DK Travel : St Petersburg

From the pre-revolutionary grandeur of the Hermitage and the Mariinskiy Theatre to the ubiquitous reminders of the country’s Soviet period, St Petersburg is a city where eras, and architectural styles, collide. Blessed with some of the world’s most magnificent skylines, the city has been the inspiration for many of Russia’s greatest writers, from Gogol to Dostoevsky. Known throughout the country as “The Venice of the North”, Russia’s second city is a place of wonder and enigma, of “White Nights” and long, freezing winters.

1. Nevskiy Prospekt

The cultural heart of the city, this area is home to many of the top sights, including the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan (see Nevskiy Prospekt ).
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2. The Hermitage

This opulent former residence of the tsars contains one of the world’s largest art collections, boasting masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo (see The Hermitage ).
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3. Church on Spilled Blood

The twisted, colourful domes of this church make it one of the city’s most famous landmarks (see Church on Spilled Blood ).
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4. Mariinskiy Theatre

Russia is famed for its ballet and opera, and the lavish auditorium of this theatre is the perfect place to witness a performance (see Mariinskiy Theatre ).
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5. Russian Museum

This museum features a wide range of Russian art, including the works of Bryullov and Repin (see Russian Museum ).
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6. Peter and Paul Fortress

The history of the city dates from the founding of the fortress in 1703. It was originally intended to defend the city against Swedish invaders (see Peter and Paul Fortress ).
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7. St Isaac’s Cathedral

The largest church in Russia, the construction of the cathedral took 40 years to complete. Its interiors, such as the detailed ceiling paintings, survived shelling during World War II (see St Isaac’s Cathedral ).
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8. Peterhof

With its Great Palace and magnificent landscaped gardens, Peterhof perfectly encapsulates the extravagance of tsarist Russia. Located 30 km (19 miles) west of St Petersburg, it is the ideal destination for an excursion.
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9. Tsarskoe Selo

A fine example of tsarist architectural grandeur, Tsarskoe Selo, with its lavish imperial palace and beautiful parks, is the perfect place to spend a relaxing day.
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10. Pavlovsk

In 1777, Catherine the Great presented Pavlovsk to her son, the future tsar Paul 1. Today it is a romantic cluster of ruins dotted around a charming palace.
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