Smolny convent in Saint Petersburg Russia

Nevsky prospect in Saint Petersburg Russia

Fontanka river in Saint Petersburg Russia

The Egyptian Bridge in Saint Petersburg Russia

The Moyka river in Saint Petersburg Russia

A few words about Saint Petersburg, Russia — the city of St. Apostle Peter

Named for the Apostle Peter, the city’s inhabitants often affectionately call their city “Peter” or simply “St Pete” or “SPB”. The numerous canals in the city have also earned it nicknames such as “Northern Venice” or “Russian Amsterdam” and even “Northern Palmyra”.

With its great architecture, culture, history, art and literature St Petersburg is certainly a city of style – which is why we have chosen to call ourselves St Petersburg Style.
 The people here have always been characterized by their distinctive lifestyle, their open-ness to new ideas and impressions, the high standards of their business and civic life. 

We are sure you will be charmed by ”Peter”, which is an international cultural center and one of the most beautifully laid-out cities of the world. We would like you to experience not only its history and culture, but also its life as a pulsating modern city.

 

A Bit of Geography

One of the largest northern cities in the world, Saint-Petersburg lies near the Arctic Circle on the same latitude as the southern part of Alaska and the southern tip of Greenland. However, despite its high latitude, Saint-Petersburg has a fairly mild climate owing to warm air masses blown in by winds which cross the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean. While the summers are pleasant and warm, it does get very cold in winter of course. But when temperatures plunge to below freezing it becomes a winter wonderland!

Time Zone

St.Petersburg falls with the Moscow Standard Time zone (MST). It differs from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) by + 3 hours or + 4 hours between March and September during daylight saving.

Saint-Petersburg is two hours ahead of Central European time. Thus, when it is 12 noon in Saint-Petersburg, it is 10 a.m. in Paris, Madrid, Prague, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna and Berlin.

At the same time, it is 11 a.m. in Helsinki, Athens, 9 a.m. in London, 4 a.m. in New York, 2.30 a.m. in Delhi 2.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Canberra, Australia.

For more information about time in the world click here: http://www.timetemperature.com/

A Bit of History

St. Petersburg is the second biggest Russian city after Moscow and one of the largest in Europe. The population of St. Petersburg, together with the Leningrad Region, numbers over 5 million.
The city is located on the delta of the broad, swiftly-flowing Neva-river where it joins the Gulf of Finland.

Saint-Petersburg was founded in 1703 by the Tsar Peter the Great (1672-1725). He was a towering figure in every respect, standing no less that 200cm (about 6ft 7 in) in his stockinged feet! He wanted the city to become the new capital of Russia and gateway to Europe via the Baltic Sea. For 200 years it remained the seat of the Tsars who because they headed one of the richest monarchies in Europe, were able to create the magnificent city which today people from around the world can enjoy and marvel at.

In 1918 the Soviet regime transferred the capital to Moscow and later changed city’s name to Leningrad. The city survived some terrible events; during the Second World War (known in Russia as “The Great Patriotic War”) it was subjected to a 900-day siege by the Nazis. Over one million people died in Leningrad between 1941 and 1944, huge numbers from starvation and cold, but the city never surrendered.
Despite the heroic associations of the name Leningrad, a majority of the citizens voted in 1991 to change its name back to St Petersburg.

Today St. Petersburg contains gorgeous architectural ensembles representing the different epochs which followed its founding. These of course, include Soviet-style and contemporary-style architecture - the city is still developing. Although it is called the cultural capital of Russia, St. Petersburg is one of the most important industrial centers in our country. And while Moscow remains the capital of Russia, important political and administrative functions are still carried out in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg is one of the most “open-minded” Russian cities and one of the safest places in the Baltic region.

Come and explore with us the Venice of the North, the Russian Amsterdam, the Northern Palmyra!

Welcome to our native city!
 

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