Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a Russian city, which was informally known as Piter and formerly known as Petrograd and Leningrad. Founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703 as a "window to Europe," the city is the administrative center of Leningrad Oblast and of the Northwestern Federal District. Served as the capital of the Russian Empire for more than two hundred years, it is now the second-largest city in Russia and the third largest in Europe. Saint Petersburg has long been a center of education in Russia. It is also a major European cultural center and the most important Russian port on the Baltic. The city's administration is composed of the Governor, of the City Government, headed by the Governor and of the other Bodies of Executive Power in the city.

Transportation: Saint Petersburg, a major transport hub is the center of the local road and railway system. It has a seaport and many river ports that provide access to the city. Six major railway stations serve the city from various directions. Three beautiful, old-fashioned trains such as the Sibelius, the Repin and the Tolstoi operate on Helsinki, Finland via Vyborg, Kouvola and Lahti. Pulkovo Airport in the city deals with both domestic as well as international flights. The city also has the tram network for public, which is the world's largest in terms of track length. The Saint Petersburg Metro system that includes four lines is another mode of transportation.

Hotels: The city serves variety of hotels from luxury type to small budget class hotels. Grand Hotel Europe, located in the heart of the city provides the guests with all up to date amenities. Okhtinskaya Hotel, Okhtinskaya Hotel, Corinthia Nevskij Palace, Grand Hotel Emerald, Grand Hotel Europe, Kempinski Moika 22, Radisson SAS Royal, Ambassador Angleterre, Arbat Nord, Admiralteyskaya, Andersen, Dostoevsky, 5th Corner and Arkadia are the other famous hotels in the city, which serve as hosts to all kinds of tourists from far and wide.

Tourist Attractions: The city draws in tourists from the entire globe with its charm and beauty.

Places of Attraction: The Neva River gives a unique and class attraction to the city. The water bodies around the city gave it the title 'Venice of the North'. Tourists often gather here to watch the 'white nights' as well as the bridges drawn and lowered for the ship to pass up and down the river. It is also known as the city of palaces as the city holds many palaces like Summer Palace, Summer Garden, Kikin Hall and the Menshikov Palace, Winter Palace, Stroganov palace, the Vorontsov palace, the Anichkov Palace and Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace.

The city also has number of churches which are attracted by pilgrims. St Isaac's Cathedral is the largest church in the city and one of the biggest domed buildings in the world.

COUNTRY	Russian
LOCATION	Located in northwestern Russia on the delta of the Neva River at the east end of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea.
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES	Latitude 59º56'0? N, Longitude 30º20'0? E
AREA	1439 sq. km
POPULATION	4,661,219

LOCATION AND ORIENTATION Geography of Saint Petersburg Neva River   SAINT PETERSBURG GOVERNMENT Saint Petersburg Administration Saint Petersburg Legislative Assembly Governor of Saint Petersburg   SAINT PETERSBURG DEMOGRAPHY People From Saint Petersburg Ella Adaiewsky Anna Akhmatova George Balanchine Vissarion Belinsky Elsa Brandstrom   SAINT PETERSBURG EDUCATION Saint Petersburg State University "Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University" "Saint Petersburg State Polytechnical University" St. Petersburg State Medical Academy Smolny College, Saint Petersburg Imperial Academy of Arts ...More   SAINT PETERSBURG TRAVEL Saint Petersburg Travel Guide Saint Petersburg Travel Agency Saint Petersburg Car Hire Saint Petersburg Airports ...More

SAINT PETERSBURG HISTORY Prehistory of Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg during World War II   SAINT PETERSBURG EVENTS Stars of the White Nights Festival St. Petersburg International Dance Film Festival Kino Expo International Convention and Trade Fair   SAINT PETERSBURG TRADE AND INDUSTRY Saint Petersburg Banks Trade Development Centre, Saint Petersburg Trade Shows in Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg Companies Saint Petersburg Jobs Saint Petersburg Real Estate   ART, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT Saint Petersburg Theatres Saint Petersburg Music Saint Petersburg Fashion Saint Petersburg Nightlife St. Petersburg Dance Clubs Casinos in Saint Petersburg ...More   SAINT PETERSBURG INFORMATION Saint Petersburg Weather Saint Petersburg Police Saint Petersburg Health Saint Petersburg Medical Services ...More