Saint Petersburg was founded in 1703 by the first Russian Emperor, Peter I (👑1682–1725) . Between 1712 and 1918, it served as the capital of the Russian state. In 1914, it was renamed Petrograd, and in 1924, Leningrad. The city’s historic name was restored in 1991. Today, it is the second-largest city in Russia after Moscow🏛️
Saint Petersburg is the northernmost major metropolis in the world, often called the “City of White Nights”🌌
The Blue Bridge over the Moika River is the widest bridge in the world. It was constructed in the 19th century based on the design by architect Gesté. The bridge is 97.3 meters wide. Its name appeared after the then-wooden crossing was painted bright blue. The Blue Bridge is a “hidden bridge” that seamlessly integrates into the space of St. Isaac’s Square and almost blends with it🌉
Saint Petersburg is 317 years old, but its oldest monuments are the Egyptian sphinxes on the University Embankment, dating back about 3,500 years. The pink granite sphinxes were discovered during excavations in Thebes, at the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. They were brought to Saint Petersburg thanks to A.N. Muravyov, a traveler and member of the Academy of Sciences, who saw them in Alexandria in 1830🗿
St. Isaac’s Cathedral (built between 1818 and 1858, designed by architect Auguste Montferrand) is the largest cathedral in Russia and the fourth-largest in the world. Among single-dome cathedrals, it is the third largest. St. Isaac’s Cathedral’s colonnade is the most popular and one of the highest observation decks in the city🕍
Saint Petersburg has the deepest metro system in the world. Its tunnels run at a depth of 70–80 meters. The “Admiralteyskaya” station is the deepest in Russia and one of the deepest in the world (~ 86 m)🚇
Saint Petersburg is called the “Northern Venice” because water surfaces occupy about 10% of the city’s total area. This makes it the leader among Russian cities and one of the leaders globally🚤
Saint Petersburg is located on 42 islands and has over 300 bridges, including 21 drawbridges and 24 pedestrian bridges🌊
