CITY FACTS

• St. Petersburg is nicknamed the Venice of the north. The canals, history, architecture, and glamour that encompass this city, constantly mystify those who are in awe of this city. It is a relatively young city when in comparison with the great cities of Western Europe that, date back from ancient times to medieval times.  The city’s architecture is persevered magnificently. In St. Petersburg, one can find buildings that we erected before 1917, to still be in great shape. Saint Petersburg is often known for its many cathedrals and museums, thus, it is given another nickname: the open -air museum. The architecture in the city encompasses many styles such as classical, eclectic, and modern. When visiting St. Petersburg, you will have found yourself in a city that is truly one of a kind.

• The city of St. Petersburg was build around the heart of the river Neva. The river Neva’s territory is one that is just a little smaller than the territory of Italy. It contains more water than the rivers Don and Dnieper combined.

• St. Petersburg has one of the highest cathedrals in Russia: St. Peter and Paul cathedral. This cathedral is home of the tomb of the Romanov dynasty. The cathedral is famous also for its bell tower and gilded spire that is topped with a flying angel.

• During the Second World War, Leningrad (now named St. Petersburg) was under siege by the German army for almost 900 days. The historical buildings and artifacts of Leningrad were disguised, hidden, or painted gray to prevent damage to the treasures the city possessed. After the siege ended, the city was given the name: City of heroes, for their bravery and fighting spirit to defeat the enemy.

• St. Petersburg possesses the deepest subway in the world.  The city was built on marshland, so underground tunnels had to be constructed on the bedrock. The subway tunnels of St. Petersburg lie at a depth of 70-80 meters below the earth.

• St. Petersburg has the longest length of tramway tracks in the world. It boasts a length of 600 kilometers, which is a fact listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

• The mining museum of St. Petersburg has the world’s largest piece of malachite. The stone weighs 1504 kilograms. It was brought from the Ural Mountains in 1787, and has been in the museum since.

• St. Petersburg has the world’s only equestrian monument, which has only two points of support- the monument of Nicholas I by Peter Klodt, which was erected on St. Isaac’s Square.

• Starting on May 25th, and ending on July 18th, St. Petersburg is famous for the natural event that is enjoyed by all, called white nights. In this period of time, one can experience sunlight from 06:00 until 03:00. The sun blocks the stars and moon, leaving the city in evening sunlight.

• St. Petersburg has experienced some name changes in its existence. Originally named Piterburg, in honor of Tsar Piter I, who founded the city, kept this name intact until 1914. In 1914, the city was renamed Petrograd by the interim government after the abdication of power by Tsar Nicholas II. After Lenin took power of Russia with the Bolshevik party, the city was renamed Leningrad. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the city was renamed to its present name, St. Petersburg.

• The highest monolithic statue is the Alexander Column. The height of this column is 47.5 meters, and it weighs an astonishing 700 tons. Many citizens were afraid to pass by the Alexander Column, fearing that it would collapse, since nothing secures it, only its own body weight.

• The Kazan Cathedral is located on Nevskiy Prospect. It is a marvelous structure that is seen by all who exit the Nevskiy Prospect metro station. The length of the cathedral from east to west measures around 72 meters. From north to south, it measures at 57 meters, and the dome is around 71 meters high.

• The Peter and Paul fortress is famous in the city for its old tradition of a signal blank shot fired from its Naryshkin bastion at exactly 12:00 pm everyday. Tsar Peter I first started the tradition and it signifies the start of lunch break.

• The collection of the Hermitage museum is sure to shock anyone who enters its doors. The museum boasts a collection of over 3 million pieces that are contained in 350 rooms in five different buildings. To view the entire collection, stopping at each exhibit for only 1 minute, you have to spend 8 years of your life and have to go over 20 miles.

• In the United States, there are 15 cities with the name of St. Petersburg. The biggest of these cities is located in Florida.

• The widest bridge of St. Petersburg is the “Blue” bridge. Its width is around 97 meters, and it is part of Isaac’s Square. The longest bridge is the Alexander Nevskiy Bridge, which has a length of 905 meters.

• The Trinity Bridge has a unique vantage point in the city. From this bridge, you can see 7 other bridges. But from the Kashinov Bridge, you can see 9 bridges in a row, which is a great spectacle in the spring, as all the bridges during the evening are lit up and are up for the incoming boast into St. Petersburg.

• The narrowest street in St. Petersburg is the Repin Street on Vasillevskiy Island. The street has a width of 6 meters. The shortest lane is Kokushkin lane, which is less than 30 meters long.

• St. Petersburg is also unique in the way that you can find on one street, two different names of streets. All the lines of Vasillevskiy Island have different numbering on the left and right sides. So on one side you can find the 18th line street, and on the same street, but opposite side, you can find the 19th line street.

• Nevskiy Prospect is one of the warmest parts of the city. Buildings on all sides encompass Nevskiy, so it does not feel the full effect of the winds from the river Neva. The temperature on Nevskiy is usually 2-3 degrees higher in the summer, and 10-12 degrees higher in the winter, when comparing it against other parts of the city.

• The longest construction project in the history of St. Petersburg was the construction of the Smolny monastery. The project lasted 87 years.

• According to daily statistics, roughly two million people in a day, walk on Nevskiy Prospect.

• St. Isaac’s Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Russia, and the fourth largest in the world.