History of St.Petersburg

St.Petersburg is situated in the north-west of Russia where the Neva River flows into the Baltic Sea. Special geographical position, wonderful architectural monuments, rich history and traditions make St.Petersburg one of the most beautiful and magnificent cities in the world. The city is very young. In 2003 St. Petersburg will be three hundred years old. From the moment of its foundation in 1703 St.Petersburg was perceived by contemporaries not only as a new capital, but as a symbol of Russia itself. The city takes a special place in the Russian history and culture of the 18th - 20th centuries being the city of life and creative work of world-known musicians, painters, singers, writers, actors, architects and scientists. The city's soul is in its architectural aspect: it is music in stone. Some world largest museums are situated in St.Petersburg, no wonder it is called "the museum in the open air."
It was ñînñåiwåd bó Ðåtåã the Great às «à window tî Åuãîpå», as the ñàðitàl îf à «óîung Russia». Following its foundation in 1703, it was the capital for a little over two centuries (1712-1918). St. Petersburg has come to share the distinctive and proud lot of "second cities" around the world, such as Florence, Munich, New York or Seville, which, while yielding precedence to the capital, have preserved their fame and importance even after losing their official status. St. Petersburg is a city with many religious beliefs. Freedom of religious belief is protected by the Constitution and no legal religious activities can be subjected to oppression. St.Petersburg is the major educational and research center of Russia. The traditions of the St.Petersburg higher education were laid more than 200 years ago when the first higher education institutions were founded in the city on the Neva River. Now there are 47 public universities in our city. Among them is Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University (ETU), one of the biggest Russian institutions of higher education and research in electrical engineering, computer science, telecommunications, applied electronics.
An astonishing city - capable of making even its tragedies a source of poetic revelation! The devastating flood of 1824 was a considerable part of the inspiration behind Pushkin's poem "The bronze horseman"; even the 900-day siege during World War II evoked no small number of verses and painting. Indeed, the whole dramatic history of Saint Petersburg, which has experienced not only periods of social stagnation, but even the loss of its own name, has invariable and constantly been perceived through the mirror of art. And that is how St. Petersburg was conceived - to be the visible expression of the New Russia, the touchstone of taste, harmony, reason… of all that which the busy pedestrian always senses, walking - even for the hundredth time - through the streets of Saint Petersburg.