Russia: Saint Petersburg: History of St. Petersburg

While many people know that St. Petersburg was once the capital of Russia and has since been replaced by Moscow, they may not be aware of the fact that close by this colorful city are fascinating historical landmarks and monuments. These days, future visitors to the former Soviet Union who want to learn more about St. Petersburg can go to the World Wide Web for many resources on this city and its important place in Russian history.

Near St. Petersburg is the Czarskoe Selo, also called the Czar's Village, where tourists can see the spectacle of two palaces where Russian nobility lived in the 1700s. The Catherine Palace, built in the 1750s for Czarina Elizabeth and named for her mother, Catherine I, was later remodeled by Catherine II, who is better known as Catherine the Great. The Alexander Palace was built in the late 1700s by Catherine the Great for her grandson, Czar Alexander I and was passed on to Russia's last czar, Nicholas Romanov II, in 1894. Today, both palaces have been restored for public viewing.

Aside from these structural marvels, St. Petersburg itself features many dazzling tourist attractions, including Hermitage Art Museum, the Kazan Cathedral, and Gostiny Dvor, a bazaar on Nevsky Prospect, the main shopping boulevard. Another site worth visiting is Peter and Paul Fortress, which is full of ice cream and souvenir vendors, outdoor art classes for children, and a cathedral where the Romanov family has been laid to rest. Among the top accommodations in St. Petersburg are the Pribaltiyskaya Hotel, the Sheraton Nevskij Palace Hotel, and the Brasserie restaurant in the Grand Hotel Europe. For more information on St. Petersburg, interested parties should venture to the Internet, where they will find several materials on this historic city and its regional tourist attractions.