ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
One of the highlights of any Baltic Sea cruise is a visit to St. Petersburg, Russia, home of the Russian Tsars. Established in 1703 by Peter the Great on a marshland where the Neva River enters the Baltic, St. Petersburg symbolizes Russia’s European heritage. Designed to rival the great European cities of Paris and Venice, St. Petersburg is criss-crossed with canals and wide boulevards.
Because St. Petersburg is a treasure trove of magnificent architecture and museums, most cruise ships spend two full days docked in St. Petersburg. While this allows the visitor time to sample much of what St. Petersburg has to offer, it is NOT enough time to absorb the history of this great city. Most cruise ships offer a comprehensive City Tour, which includes a 2 hour visit to the Hermitage, the largest museum in the world. Also known as the Winter Palace, the Hermitage houses over 11 million artifacts. A 2-3 hour visit is simply too short!
Other stops on the standard City Tour include the Saints Peter and Paul Fortress, where many of the Tsar’s are buried (including Peter the Great, and Nicholas and Alexandra-- the last of the Tsars); the Church of the Spilled Blood (which withstood 3 attempts by the Nazi’s to destroy it), St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Aurora battleship, Palace Square and a drive down Nevsky Prospekt, the main shopping and entertainment boulevard.
The ships also offer separate tours to either Peterhof or Catherine’s Palace (the Summer Palace) in rural areas south of St. Petersburg. Both Palaces are breathtaking, with 1,000 rooms, gilded domes and manicured gardens and fountains. Peterhof’s cascading fountains, designed as gravity fountains are unbelievable! Both Palaces were heavily damaged during World War II, and have been lovingly restored.
While the ship’s tours are amazing, I’ve found that it is necessary to do a private tour in St. Petersburg in order to maximize sightseeing. On my first visit to the city, my tour included a visit inside of both the Church of the Spilled Blood and St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Subsequent visits (on ship tours) only made photo stops at both churches. While both are beautiful on the outside, their real splendor is on the inside! My favorite, the Church of the Spilled Blood, is entirely covered with mosaics depicting Biblical stories. These mosaics look like a canvass—the blending of colors and detail is amazing. St. Isaac’s Cathedral interior is museum-like, with 150 pictures and ceiling paintings and the use of colored stones and different marbles in the construction.
On a private tour, it is possible to visit both Peterhof and Catherine’s Palace in one day. It would be difficult to choose which one to see, as they both are stunning.
Cruising is a marvelous way to visit not only St. Petersburg, but other Baltic countries. Each one is unique, with a rich history. Summer specials abound for Baltic Cruises as well as Mediterranean itineraries. They’re a great educational experience for children of all ages! Call Caryl today at 269 982-0901 or email me at: colson@cruiseplanners.com to plan your cruise!
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