~ Top 10 Attractions to Visit in St Petersburg, Russia ~

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Top 10 Attractions to Visit in St Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia, picturesquely located along the eastern shore of the Gulf of Finland. Presently, Saint Petersburg is a major cultural and historical center, where you can find a plenty of Baroque and Neoclassical buildings, monuments and many other historic landmarks. A sophisticated network of water canals and a port, which is a main transportation hub on the Baltic Sea, transform the city of Saint Petersburg into a modern and thriving urban area that offers incredible conditions for vacation or living. Indeed, you may need much more than a whole vacation to enjoy everything in the city, because there are almost countless sights and interesting amusements. However, the Top 10 attractions to visit in St. Petersburg are next.


1. The State Hermitage
 


The State Hermitage museum is a very appealing stop to include in your travel list in St. Petersburg. The State Hermitage museum is one of the biggest art museums in the world and consists of several buildings and park areas. Among the museum, you can come across hundreds of art objects, exhibitions and culture sights, including Neoclassical and Impressionist paintings, Egyptian and classical antiquities, ceramics, sculptures and many other historic and modern items. The buildings of the State Hermitage museum also offer an incredible exterior. With an architectural style from the middle of 19th century, the facades, the colours and the ornaments of the buildings of the State Hermitage museum are definitely very impressive sights to witness.

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2. Peter and Paul Fortress



Surrounded by water, the Peter and Paul Fortress is another interesting attraction to visit. Moreover, the fortress was built on an island along the Neva River to defend the city during the beginning of the 18th century. Presently, you can touch to the history of St. Petersburg through numerous buildings and monuments, situated among the tall defensive walls. The Peter and Paul Cathedral is the main sight, which is dominated by a 123 meters tall tower. Other impressive buildings on the island are the St. Petersburg Museum of History and the Grand Ducal Mausoleum, while the green parks and recreation sites are best for a relaxing walk, for example. Indeed, you will be captivated by the Baroque architecture of the cathedral, which takes a very central place.

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3. Peterhof Palace



The Peterhof Palace is a very inspiring place, located along the westernmost section of the city`s coast. The Peterhof Palace is a magical composition of green parks, colourful gardens, majestic palaces and splendid fountains. Thus, you will be inspired even just by the views to the entrance, where are situated numerous gold ornamented statues, which are actually fountains. The Grand Cascade is dominated by the majestic view of the Grand Peterhof Palace on a background, which provides a very remarkable and unforgettable sight to take a picture. Then, you will be seduced by the Lower or the Upper Gardens, whose colours and arrangement offer a consoling and a very captivating feeling. Overall, the Peterhof Palace is an extremely tempting attraction, but in all cases - don`t forget your camera as well.

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4. Catherine Palace
 


The Catherine Palace is definitely a very majestic and inspiring sight to visit. Located in the city of Tsarskoye Selo, this huge palace was dedicated to Catherine I of Russia and, presently, the Catherine Palace is one of the most captivating sights nearby the town of Saint Petersburg. Among picturesque gardens and decorated landscapes, you can come across the inspiring white and blue facades of this summer palace. Moreover, the Rococo architectural style of the exterior is complemented by numerous gold ornaments, pilasters, statues and many other masterpieces. Among the interior, you can come across even a more spectacular atmosphere. The ballroom and the Great Hall are stunning, while numerous Baroque elements, gold ornaments, massive windows, ceilings, frescoes and many other pieces of art, create a really captivating and joyful environment.

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5. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
 


The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is a very colourful and historic attraction in St. Petersburg. First, thanks to its incredible Russian-Revival architectural style, including granite, complex mosaics, carvings, art works and many other ornaments. Moreover, atop the church are situated huge and multi-coloured domes, to create one of the most famous and distinctive attractions among the cityscape. You can also enjoy the interior, which is even much more impressive. A plenty of mosaics, plaques, icons and many other sights, transform the church into another must-see place. After an excited visit of the church, arguably the best place for relaxation is situated just behind - the Mikhailovsky garden.

