A Short Break with a difference - St. Petersburg
In times gone by many Brit's (James Bond aside) wouldn't give
the idea of heading over to Russia for a holiday break a second
thought. However, for the more progressive of travellers out
there the magnificent city of St. Petersburg offers an abundance
of rewards and will leave a lasting memory with anyone who
chooses to visit.
St. Petersburg is quite simply a city steeped in history and
culture. Built on the Gulf of Finland by Peter the Great, the
city is the an imperial capital which has the distinct
atmosphere of a city that time forgot. The enchanting
architecture of its great palaces and crystalline squares all
provide a real sense of Russia's imperial past. Post communist
Russia is becoming increasingly interested in its past as it
copes with the confusion of social change - which means the
historical gems which St. Petersburg are becoming more
accessible than ever. Perhaps there has never been a better time
to visit this great city.
In terms of site seeing, St. Petersburg will leave you spoilt
for choice. However, there is an undisputed jewel in this cities
crown - the Hermitage museum. While the museum lacks the
international renown of the Louvre in Paris the collection on
display is only narrowly behind in terms of size and quality.
With over three million works within the museum, one could spend
years exploring the abundance of breathtaking collections from
the likes of Rembrandt, Picasso, and Matisse.
The museums extensive collection began with the cities founder
Peter the Great who travelled extensively across Europe in his
younger years building an enviable collection of art and items
of historical significance. The collection was added to further
by future generations of Russian monarchy before the Hermitage
was first opened to the public after the Revolution in 1917.
Trying to take in the wonders of the Hermitage is almost
impossible in one visit and taking a number of trips across
several days comes recommended. For further information try the
excellent http://www.hermitagemuseum.org.
In many ways St. Petersburg is a city best seen on foot for a
number of reasons - not least that it is the best way to take in
the wondrous architecture and give you a real feel for its
imperial past. From the placid canals to the atmospheric Palace
Square, one truly feels they are in a city from times past.
Providing a sharp contrast to the grand buildings throughout St.
Petersburg is the humble wooden cottage that first housed Peter
the Great while he supervised the cities construction. Although
now covered from the outside world by a protective brick
structure the cottage still remains in surprisingly good
condition and provides a fascinating insight into the mind of
Peter. Rumours that he spent much of his time in disguise
working as a labourer during the cities construction were almost
certainly true. Indeed unlike many Tsar's of the past Peter
seemed to have a very keen awareness of the social divide and
spent much of his time among his citizens hiding his wealth.
St. Petersburg is definitely a city one can visit during any
part of the year - although peak season is from May until
December, where hotel prices are at their most expensive. Good
alternatives to this are in April and October when the weather
is still fairly mild and the city is far less crowded. As long
as you don't mind the cold weather it is also perfectly feasible
to visit during the winter months and the city has a number of
musical events and winter festivals on at the time. Finding
knowledgeable travel agents in the UK to support you is becoming
easier. A good place to start would be short break specialist
http://www.superbreak.com who have a number of hotels available
for booking in St. Petersburg via their website.
Overall St. Petersburg is undoubtedly one of Europe's most
beautiful cities. While the tourist industry is starting to boom
it is still some way from being a recognised holiday destination
which make this an excellent time to visit the northern capital
of Russia. While many of your friends may be aghast at the
thought of a short break in Russia, we are sure it is a decision
that you will certainly not regret in anyway.