Peter the Great founded the Peter & Paul Fortress in 1703. It is the oldest building in Saint
Petersburg. Old pictures of
the fortress. Location on Google map
here. Directly across the Neva from the Peter and Paul Fortress is one of the oldest buildings in Saint Petersburg,
the Admiralty Old picture of
the building.Location on Google map
here. To the west of Admiralty is Senate Square, formerly Decembrists
Square. The statue of riding Peter the Great is situated in the Senate
Square. Old pictures of
the bronze horseman. Location on Google map
here. The first house built in the new Saint Petersburg was the cabin of Peter the Great. He wanted a stone house but he did not have enough money. Instead he painted the walls as if the house would be made of
bricks. Location on Google map
here. On the other side of the river from the wooden cabin of Peter the Great there is the historical summer
garden. Summer in the
park. Autumn in the
park. Winter in the
park. Location on Google map
here. The Winter Palace was built for the daughter of Peter the
Great. It was the main residence of the Russian Tsars. Old
pictures. Today it is part of the Hermitage public
museums. Pictures of
Hermitage. Location on Google map
here. The cape of Vasilievsky Island, the largest island in the Neva, is called Strelka or
Spit. It is situated across the Neva from the Winter Palace. The stock exchange building, the Kunstkamera and two rostral columns with prows of enemy ships are located here. Bourse
in the old days. 360 degrees view of
Strelka. Location on Google map
here. On the southern side of the Winter Palace is the main square of the city, Palace
Square. In the middle of the square stands the Alexander Column, a monument to victory over
Napoleon. Pictures of Palace
Square. Location on Google map
here. A few steps from the Palace Square through the Triumphal
Arch is Nevsky Prospect, the main avenue of Saint
Petersburg. Walking 3 blocks by Bolshaja Morskaya ulitsa starting from the other side of Nevsky Prospect, you are on the St. Isaac Square. St. Isaac's Cathedral is located on
it. Location on Google map
here.On Nevsky you will see Kazan Cathedral or The Cathedral of Our Lady of
Kazan. Old picture of
the Kazan Cathedral. Location on Google map
here. Church on Spilled Blood can be viewed from the bridge over the Kanal Griboyedova on Nevsky
Prospekt. Old picture of
the Church on Spilled Blood. Location on Google map
here. A few steps further on
Nevsky and on the left hand side there is seen the arts
square. On the arts square stands a statue of Alexander Pushkin. The square is surrounded by the Russian
Museum, the Ethnographic
Museum, The Mikhailovsky
Theatre and Grand Hall of St.Petersburg Academic
Philharmonia. Location on Google map
here. 
There are many beautiful palaces close to Nevsky
Prospect. Images of palaces of Saint
Petersburg.Northeast of Nevsky Prospect is the Smolny Institute, Bolshevik headquarters during the October
revolution. Old picture of
Smolny Institute. Smolny Convent is located
nearby. Location on Google map
here. The Alexander Nevsky Lavra is situated at the end of Nevsky
Prospect. Old picture of
the monastery. Location on Google map
here. Cruiser Aurora gave the signal to storm the Winter Palace during the Bolshevik revolution. It is now a museum, located a short distance upstream from the cabin of Peter the Great, close to the nearby Nakhimov navy
school. Images of the
cruiser. Location on Google map
here. Saint Petersburg is the city of White Nights. Unfortunately they only last a short time, usually from June to beginning of July. Already starting from May the nights are bright. But the brightest period starts in June. Beliye Nochi is caused by northerly geographical location of the city.
It is truly romantic to walk along the banks of the city's rivers and canals in almost broad daylight any time of the day. International arts festival, the white nights, is organized during this
season.Saint Petersburg is fascinating by night also any other time of the
year. Best cheap flights to all destinations,
FlightNetwork.
