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If you don't know, I can tell you that Saint Petersburg (former Leningrad) is situated on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful Russian city. Those who have been there once, always long to return there and quite a number of repeat visitors begin to dream of living there.

That is exactly what happened to me: my first trip to St. Petersburg took place when I was a schoolgirl and it made me fall in love with the city forever. After my first year at the university, I returned there with a friend.We were having such a great time seeing the sights of the city, that we decided to stay there. Unfortunately, St. Petersburg University didn't agree to transfer us. During my third stay I spent a whole month in the city of my dream and learned really a lot about it. But notwithstanding all the time spent there I can't say that I know the city inside out.

What struck me in the first place is that every citizen, no matter what his social position is, knows the history of the city and is proud of it. Each person I met told me some interesting facts so vividly as if he/she had lived at those far-away times.

The most unusual thing for me was the climate. Leaving home on summer mornings a St. Petersburg citizen can never be sure what will be needed later in the day: a swimsuit or an umbrella. So, one habitually takes both. As to winter, it is usually not very cold and rather slushy.

I have visited quite a number of places in St. Petersburg but two of them can be named between my absolute favourites.  

Catherine Palace in Pushkin (St. Petersburg's suburb) is by far the most luxurious palace I have ever seen. Both its exterior and interior are so immaculately beautiful that it takes your breath away. I fell in love with Rastrelli's architecture style and colour combinations (white, celestial blue and gold as in the first photo; pink and dark-green as in the second).

St. Isaac's Cathedral with its gilded dome dominating the skyline is an extremely impressive landmark of St. Petersburg and one of the biggest cathedrals in Russia. Its facades are decorated with sculptures and massive granite columns (made of single pieces of stone and put up by hand, without any machinery!). The magnificent view over the city from the cathedral's colonnade is certainly worth climbing the 300 steps up the spiral staircase.

So if you're planning a trip to Russia, I'd recommend you to choose St. Petersburg for the first stop on your itinerary .