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6. Smolny Convent
 


The Smolny Convent is a huge cathedral, picturesquely situated along the western shore of the River Neva in central St. Petersburg. The Smolny Convent is a major attraction, thanks to its beautiful Baroque and Neoclassical architectural style, white-blue coloured facades and scenic domes with gold ornaments. Other remarkable sights to witness are the buildings around the monastery, whose bell towers are finished with scenic small domes. Among the Smolny Convent you can come across an exhibition and a concert hall. Plus, between the boundaries and the cathedral is situated a large courtyard, which is best for a relaxing walk, for example. Overall, the Smolny Convent is a place not to miss.

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7. Saint Isaac's Cathedral
 


The Saint Isaac's Cathedral is another quintessential attraction to visit during a trip in St. Petersburg. Indeed, this is the biggest Russian Orthodox Church, which is a very remarkable landmark, thanks to a very impressive neoclassical exterior. Over 100 granite columns, as well as a number of statues and ornaments form a very distinctive facade, which is dominated by a huge and gold-ornamented central dome. Through a bronze door, you can enjoy even the more impressive interior of the Cathedral. A plenty of mosaics, granites and marble carvings, reliefs, iconostasis, chapels and many other interesting art works deliver an unforgettable experience. Moreover, right in front the cathedral is located a picturesque garden, which is best for relaxation.

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8. The Summer Garden
 


During a vacation in Saint Petersburg, make sure to enjoy a relaxing and captivating walk among the scenery of the Summer Garden. Escape awhile to this quaint and scenic park and enjoy an absolutely relaxation away from the noisy streets of the city center. Moreover, the Summer Garden is a place for inspiration, thanks to a wide variety of white sculptures and statues, which border the walkways. Sit on one of the numerous picturesque benches and enjoy the sun`s rays, passing through the crown of the trees. The refreshing humid air leaves you open-minded, while in the wintertime, the Summer Garden is an irresistible place for playing with snowballs, for example.

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9. Vasilievsky Island



The Vasilievsky Island is located at the mouth of the Neva River, south of the Petrogradsky Island. This is another interesting place to visit, because on the Vasilievsky Island you can come across a plenty of historic and cultural landmarks, as well as numerous scenic parks and recreation sites. Some of the most impressive buildings date from the 18th century and are concentrated among the eastern section of the island. Common examples are the Menshikov Palace, the St. Andrew's Cathedral and the Kunstkamera museum. From there, the Vasilievsky Island is connected to the mainland via two picturesque bridges - the Palace Bridge and the Blagoveshchensky Bridge, which offer incredible views to the cityscape and the Neva River, especially during the night.

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10. Pavlovsk Palace



At the southern side of the city of Tsarskoe Selo is situated another impressive palace - the Pavlovsk Palace. This Neoclassical architectural achievement was a summer palace, dedicated to the Emperor Paul I, while the large and scenic garden was the best place for hunting. Indeed, the park area around the palace is a very quiet and relaxing place, where you can find lakes and rivers on both sides of the palace, vast meadows, gorgeously decorated gardens and tall green trees with walking paths. Then, the exterior of the Pavlovsk Palace is also unique and consists of white-yellow soft pastel colors and hues, columns and a dome-like roof. Inside the palace are situated several halls with different decorations and motifs, as well as an art gallery and many other exciting rooms. In general, the Pavlovsk Palace is definitely a very interesting attraction to visit, located only 25 kilometers southeast of Saint Petersburg.


St. Petersburg is one of the modern cities of Russia, which tempts with a unique architecture, a fabulous historical background and an irresistible charm. A relaxing vacation, a romantic getaway or just an impromptu trip - the city of Saint Petersburg offers a perfect fit for everyone to enjoy an unforgettable experience. Moreover, make it a very special experience through these amazing Top 10 attractions to visit in St. Petersburg.