"VictoriaM.'s new St.Petersburg Page " a Saint Petersburg Travel Page by VictoriaM.

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St.Petersburg (known as Petrograd in 1914-1924 and as Leningrad in 1924-1991), the northern
capital of Russian Federation, the seaport, the administrative centre of Leningrad region, one of
the most beautiful cities in the world, was founded by Russian tsar Peter the Great on the small
Zayachy island in the mouth of the Neva river as a fortress on May 27, 1703. The city became the
capital of Russia in 1712 up to 1918 when the capital was transfered back to Moscow. The
northern geografical location of St.Petersburg (the same latitude as Greenland, Alaska and
Chukotka) explains the white nights from June 11 up to July 2 when the sun sets only 9 degrees
below the horizon and the faint twilight gradually turns into the dawn. The city was built by the
most famous Russian and European architects and nicknamed "the Babylon of the Snows" and
"the Venice of the North". The present city is a large industrial, transport, scientific and cultural
centre of Russia with a territory of 620 sq.km and a population of 5 million. The Petropavlovskaya
Fortress is a remarkable , historical and architectural memorial in St.Petersburg. The Winter
Palace, designed by Rastrelli in the 18th century, the former residence of Russian tsars, located
on the Palace Square, is one of the most beautiful architectural ensembles in the world. The
Hermitage with its collection of over 2,5 million exhibits is one of the very finest world art
museums. The Russian Museum contains 3 thousand paintings (10th-20th centuries) of Russian
artists. The St.Isaac's Cathedral (1818-1858) is an outstanding monument of the late Russian
Classicism. The majestic architectural ensembles in the suburbs are well-known all over the
world. Peterhof or Petrodvorets - the former Russian imperial residence, Pavlovsk (18-19th
centuries), Pushkino (18-19th centuries) - the former country residence of the Russian tsars, are
among them.

By Foot
St. Petersburg is known to be a great
city for walking -- and this is indeed
true, provided the weather holds up and
it isn't getting dark at 4 in the afternoon.
Nevsky Prospect is the main drag, and
most places in the center are only a
half-hour's stroll away.
Not far from the top end of Nevsky you
can explore several famous squares,
including: Dvortsovaya Ploshchad
(Palace Square), flanked by the Winter
Palace, which houses the Hermitage
Museum; Dekabristov Ploshchad
(Decembrist Square), where that popular
Petersburg landmark the Bronze
Horseman rears its famous head; and
don't forget glorious St. Isaac's Square,
home to St. Isaac's Cathedral and, of
course, the St. Petersburg Times office.
Letny Sad (the Summer Gardens) is
perhaps the nicest of the garden and
park areas, originally designed as a
quiet place of contemplation and meditation. Mars Field and the Mikhail Gardens, near
the Russian Museum and the looming onion domes of the Church of the Resurrection,
are similarly attractive. There is also Tavrichesky Sad, near Chernashevskaya metro
station, which is well worth exploring.
The Strelka, at the eastern end of Vasilevsky Island, is an interesting place to wander and
boasts one of the better views of the Peter and Paul Fortress -- located across the water
on Zayachy Island, also a nice walking area with parks and a zoo nearby.

Further away from the city are several nice old tsarist palaces, surrounded by lavish
gardens -- the most popular being located at Petrodvorets, Pushkin, and Pavlovsk. Good
places for picnics and favorite weekend getaways for locals and tourists alike.
By Metro
While not quite the subterranean museum boasted by the capital, St. Petersburg's metro
system is none too shabby and highly recommended -- not to mention deep, deep, deep!
(It seems St. Petersburg's soggy soil was found unfit for such massive underground
constructions -- the solution decided upon was to just keep digging.) Trains are
generally fast and reliable -- with clocks that record the time elapsed since the last train's
departure, rarely more than a 2- or 3-minute wait. A single token (zheton) runs 5 rubles
(about 20 cents), and a selection of multi-trip cards that work out cheaper per journey
can also be bought -- including one month or half-month passes.

The metro opens around 6 a.m. and closes at 12 midnight -- though you only have to
make it through the turnstiles by this time as the trains themselves run a bit longer.
Construction ("remont") causes problems for a few stations. Metro Pionerskaya closes
down a couple of hours a day during weekdays (schedules are posted at the station),
and connections have yet to be made between some of the newer, outer stations,
including between Lesnaya and Ploshchad Muzhestva on the red line.
By Taxi
While much will depend upon the strength of your Russian, a short 10-15 minute taxi ride
in the city center in a car hailed on the street generally runs from 30 rubles to 90 rubles
($1-$3), though a bit more late at night. Best to agree on fares up front. You can call to
order an official taxi -- perhaps a safer bet if you are traveling by yourself late at night --
by calling Petersburg Taxi at 068, 4th Taxi Park at 265 13 33, or any of a multitude of
private taxi companies.
The Bridges
Finally, if you're thinking of relying on transport other than the Metro (which you will
have to do if you are much of a night owl), one note you will want to remember is
BEWARE THE BRIDGES -- which are raised at night at varying times to let boats
through. Stories abound of people being marooned all night in bars & discos -- with their
respective bridges only to open in the wee-hours of the morning. And while this
provides for colorful conversation at times, it can get old...

Schedule (double check for updated times/changes in arrival) -- The following bridges
(mosty) will be open and inaccessible at these times:
Most Alexander Nevskogo: 2:35 - 4:50 a.m.
Liteyny Most: 2:10 - 4:40 a.m.
Bolshoy Okhtinsky Most: 2:45 - 4:45 a.m.
Dvortsovy Most: 1:35 - 3:05 and 3:15 - 4:45 a.m.
Troitsky Most: 2:00 - 4:40 a.m.
Tuchkov Most: 2:20 - 3:10 and 3:40 - 4:40 a.m.
Most Leytenanta Shmidta: 1:55 - 4:50 a.m.
Most Birzhevoy: 2:25 - 3:10 and 3:40 - 4:40 a.m.
The bridges are not a problem in the wintertime -- when the river is frozen and impassable
to boats, making raising the bridges unnecessary. However, there are a few tales to the
contrary. Schedules also may change during the White Nights season around
midsummer.