Saint Petersburg, often referred to simply as St. Petersburg, is a major port city in northwestern Russia, situated on the Neva River and the Gulf of Finland. It is the second-largest city in Russia after Moscow, with a population of approximately 5.4 million as of recent estimates. Founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, the city was designed as a "window to Europe" to connect Russia with the West and has served as a cultural, political, and economic hub throughout its history.
The history of Saint Petersburg begins on May 27, 1703 (Old Style calendar), when Peter the Great laid the foundation for the Peter and Paul Fortress on Hare Island in the Neva Delta. This marked the establishment of the city during the Great Northern War against Sweden, securing Russian access to the Baltic Sea. Peter envisioned a modern European-style capital, and construction proceeded rapidly, often under harsh conditions that led to the deaths of thousands of laborers, earning it the nickname "City Built on Bones."
By 1712, Saint Petersburg was declared the capital of the Russian Empire, replacing Moscow. The city's early development included the construction of grand structures like the Summer Garden and the Cabin of Peter the Great, a modest wooden house that served as the tsar's initial residence. In 1724, the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences was founded, promoting intellectual and scientific advancement.
After Peter's death in 1725, the capital briefly returned to Moscow in 1728 under Peter II, but was reinstated in Saint Petersburg in 1732, remaining the imperial seat for nearly two centuries. During the reign of Empress Elizabeth (1741–1762), the city flourished with Baroque architecture, including the Winter Palace designed by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.
Under Catherine the Great (1762–1796), Saint Petersburg became known as the "Venice of the North" due to its extensive canal system, inspired by Amsterdam and Venice. She expanded the city's cultural institutions, founding the Hermitage Museum in 1764 as her private art collection, which grew to become one of the world's largest museums. Landmarks like the Bronze Horseman statue (1782), commemorating Peter the Great, and the granite embankments along the Neva were completed during her rule.
The 19th century saw Saint Petersburg as the center of the Russian Empire's golden age. It hosted the Decembrist Revolt of 1825 and was the site of numerous literary and artistic movements. Alexander Pushkin and Fyodor Dostoevsky drew inspiration from the city's atmosphere. The Mariinsky Theatre, established in the 19th century, became a premier venue for ballet and opera, nurturing talents like Anna Pavlova.
The city's infrastructure advanced with the construction of the Anichkov Bridge and the St. Petersburg Mint in the 18th century, and later the Lomonosov Porcelain Factory. However, Saint Petersburg faced severe floods, including the devastating 1824 inundation, the worst in its history.
Saint Petersburg played a pivotal role in Russia's revolutionary history. The Russian Revolution of 1905 began with Bloody Sunday in the city, and it was the epicenter of the February Revolution of 1917, leading to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. The October Revolution later that year saw the Bolsheviks seize power from the Winter Palace, an event immortalized in Sergei Eisenstein's film Battleship Potemkin (though misattributed).
In 1914, amid World War I, the city was renamed Petrograd to sound less German. During the Russian Civil War (1917–1922), it suffered famine and destruction. In 1924, following Vladimir Lenin's death, it became Leningrad. The capital was moved to Moscow in 1918. Leningrad endured the 872-day Siege of Leningrad during World War II (1941–1944), one of the longest and most destructive sieges in history, claiming nearly a million lives. The city's resilience was honored with the title Hero City in 1945.
In 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the city reverted to its original name, Saint Petersburg. It has since undergone significant restoration, with President Vladimir Putin, a native, investing in preserving its architectural heritage. Today, Saint Petersburg is a UNESCO World Heritage site (designated in 1990 for its historic center) and a major tourist destination, known for its white nights in summer and the White Nights Festival.
The city serves as the administrative center of the Northwestern Federal District and Leningrad Oblast. Economically, it is a leader in shipbuilding, finance, and technology, hosting institutions like the St. Petersburg State University. Culturally, it remains Russia's artistic capital, with over 200 museums, including the world-renowned Hermitage.
Saint Petersburg spans 1,439 square kilometers and features over 300 bridges, more than Venice. Its climate is humid continental, with average temperatures ranging from -5°C in winter to 18°C in summer. The city is home to diverse religious sites, including the St. Isaac's Cathedral (the world's fourth-largest dome), the Kazan Cathedral, and the Saint Petersburg Mosque, built in 1913 as Europe's largest outside Turkey at the time.
Notable figures associated with the city include composers Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Dmitri Shostakovich, and it has been a setting for literature like Crime and Punishment. The city's metro system, opened in 1955, is famed