Saint-Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city was founded in May 27, 1703 by Peter the Great. On that day the fortress was laid on Zayachiy Island. Saint-Petesburg was to equal European capitals in splendor and importance. It was the capital of Russian Impire till 1917.

Nowadays it is the Northern capital of Russia known all over the world. Due to its geographical position St.Petersburg enjoys the phenomenon of the "white nights", lasting from May 25 till July 16. The city is famous for its museums (it has about 50 working museums).

THE STATE HERMITAGE MUSEUM is one of the oldest and largest museums in the world. It is located in 5 historical buildings of St.Petersburg, including the Winter Palace - the former winter residence of Russian Tsars. The collections of the Hermitage number over 3 million items from prehistoric to modern times. The museum is especially strong in Italian Renaissance and French Impressionism.

THE STATE RUSSIAN MUSEUM, the former palace of Grand Duke Mikhail, is the largest in the country collection of Russian art, from ancient icons to the Vanguard painting of the XX century.

SAINT ISAAC'S CATHEDRAL is one of the finest architectural monuments of the X1X century. It is the former principal cathedral of Russian capital, the largest cathedral in the city which was able to accommodate about 10,000 audience. The observation platform on the colonnade provides a magnificent view of the city.

STS. PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS is a museum of history of St.Petersburg.. On the grounds of the fortress the visitors can see ancient fortifications, St. Peter and Paul Cathedral with the burial vault of Peter the Great and other Russian tsars, Trubetskoy bastion prison and some permanent exhibitions.

PALACE AND PARK ENSEMBLES OF SAINT-PETERSBURG SUBURBS

TSARSKOYE SELO is a former country residence of Russian emperors. It is an outstanding monument of the world's architectural and gardening arts of the XVŲ-XIX centuries. The compositional center of the ensemble is Catherine's Palace containing exquisite decorative objects, furniture as well as Russian and Western-European paintings etc. Next to the Palace there is Lyceum, an elite school for children of noble families. Famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin attended this school.

PAVLOVSK is a former country residence of the Russian emperor Paul I. It is a remarkable architectural ensemble of the XVIII-XIX centuries surrounded by beautiful parks. The Paul's Palace containing exquisite decorative objects and furniture is open to public.

PETERHOF ENSEMBLE is a former summer residence of Russian tsars. It was built as an answer to Versal. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. On the grounds of the ensemble the visitors can see the Grand Palace, 8 working museums, the Lower park with more than 173 fountains and the Upper park.