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“But how could you live…and have no story to tell?”
Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said, referring to SPB, or Peter as called by local.
Between the awe-inspiring architecture, rich history, elaborate cathedrals and multitude of art galleries and museums bursting at the seams with works by some of the world’s most important artists, I 'd say St. Petersburg is a must-visit. Having seen Moscow and Golden ring towns it easy to understand why people say " SPB" is not real Russia. The structure of the city, its architecture, resembles Western European town, like Vienna, Munich, Paris.
That's actually what Peter the Great wanted, a new Paris built for him on Russian soil.
Unfortunately the weather was not the best, with constant drizzling and humidity that cover all the city. Memories of places visited fade away and is difficult to allocate time and places visited.
You can’t visit St. Petersburg without spending some of your travel time at The Hermitage Museum, known as one of the largest and most interesting museums in the world. The massive complex is spread over several buildings (which includes the stunning Winter Palace with the classic green facade) lining the Neva River and was once the palace of Catherine the Great. This is a place you can’t rush through so plan to devote at least a half a day to take in as much of the art and architecture as possible. The Hermitage’s collections include works by heavy hitters like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Renoir, Cezanne, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh and Matisse, and several sculptures by Rodin.
The building in which the museum is located is a piece of art itself. It was used as a palace and a home to the Romanov family. Catharine the Great organized numerous events there, from masquerades for nobility, to grand receptions and different ceremonies. Its original purpose could still be felt in its interior with the large halls and historical furniture.
 
The main collection of the museum is in the so-called Main Complex, consisting of five interconnected buildings: the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the New Hermitage, the Great (Old) Hermitage and the Hermitage Theater. The people of St. Petersburg call this great complex as the Winter Palace, since it is the main building and the one appears in all photos and postcards.
Anyways, when you visit the main complex, you go from one building to another without practically realizing it, since they are interconnected.
Most of the guided tours begin in the entrance hall to the Winter Palace, through which the first floor is accessed through the main staircase of the palace (a dazzling 18th century creation of marble, granite and gold).
 
One of the first rooms passed through the first floor is the Malachite room, with its exhibits of personal items from the imperial family. The Pavilion Hall, on the first floor, is known for the wonderful Peacock Clock.
 
In addition to the spectacular rooms on this floor, you will find a large amount of Russian and European art.
   
   
Among the works of Italian art of the 18th century there is the Madonna Benois and Madonna Litta by Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo’s sculpture, Crouching Boy or Squatting Child nd works by Raphael, Tiziano and Tintoretto, Lippi, Caravaggio, and Canaletto.
The work of Italian artist Antonio Canova portrays the three daughters of Zeus: Euphrosyne, Aglaea and Thalia, the kiss of Amore and Psyche and MAria Magdalena
 
    
Despite the great number of pieces of art, the building in itself is something to enjoy.
   
The Palace square is the main square in Saint Petersburg. The first building ever built on this square was the Winter Palace, built between 1754 and 1762 by Italian architect Francesco Rastrelli. The General Staff Building has a semicircular façade and a picture perfect triumphal arch. On the top of the arch, there is The Chariot of Glory drawn by six horses
 
the Alexander Column is considered one of the most incredible monuments and potent symbols of Saint Petersburg. It is made to honor a grand victory of Russia over Napoleon.
   
Church of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is known to Petersburgers as the Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood - or even just the Church on the Blood - as it marks the spot where Alexander II was fatally wounded in an assassination attempt on March 1, 1881.
    
One of the most impressive elements of the church is the extravagant shrine constructed on the spot where Alexander II was fatally wounded
  
he church has an outstanding and varied collection of mosaic icons.
   
  
Whilst taking a stroll along Nevsky Prospekt you cannot fail to notice the impressive Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan.
   
  
Part of the Peter and Paul Fortress – which constitutes the foundation of the city of Saint Petersburg – the St Peter and Paul’s Cathedral is the burial place of Russian tsars.
  
    
In the past the fortress was used as prison for Tzars and politicians
and you can appreciate a view of the size of the Hermitage
  
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