SAINT PETERSBURG

Saint Petersburg is the city of Russia strides facing the gulf of Finland in Baltic sea. It is now the most interesting place for tourists visiting Russia. Back to 13th century it was the history of the Mongol that appeared on the land of Russia. The invasion of Mongol took place in 1212 focused to capture the capital city of Slavic people, Kiev, now capital city of Ukraine around 1212. During Mongol control the duchy of Moscow became the leading power in Russia as tax collector for Mongolian emperor. Only after 250 years under Mongol, in 1462 European Russia under Ivan III the Great freed from Mongol. In 1613 after time of troubles, the duke of Moscow given to the 16 years old Romanovs who still struggling with the new and old nobilities (the boyars and the gentry), and at the other side with the peasants. Second successor of Michael Romanov, Peter the Great, known as Peter I, ( 1682 - 1725 ) wrote a special history on Russia, by his strong commitment to modernize the state. He was said to have traveled incognito to European countries to see various advancements reached by the West. His tsar position brought Russia under totalitarianism state in the modern time.

In 1703 Peter the Great constructed a winter palace at the beach facing the gulf of Finland with beautiful Neva river flowing on the side of the water palace which is now Saint Petersburg. In 1914 the name was changed into Petrograd by the revolutionists under Bolsheviks party to erase the German tone. Petrograd became a basis of revolutionary movement. Later under Nikolai Lenin struggle for Marxists, Petrograd was changed into Leningrad after the death of Lenin in 1924. The name of town such as Petrograd was probably derived from the character of the city where pavement, quays and buildings were constructed in stone and granite, as petra mean rock. The winter palace of Petrograd showing the influence of Italian architecture like the view of Venice. It is the work of Italian architect Bartolome Rastelli who started to work in 1754. It's canals and bridges connected the whole building reflects the great architectural work of the era for Russia.

The life of orthodox churches spirited by Byzantium character also adorned Petrograd such as Saint Isaac cathédral constructed in 1819 through 1858 on a high place with view to the city of Saint Petersburg. It's beautiful interior decoration of gold and patterns would amaze every visitors. This cathédral was built by Auguste de Montferrand, who realized the spirit of religious livelihood, where rituals song of god and incent smell give the uniqueness of the era formed an integral beauty of the city, and was an integral part of the west until 1917 according to Destoievski. It is also the best planned city of the world to stand as the window or door of Russia for Europe.

Rich and beautiful collection of Heritage Museum is said to preserve the best collections of the era. Among them are works of Spanish, Flemish, Holland, German, English, French, Italian, and most is works of Rembrandt and Pablo Picasso. The residence of Paul I, the Pavlovsk Palace, located on the outer ring of Saint Petersburg showing the tradition of French not to be missed if visit the city. Grand Hotel Europe, one of the oldest beautiful hotel built in 1824 still preserving the decoration of tsar era. Not less interesting is the Petrodvorets Summer Palace, around 30 minutes by boat from Saint Petersburg. Such a beautiful water ways with countless fountains held by human sculptures or spring from encircled spot of soil on left and right of the canal. And beautiful cascades with green plantations is the best sight on the complex. The water ways or canals meet the gulf of Finland.

As great as Saint Petersburg, after the rule of Peter the Great, Russia continued to extend their influence, especially during the reign of Princess Catherine II, known also as Catherine the Great, wife of Peter the Great's grand son known as Peter III who was couped by her in 1762. It was said that Catherine was not Russian, as she was German. During her reign some additional areas were under Russian influence such as Poland, Cremea, and Turkey. The Cossacks carried on the colonization of Siberia onward to the east up to Pacific and the Kuril archipelago. This made Russia such a tremendous size starting from Saint Petersburg up to Vladivostok near north Korea. Catherine the Great was said to reuse the system made by Peter the Great as her idol, although she deprived out the religious independence and made the clergies as state staff. The influence of Western culture was so great many western skill persons were invited to Russia and causing so many European in the country.

Source

1. Stuart C. Easton : Western Heritage from the Earliest to the Present, Holt, Reinhart and Winston, 1965
2. Erle Zwingle : Catherine the Great, National Geographic Vol 194. No. 3, 1998
3. Guy Gouezel : Saint Petersburg, Mémoire de la Russie, Atlas Air France, 1992
4. Jacqueline Dubois : Le Petit Octobre, Editions J'ai Lu, Jean-Claude Lattés, 1976