www.expedia.com/St-Petersburg-and-vicinity.d180029.Destination-Travel-Guides St Petersburg lies around 400 miles to the Northwest of Moscow. Nestled on the Neva River, it spreads out from its banks and across a series of islands that lie within the river delta. With a wealth of extravagant palaces, breathtaking cathedrals and magnificent gardens, St Petersburg is truly Russia’s Imperial city. Carved out of swampland in the early 18th century by Csar Peter the Great, St Petersberg has been gilded by generations of Russian royalty. Over the centuries, this dynasty sought to create a city to rival the greatest cities of Europe, and, as you step onto the cobblestone streets here, you’ll discover they succeeded. Most visitors start their adventures right in the heart of historic St Petersburg. Palace Square is dominated by the Alexander Column and is home to the Winter Palace. This monumental palace is a legacy of Catherine the Great and was designed to reflect the might and power of Imperial Russia. Today it houses the State Hermitage Museum which is one of the world’s oldest and largest museums. Experience some of the country’s most extravagant architecture by strolling along Nevsky Prospect, the city’s main avenue. Visit the Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood, with its extraordinary mosaics,… and Kazan Cathedral, another architectural gem. Further along the river is St Isaac’s cathedral, whose gold plated dome has been glittering under Russia’s sun for more than 100 years. As the sun sets, take a canal cruise to discover the romance of St Petersburg at night. Pass through a network of draw-bridges on a journey that shows the true scale of Peter the Great’s vision. Romantic, opulent and spectacular, St Petersburg is a glittering testiment to Russia’s royal history and a celebration of the power of one man’s dream.

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