The City of St. Petersburg is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, and it is a historical and cultural treasure for the people of Russia. Relatively undamaged during World War II and the Stalinist reconstruction, the Port of St. Petersburg has many beautiful palaces, beautiful bridges, and tree-line avenues. Not even 300 years old, the Port of St. Petersburg has a rich and inspiring history. Visitors come throughout the year, whether it is to enjoy the Russian winter snows or the summer White Nights. For information on the many sights and activities available to visitors in the Port of St. Petersburg, please visit the city's tourism website.
Canale Fontanka
Photo by Sailko
The Port of St. Petersburg has a humid continental climate that is affected by the moderating influence of the Baltic Sea. It has short warm humid summers and long cold winters. Snow cover reaches an average 24 centimeters by February, and there are some 123 days of snow cover from December to March. The River Neva usually freezes over in November or December and thaws in April. Rain reaches its peak in late summer.
Hermitage Museum
View is from the Palace Embankment side. Photo taken May 2009.
Photo by Dirgela
One of the most popular attraction sin the Port of St. Petersburg is the Hermitage Museum (The Winter Palace). Now a huge museum, it contains a collection of more than three million pieces that include priceless works of art by greats like Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Reubens. Tour guides make it a more interesting trip since they know much about the building and its contents, but they can be expensive. Admission for students of all nationalities is free. In addition to paintings, the museum holds graphic arts, sculptures, archaeological objects, and coins. The building itself is a treasure, having been the Tsars' Winter Palace, the residence of the emperors of Russia. This Port of St. Petersburg complex included the Small, Great, and New Hermitages, the Hermitage Theatre, and the Auxiliary House. Today, the museum complex also contains the Menshikov Palace, the eastern wing of the General Staff building, the Staraya Derevnya Restoration and storage facility (with carriages and automobiles), and the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory. It is recommended that Port of St. Petersburg visitors purchase their tickets before they go to the Museum and that they join a tour group.
Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace
Located at Fontanka and Nevsky Avenue. Photo taken 31 May 2012.
Photo by A.Savin
The Peter and Paul Fortress (Petropavlovskaya Krepost) in the Port of St. Petersburg is located on Rabbit Island where Peter the Great made his base while the city was being built. The Peter and Paul Cathedral on the island holds the tombs of the Russian tsars from Peter I to the last tsar, Nicholas II, and his family. Peter the Great built the fort to protect the new Port of St. Petersburg from the Swedish Navy. The fortress was founded on May 27, 1703, the official anniversary date of the Port of St. Petersburg. The fortress housed some of the city's garrison as well as acting as a high-security jail for political prisoners, including Peter's son Alexei. Other famous prisoners included Dostoyevsky, Trotsky, Gorkiy, and Lenin's older brother Alexander. In addition to the Cathedral, the fortress contains one of the two places in Russia that mints medals and coins, the Mint, and the City History Museum.
Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral
Taken 9 March 2012.
Photo by Dmottl
The Peter and Paul Cathedral was the first stone church in the Port of St. Petersburg. Built in the early 18th Century, a beautiful golden angel holds a cross atop the cathedral's gilded spire. At 123 meters tall, it is the Port of St. Petersburg's tallest building. The oldest landmark in the Port of St. Petersburg, the Cathedral was closed in 1919 and converted to a museum in 1924. While it is still a museum, religious services began again in 2000. The Cathedral contains a carillon of 51 bells weighing a total of over 15 metric tons and with a range of four octaves.
Cruiser Aurora
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg Nakhimov Naval School is in the background.
Photo by George Shuklin
The Nevsky Prospekt is the Port of St. Petersburg's main thoroughfare. Evening is the best time to take a walk down this wonderful street. The street was planned by Peter the Great at the starting point for the road to Novogorod and Moscow. Along the road are the Rastrelliesque Stroganov Palace, the Kazan Cathedral, half a dozen churches from the 18th Century representing many denominations, a monument to Catherine the Great, the Russian National Library, and the Anichov Bridge. This well-known Port of St. Petersburg street is also home to a huge 18th Century shopping mall and a mid-19th Century department store. Most of the city's shopping, nightlife, and luxury apartments are located there as well.
Saint Petersburg Oceanarium
Photo by Obakeneko
Travelers who want to visit the Port of St. Petersburg by sea can find a long list of scheduled cruises on the Cruise Compete website.
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