Great, founder of St. Petersburg.
Pushkin Museum – museum houses personal belongings of famous Russian poet
St. Isaac’s Cathedral - Once the largest church in Russia.
Mikhailovsky Palace – The palace of Emperor Pavel I .
Yusupov Palace – The place where Rasputin was murdered.
Dostoevsky Memorial Museum – Museum of Feodor Dostoevsky, one of the famous Russian writers
See the following article for entertainment in Saint-Petersburg.

Evgeniya Stroganova