Subject: So. Studies/Sciences: Geography/Cultures

Exploring the World Series: Europe

Russia 2: St. Petersburg Up Close

Jake and Mieke deBoer take viewers on a historical and cultural tour of beautiful St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. The historical core of St. Petersburg is the Peter and Paul Fortress, the oldest building in the city. In the center of the fortress is the Peter and Paul Cathedral, built in 1733, which includes the actual throne of Peter the Great, and the tombs of the royal family. St. Isaac's Cathedral, a magnificent museum where people climb the 300 plus stairs to the top of its gold dome that dominates the skyline. The Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood is a Russian-style church, built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in March 1881. The major cultural attraction is the Winter Palace, formerly the main residence of the Russian Tsars. This Baroque-style palace is one of five magnificent buildings known as the State Hermitage Museum. Other important visits include the Nevsky Monastery, the main orthodox monastery in Russia; the burial place of Tchaikovsky; the city's major thoroughfare, Nevsky Prospect; the famous Metropolitan subway system, literally built under the canals; and the Stroganov Palace, where the famous dish Beef Stroganov was invented. 2010/2E IJSCA 30 min.
Also See: Domenico Trezzini (Builder of St. Petersburg); St. Petersburg