Formerly known as both Petrograd and Leningrad, St Petersburg is a city situated in north-western Russia, to the east of the Gulf of Finland. It's home to nearly five million residents and qualifies both as Russia's second-largest and Europe's fourth largest city. The city's status is further elevated by it operating the most significant Russian port on the Baltic Sea.
 The collapse of the Soviet Union has brought more prosperous times for much of the city, as rapid change and development has taken hold. Visitors are now able to find most modern luxuries, services and facilities in the city, with only the odd item still out of reach. World-class hotels, fine restaurants, popular department stores and evening entertainment venues are all on hand for those choosing to make a trip to St Petersburg.
 The city's history is told by its plethora of fine buildings and visiting architecture lovers will find themselves spoilt for choice. Palaces such as the Summer Palace, Menshikov Palace and the Winter Palace are among the finest examples, while churches such as St Isaac's Cathedral, Peter and Paul Cathedral, Smolny Convent and the Transfiguration Cathedral are but a few among the many fine ecclesiastical structures available for viewing.
The city has no shortage of dining options, with endless restaurants serving some of Russia's finest traditional cuisine. Eating out is a lively experience and is invariably accompanied by a musical performance of some description. Shopping options are equally plentiful, with everything from department stores to gourmet food retailers available. With some exceptions, most popular products can be found in St Petersburg.
 St Petersburg's development since the establishment of democracy has also seen an increase in both the range and quality of hotels available. International chains such as The Radisson have established themselves, while many smaller independent hotels of high quality have also sprung up. Areas such as the business district and Petrogradskaya Storona are good places to look for quality hotels, while the main downtown area is also home to a number of establishments.
Russian culture may seem somewhat far removed from that of other European cities and the after effects of the communist years are still somewhat evident; however, visitors need not be duly phased, since residents are welcoming to outsiders and of the percentage who speak English, you will find a willingness to be friendly and helpful. Immersing yourself without reservation in the local customs and traditions will go a long way to breaking down cultural barriers and make your visit to St Petersburg all the more enjoyable.
History
 St Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, following his reconquest of the Ingrian land from Sweden. The city's first building was erected during war time and was a fortification called Sankt Piterburh, which is today known as the Peter and Paul Fortress.
The 18th and 19th centuries saw considerable development of the city from its initial foundations and many of the palaces that still survive today hark from that era. With the coming of the WWI, the Russians deemed the existing name of their city 'Sankt Peterburg' to be overly Germanic and opted to change it to Petrograd on August 31, 1914, under the instruction of Tsar Nicholas II. Ten years later, on January 24, 1924, the city was renamed Leningrad in tribute to the prolific Russian leader who had died three days earlier. WWII arrived and brought with it the destruction of large areas of the city, plus the deaths of an estimated 800,000 of the city's former population of 3,000,000.
 In 1991, the collapse of the Soviet Union marked a period of significant change in the city's history, beginning with a return to its original name, a move that received only 54 per cent of votes in a public referendum on the subject.
Weather
 Winters in St Petersburg are more moderate in comparison to other Russian cities and its proximity to the Baltic Sea makes the climate somewhat unpredictable. Humidity is high all year round and while winters can see temperatures of -10oC, the average winter temperature is -6.9 Co. Snow is not uncommon and the city's waterways and lakes are invariably frozen for the greater part of the winter season.
 Summers are cooler than inland cities and rain is a predominant feature with one out of every three days experiencing some precipitation. Average temperatures are 20oC to 25oC, with July being the hottest month and temperatures starting to fall around mid-August.
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