Awaiting Your Return From Shore |
Founded by Peter I in 1703, this
beautiful city became the designated capital of Imperial Russia
from 1712 to 1914. The Tsar’s brainchild was built according to
his plans after draining swampland on the Gulf of Finland. His
friends were required to construct their palaces along these newly
created canals. The result was a gateway to the West and a
distinctly European metropolis with Baroque and neo-classical
mansions. St. Petersburg’s new cultural life attracted such great
figures as Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Tchaikovsky and Tolstoy.
At the start of World War I, the city’s name was changed to
Petrograd; in 1924, it was renamed Leningrad in honor of the
USSR’s first premier, Vladimir Lenin. During World War II,
Leningrad heroically endured a siege by the Nazis for 900 days and
lost nearly one million people. The brave but battered population
did not fully recover until the 1960s.
Following 75 years of communist rule, the political upheaval and
subsequent changes in 1991 truly astonished the world and brought
a new outlook to this city. In the wake of the ensuing events,
Leningrad reclaimed its original name, St. Petersburg; it is being
restored to its former glory.
The second-largest city in Russia and the country’s principal
seaport, St. Petersburg boasts some of the world’s finest art
museums, opulent palaces and one of the world’s most talented
ballet companies. Many monuments and palaces in and around St.
Petersburg are being carefully restored; they represent an
important facet of the country’s rich historical and cultural
heritage. Some of the world’s most magnificent art treasures are
housed in the famous Hermitage; several other museums boast fine
collections by Russian and international artists.
Strolling down Nevsky Prospect, you will realize the pride of St.
Petersburg’s stoic citizens as the former glamour and opulence of
its stately buildings begin to emerge once again. |
Awaiting Your Return
From Shore |
Complimentary
Spirits Await |
Return to Your
Suite and Sail Away to The Next Adventure |
Entertainment
and Dancing Await You |