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Saint-Petersburg is called “the Northern Capital of Russia” and it is one of the most beautiful and interesting cities of the world. Architectural appearance of Saint-Petersburg is his visit card. The city is full of architectural harmony and European elegancy. Saint-Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Emperor Peter the First on the shore of the gulf of Finland in the delta of the Neva river as a “window to Europe”. Streets and prospects of Saint-Petersburg allow to feel strict combination of architecture of different centuries and various styles. Islands, winding rivers and channels give the city a unique peculiarity. Tracery bridges, temple domes glaring with gold and mosaic, gorgeous palaces open up before visitor’s eyes.

Saint-Petersburg is a city and a subject of Russian Federation located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city is located on islands. The largest is the Vasilevsky Island (1090 hectares). The 93 rivers and channels cross the city. The longest river is the Neva river (length of 74 km and width of 600 m). The 342 bridges are thrown over the rivers. The longest bridge is the Big Obukhovsky bridge with a length of 2842m and the widest bridge is the Blue Bridge with a width of 100 m. There are ten drawbridges over the Neva river.

Saint-Petersburg is the fourth city in Europe in population (about 5 millions) after London, Moscow and Paris. Saint-Petersburg experiences a humid continental climate. The average daily temperature in September is 18 °C. The beginning of September is the period of the golden autumn. Golden Autumn as the Russians call it, heralds days of crisp bronze sunlight and the first chill promise of winter. The leaves turn to burnished gold on the trees throughout the City's parks as St.-Petersburg's residents enjoy the last days of sunshine. This is a quieter, more relaxed time to visit St.-Petersburg and its many fabulous sights and exceptional museums.

Saint-Petersburg hosts more than two hundred museums, many of them hosted in historic buildings. The largest of the museums is the Hermitage Museum, featuring interiors of the former imperial residence and a vast collection of art. The Russian Museum is a large museum devoted to the Russian fine art specifically. The apartments of some famous Petersburgers as well as some palace and park ensembles of the southern suburbs and notable architectural monuments such as St. Isaac's Cathedral, have also been turned into public museums.

Saint-Petersburg is home to numerous parks and gardens, some of the most famous of which are situated in the southern suburbs, including one of the largest English gardens of Europe in Pavlovsk. Southern suburbs of the city feature former imperial residences, including Peterhof, with majestic fountain cascades and parks, Tsarskoe Selo, with the baroque Catherine Palace and the neoclassical Alexander Palace, Gatchina with castle and park of Emperor Paul and Pavlovsk, which contains a domed palace of Emperor Paul.

Saint-Petersburg has long been a leading center of science and education in Russia. Saint-Petersburg has 80 universities and institutes. The largest of the higher education institutions is Saint-Petersburg State University. Saint-Petersburg State University is a Russian federal state-owned higher education institution based in Saint-Petersburg and one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious universities in the country. It consists of 19 specialized faculties, 13 research institutes, Canada College, Faculty of Military Studies, and a Chair of Physical Culture and Sports. The university has a teaching staff of 4000 and 32000 students.

More information about Saint-Petersburg in www.petersburg-russia.com and www.saint-petersburg.com