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.

Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg as capital of the Russian empire in 1704. It remained so until 1917 when, after the Russian Revolution, the Communists chose Moscow as the country’s capital. Further, its name was changed in 1918 to Leningrad, so named after the architect of the revolution, Vladimir Lenin. In 1991 the city reverted back to the original name of St. Petersburg.

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 Hermitage’s home, the Winter Palace, has over 1000 rooms and served as home to the tsars including Catherine the Great and Nicolas the Second (the last tsar.) Not the entire palace is accessible to the public. But those rooms that are open as well as the Hermitage will awe any visitor with their grandeur.

Another place you won’t want to miss is the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, one of only four monasteries within Russia. It was named for the Grand Prince, Alexander Nevsky, who defeated invaders from Sweden during the 1200s, and commissioned in 1710 by Tsar Peter the Great. Any visitor seeking a real sense of Russian religious traditions will be able to find that here.

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, Russia is one of the most beautiful crowns found in Russia. It offers something of compelling interest to almost every visitor who opens her doors.

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