St Petersburg holidays

Created 300 years ago by Peter the Great as his "window on the West" St Petersburg is a city unlike any other in Europe and certainly in Russia. Its grand beauty, its architectural splendour, the wealth of its cultural treasures and the intrigue of its rich history make it unforgettable. Dubbed the "Venice of the North" for its palace-lined waterways, St Petersburg escaped the architectural incursions of Stalinism, and its grandiose relics of tsarist days are virtually intact. The waterside walkways and elegant streetscapes are best seen on foot.