St Isaac's Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the city and was the largest church in Russia when it was built (took 40 years to construct!). Under the Soviets it was turned into a museum of atheism, but now the interior has been restored back to its former glory. I must say I am impressed by the thought, care, and attention to detail which which Russians renovate their cultural relics – no comparison with the slapdash Dulux job on the Forbidden City.
Great thing about this church is that you can climb to the top, and the view is magnificent in all directions. The green and white building is the Winter Palace (Hermitage).
Yusupov Palace
The Yusupov Palace is notorious as the site of Rasputin's murder in 1916 by Prince Yusupov and gang, but actually I just wanted to see how the other half lived. I wasn't disappointed. It's unbelievably luxurious - everything was custom made in Europe, every room is decorated in the different style. There is even a private theater where the bests artists of the day gave private performances for their illustrious audience. But surprisingly, it also had a family home feel to it.
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
The rather gruesome name refers to the blood of the assassinated Alexander II of Russia, who was mortally wounded on the site in 1881. I am not sure why such a psychedelic building was used to commemorate his death (it's modelled on St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow), but it does look cool.
Peterhof – the "Russian Versailles"
After Peter the Great spent time in Europe (the first Russian Tsar to visit Western Europe) he was much impressed by Versailles and decided that Russia needed something similar to raise its prestige. This is the result - a series of palaces and gardens with formal fountains in the front. The fountains were turned off for the winter by the time we got there, but very beautiful anyway.
Stolle's Pies
This is not exactly a tourist attraction, but it was such a large part of our visit to St Petersburg I have to mention it. THE BEST PIES I'VE EVER HAD!!! We would willingly go till 3pm or 4pm to eat lunch just so we could eat it there. I miss it already :(
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