St. Petersburg: Astounding Beauty by Peter the Great

There are few cities in the world that are as magnificent as St. Petersburg, Russia. The city was established by Peter the Great in the 1700s and although it has gone through rapid changes of decline and rebuilding, the city today combines a wonderful European feel with the intriguing Russian history. It is here that you can find the best culture of the country including monuments created by some of the best artists ever on earth including Rastrelly, Montferrand, and Rossi. There’s no doubt that when in St. Petersburg, you will never be at a loss for things to do.

Start your history tour by visiting the cabin that Peter the Great called home. St. Petersburg’s oldest building, it has only three rooms and is built of timber. It may be a far cry from the where world leaders live today but back in 1703 when Peter the Great was building his magnificent city, it was actually quite an abode. Take a tour inside and see how he lived by viewing some of his own personal artifacts as well as furniture within the cabin that was there during his reign. If you want to be witness to some more great architecture you may want to visit Smolnyi Cathedral. This building was also built for Peter the Great’s family as it was initially designed for his daughter Elizabeth. Because she could not inherit the throne, she instead stayed at the monastery which is still attached to the beautiful building. On the other side of the grand cathedral is a convent which is just as beautiful as the monastery.

And if you’re interested in seeing more architecture that was built by Peter the Great, you may choose to visit Petropavlovskaia Krepost or more commonly known as Peter and Paul Fortress. This building epitomizes what St. Petersburg is all about as it encapsulates the history and culture of the city. Here you can also see sights such as the Trubetskii prison, Peter’s Boathouse, and the Mint. Inside the cathedral you can also view the burial places of Peter the Great as well as many other Russian Tsars.

Another grand building that must be seen when in St. Petersburg is Peterhof. This magnificent palace needs at least an entire day dedicated to touring it as you want to make sure you have adequate time to spend at the Grand Cascaden, the golden statues, over the 150 water fountains and many other one of a kind sights in this beautiful building. Another residence that you may want to spend some time at is the home of Catherine the Great, which has been transformed into Ermitazh, or The Hermitage. Catherine the Great had collected four thousand paintings, which are now the main exhibits within the home. Those paintings are just part of the items that you can view here however as there are three million different pieces in total. Don’t feel badly if you don’t know where to begin – simply follow what catches your eye first!

Moscow - massive in size and culture

Many people choose to visit an exotic location on their vacations where they can lounge on the beaches all day and night. However, if you’re looking to come back from your vacation with more than just a suntan and swimmer’s ear, than Moscow may be the place you want to go this year. Not only is this country’s capital massive in size and houses approximately thirteen million people, it is also rich in culture, has some of the best architecture and has an abundance of history that cannot go unacknowledged.

If you’re interested in the history and main sites of this beautiful city, there are many attractions that you won’t want to miss. The Red Square is one of the main attractions of the city although the cobblestone that the square is comprised of is actually black. It is here that you can see St. Basil’s Cathedral, the State History Museum, and Lenin’s Mausoleum. It is at Lenin’s Mausoleum that you can view the body of Lenin that has been embalmed and join in the debate of whether it is actually him or not. Be prepared to leave all camera and recording equipment behind though. You have to actually be there to enjoy this historic site.

The Kremlin is one of the largest sites in Moscow and if you’re in the area, you absolutely must make this one of your stops. Inside the Kremlin lie many different wonderful sites to see. The first is the Diamond Collection, which you can view inside The Armoury. The Conference Center also holds matinee ballets that are all truly beautiful and there are also many churches within the Kremlin. There are actually too many to enjoy all within one day so pick the two or three that seem the most interesting to you and then sit in the garden and study the wonderful architecture of the others.

To see the type of art that originates in Russia, visit the Tretyakov Gallery, which houses some of Moscow’s finest art. You may also want to make Pushkin Museum one of your stops. This museum has mainly Western art with an annex filled with art from both Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. For a museum of a different kind, you may want to visit the Novodevichy Convent, which is not only an actual convent but a fortress as well.

There is plenty of shopping in Moscow specifically, Old Arbat Street. On this famous street you can watch artists, pick up souvenirs, sip on coffee from one of the cafes, or enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants. It may be helpful to learn a few key Russian phrases if you plan on shopping here as the vendors are likely to bargain with you if you can speak their mother tongue. New Arbat Street is very close to the Old and if you’re feeling rich or simply want to see what the rich life is like in Moscow, you will definitely want to stop here. Visit nightclubs and fancy restaurants and taste what the good life here is all about. While you’re in the area, you may also want to check out the McDonald’s on Tverskaya Street but be prepared for a line. This is not only the first McDonald’s in Russia but it is also the busiest restaurant of its kind in the world.