THE NORTHERN VENICE

he Northern Venice, the          later almost all them were filled
Northern Palmira – both         up because of the sanitary
these nicknames belong to       precautions. However a lot of
the second biggest city in Russia     rivers, canals and other water
and its former capital – Saint        arteries cross the city, creating
Petersburg. The city is also          not only convenient transport
called the Northern capital of        ways but also perfect places for
Russia and it’s still very            water walking – Moika, Fontanka,
important cultural, scientific        Griboedov canal are always full
and art center of the country.        of walking boats, small cutters.
                                      Neva River connecting Ladoga lake
Saint Petersburg was founded on       and the gulf of Finland, is one
the marshes on the shore of the       of the major rivers in the
Gulf of Finland in 1703 by the        country, although it’s not long –
tsar Peter the Great. At first he     only 74 kilometers. From May to
built Peter and Paul fortress as      October motor ships cruise to
a defense against Russia’s main       Valaam in Lagoda lake and to more
rival of the time – Sweden. Then      distant parts of Russia.
Peter decided to transfer capital
to Saint-Petersburg from Moscow.      A period from May to October is
Many beautiful palaces and the        the best time to visit Saint
mansions of the nobility were         Petersburg – it’s warm then and
built. Lots of them still can be      moreover, it’s the period of the
seen and admired.                     so-called “white nights” when sun
                                      shines almost till midnight. The
Its nickname “the Northern            brightest opportunity to watch
Venice” city received due to the      this natural phenomenon is given
big amount of canals. Peter the       in June. It’s also a chance to
Great created a wide canal net on     witness a prestigious festival of
the Vasilievskii Island, but          arts called (guess how?) – “White

nights”.                              clubs and restaurants you could
                                      have think that you somewhere in
To continue a topic of art and        the XIX century.
culture we can’t avoid mentioning
Mariinskii theatre – a symbol of      During the last year the cit got
Russian ballet and opera. One of      acquainted with the problem
the world greatest art museums –      Russia didn’t suffer till now –
Hermitage is located in the very      traffic jams. The main street –
centre of Saint Petersburg – on       Nevskii prospect stands almost
the Palace Square. It’s housed in     motionless. One more trend – last
the Winter Palace – the former        years in Saint Petersburg many
residence of the Russian Tsars        boutiques and designer’s shops
and the place from where the          appeared. People have become
revolution of 1917 began. This        wealthier and western companies
museum boasts the incomparable        didn’t fail to react. The amount
collections of the art                of the western tourists has also
masterpieces of the past and          increased and very significantly.
present.

City government is trying to safe     Saint Petersburg is considered to
the authentic image of the centre     be the most European city in
of the city – there are no tall       Russia. Anyway, it’s unique – so,
towers, modern office building.       the summer is close, reserve your
If there were no advertisement        tour to this city now!
and bright neon lights of the

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The Northern Venice