Sights

ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS of St. Petersburg is the fantastic architecture and landscaping that abounds in the city center. The city was planned and built with the help of leading architects from all over the world, and the result is an eclectic mix of European and traditional Russian styles. Petersburg reminds some visitors of Rome, others of Paris, still others of Venice, Vienna, or Amsterdam. Elements of all these cities are here, yet at the same time it resembles none. You can spend weeks wandering around the center of the city and still find something new at every corner. Though the most convenient way to see the major sights is by car or transport, a good walk around Petersburg's older regions will give you more time to take in the wondrous sights.

People who appreciate Petersburg's fine architecture should thank Josef Stalin that the historic city center has survived as well as it has. Other Russian cities, notably Moscow, had their architectural bases uprooted and replaced by big Stalinist-style buildings typical of mid-century Soviet architecture. Petersburg's palaces and pre-Revolutionary architecture were not systematically taken down and replaced by the type of buildings that abound on Moskovsky Prospekt and Prospekt Stachek ironically due to Stalin's personal hatred of Petersburg. Rather than do the undeserving city the favor of rebuilding it in the style of "developed socialism" he preferred to leave it to rot in peace.

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.