On May 16, 1703 a fortress on Zayachy Island in the broadest part of the Neva estuary was laid by Russian Tsar Peter I (Peter The Great). This day is considered to be the day of foundation of Saint Petersburg. In 1710 Saint Petersburg became a capital of Russia. All the Government, Tsar family and households moved there from Moscow. By the order of Peter The Great architect Domenico Tresini developed the first plan of the center of the city. Main Peter's wish was to create a city with a regular planning. And now walking in the center of the city you can notice that most of the streets are straight and relatively broad.

After Peter death the capital changed its location from Moscow to Saint Petersburg and back several times. Though Moscow is a capital today, Saint Petersburg wears a proud name Northern Capital of Russia. Upon the decision of UNESCO St. Petersburg has been given a status Monument of the Works Culture.

Modern city is located at the mouth of the Neva River, and across the islands of its delta on the coast of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. City occupies the area over 600 sq km (over 230 sq mi) and over 1400 sq km (over 540 sq mi) with suburbs. City population is slightly less then 5 million people.

From May 25 - 26 and till July 16 - 17 you can enjoy magnificent White Nights on the bank of the Neva River, that last over 50 days. June 21 - 22 are the longest days (18 hours 53 minutes). The sun hardly hides behind the horizon, and you can not find even the brightest stars in the night sky.

St. Petersburg is characterized by an intermediate (from nautical to continental) climate. It is quite mild and humid with frequent fogs and rains. There can be quite dry and hot periods in summer time, when the temperature goes up to +77F (+25C) - +86F(+30C) but their length changes from year to year significantly - some summers are rainy, some are extremely hot and dry. The same about winter — sometimes we have green grass till December and snowless Christmas, but sometimes it starts snowing in October and in the middle of the winter temperature drops down till -13F(-25C). Anyway as a rule snow lays till the end of March. At winter days become significantly shorter.