The second largest city in Russia, Saint Petersburg has much to offer for the curious travelers. A trip to this city provides over 300 years of intriguing history, celebrated examples of architecture and a fascinating view of Russian culture, so how about knowing those places that shouldn’t be missed when visiting the city.

In a city boasting of over 200 museums, visitors should not miss both the State Hermitage Museum and the Russian Museum. The Hermitage holds the second largest collection of art in the world, after the Louvre in Paris. Housed in the stunning Winter Palace, the museum contains Egyptian and Classical antiquities, artwork from the Italian Renaissance, as well as pieces by famed Impressionists and post-Impressionists, such as Monet, Renoir, Gauguin and Van Gogh.

The Russian Museum, housed partly in Mikhailovsky Palace, is another home to notable artwork. Containing a vast collection of fine art the museum exhibits the works of Russia’s most prominent artists.

Saint Petersburg also has amazing palaces and gardens. The Mikhailovsky Castle’s garden offers a lush environment set along winding pathways with intricate architectural designs dating back to the 1700s. The garden at the Summer Palace is equally stunning with elaborately detailed areas, ornate landscaping and statues from the Renaissance. While Alexander Garden, in the center of the city, covers 865 meters within its decorative and impressive iron gates.

Part of Saint Petersburg’s appeal is its dramatic architecture as evident in the city’s grand cathedrals. Saint Isaac’s Cathedral and its astounding golden dome is not only a house of worship but a symbol of Russia’s strength that has survived the attacks by the Nazi forces during World War II (when the city was known as Leningrad).

Another treat of visual splendor is the Church of the Resurrection, better known as Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood. With both a decadently vibrant facade and a boldly restored interior, the church was built on the 1881 assassination site of Czar Alexander II.

The Square of the Arts allows visitors to witness both the masterful, harmonious design of the city and experience some of its best artistic offerings. In addition to its Classical architecture, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, the Mussorgsky Opera and Ballet Theater, the Ethnographic Museum and Mikhailovsky Palace, among other artistic venues, circle the square. In the center stands the famous statue of Alexander Pushkin.

Saint Petersburg also offers many monuments and landmarks representing the Russian history. Especially worth visiting are the Bronze Horseman, a monument to Peter the Great, city founder, and the monument to Catherine the Great, which includes a likeness of the empress and the most important figures of her time.

Another area not to miss is the Palace Square, the setting of major events in the history of Russia. No other location evokes the spirit of Russian history in the way Palace Square does. This square was home to processions of the Czars, celebrations of Russian imperialists, riotous insurrections of revolutionaries, displays of Soviet loyalty and protests of anti-Communists.

Saint Petersburg is an amazing destination, encapsulating 300 years of Russian history, arts and culture. Put it on your to-visit list!

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