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| Day 1 | St. Petersburg City Tour St. Petersburg welcomes you. This city is the crown jewel of Russian cities and one of the world's most amazing travel destinations. Today, you will explore Peter and Paul's Fortress, the Church of Savior on Spilled Blood and St. Isaac's Cathedral. This afternoon, you will have some free time to explore the city on your own. Peter and Paul Fortress was built by Peter the Great to defend the city from invasion from the sea. Later, the czars converted it into a prison for political dissidents. The Bolsheviks turned the fortress into a museum of czarist oppressions. After the collapse of Soviet power, the Fortress was turned into the tomb of the Russian imperial family.
The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is one of the most distinct churches in Russia. It is built on the very spot where one of Russia’s greatest emperors, Alexander II, was murdered. Alexander II is most famous for liberating Russian serfs, just two years before the abolition of slavery in the US. The church is rather aesthetic inside, so we will not go on a tour of it, but you can always do it on your own since it is just few blocks away from your hotel.
St Isaac's Cathedral is an important symbol of the city. It is the fourth largest cathedral in the world with gigantic golden cupola and an excellent observation deck that overlooks the entire city. During this city tour you will also see visit St. Isaac's Square and observe these from outside: the Mariinsky Theater, the Hermitage, the Winter palace, the Palace Square, the Spit of Vasilievskiy Island, the Bronze Horseman Statue, Peter's Log Cabin, Cruiser Aurora, Smolny Palace, the Nevsky Prospect, the Square of Arts and more. |