Dazzling St Petersburg

“You are like the winged goddess from Greek mythology. As beautiful and soaring like an angel as her"

There is something mystical and wonderful about this beautiful city of palaces on the banks of the River Neva. Founded by Peter the great it offers travelers a world famous museums, beautiful palaces, magical white nights, bridges and canals.

I found palaces and churches in Europe paled by comparison after my eyes had feasted on the beauty to offer.

The Iconic Red Carpet Entrance to the Winter Palace, Hermitage

The Hermitage Museum offers tourists a balanced mixture of art and culture. It is known as one of the oldest museums in the entire world as it was founded in 1764. Housed in five buildings along the River Neva it’s one of the largest museums of it’s kind boasting 11 different collections ranging from Egyptian Antiques to Swiss fine art. There is something here for even the toughest of critics to wonder and marvel over.

We were privileged to arrive early and walk through the nearly empty museum and marvel at all on display. As you walk through the rooms, it’s hard not to be grateful for the fact that during the Russian Bolshevik revolution these treasures were preserved and not looted and destroyed.

Peterhof, sometimes spelled Petergof, is actually a small town located just outside the main city. Since we had done so many palaces and museums we decided not to explore the interior of the palace instead focusing on the gardens which are absolutely breath taking.

Peter the great was an engineer. He visited Europe and most particularly Versailles for inspiration and ideas for this summer palace. Fountains abound all across the gardens. Some of them have fun elements that children and even adults were enjoying on the cool summer day.

It’s amazing how some of these elements give children joy all around the world. On the City Walk in Universal Studios, Hollywood there are fountains that give children hours of fun modeled after what Peter created long ago at Peterhof.

From this vantage point you can see the engineered precision of a straight line leading down the gulf of Finland to the Baltic Sea.

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is a former Russian Orthodox church which currently functions as a secular museum. The church was erected on the site where political nihilists assassinated Emperor Alexander II in March 1881. The church was funded by the Romanov imperial family in honor of Alexander II, and the suffix "on [Spilled] Blood" refers to his assassination.

The churches and tombs are splendidly rich in gold leaf and color.

View of the Peter and Paul Fortress from River

This has to be the most noticeable building in the city whether it be from land, sea, or air. Originally built by Peter the Great around the year 1703 it has served a multitude of purposes over the years from fortress, to citadel, prison, museum, and tourist attraction. It has been restored over the years to keep the historical look intact after some massive damage and has served as a tourist attraction for almost a century.

The Catherine Palace is a Rococo palace located 30 km south of St. Petersburg. It was the summer residence of the Russian tsars. It is also home to the fabled Amber Room which disappeared during World War II and never found. It has been entirely re-created. No photographs were permitted when we visited and while I absolutely wanted to see it, I found it overcrowded and claustrophobic when I was there.

Crouching Boy is a sculpture of the Renaissance Italian painter and sculptor Michelangelo, preserved today at the Faberge Museum. It is the only example of Michael Angelo’s work in Russia, one of the rare pieces to be found outside Italy.

“You are like the winged goddess from Greek mythology. As beautiful and soaring like an angel as her"

Olá! Bom Dia! Como vai? ~ Portugal

Mamma mia, …. My, my, how can I resist you? Stockholm