World Cup City Tour: St Petersburg
By Lu Wenao
People's Daily app
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St Petersburg is often referred to as the northern or second capital of Russia. It’s the second-biggest city in the country in terms of size and population.

The city’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. St Petersburg, with its numerous canals, islands and bridges, is often called the Venice of the North.

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The Winter Palace was once the winter residence of Russian emperors. It is now part of the State Hermitage Museum. (Photos: FIFA)

Up to 7 million tourists come to see it every year, securing its top spot on the list of most-visited cities in Russia.

The city was founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great as a fortress at the mouth of the Neva River. In 1712, it became the Russian capital and retained that status until 1918. In 1914-24 it was called Petrograd, and from 1924 to 1991 it was known as Leningrad.

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The Peter and Paul Fortress was founded personally by Peter the Great the same year as the entire city was founded. The figure of the guardian angel on the spire is regarded as a symbol of the city.

The spire of the Admiralty tower, one of the city’s landmarks, reaches over 70 meters high. Atop the spire is a 65 kg golden weathervane in the shape of a ship.

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St Isaac’s Cathedral is one of the symbols of St Petersburg. It is the world’s fourth biggest cathedral. The observation deck at the height of 43 meters offers a view of the central part of the city.

St Petersburg is one of the biggest northern cities in the world: the 60th parallel that passes through it also passes through Greenland and Alaska.

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The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood was founded in 1881 by Alexander III at the very spot where his father Tsar Alexander II was murdered.

There are over 800 bridges and about 100 islands in St Petersburg. No other European city has such an extensive waterways system, with 64 rivers and about 50 canals.

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The complex of Admiralty buildings, on the banks of the Neva River, is originally built as a shipyard. It is one of the architectural masterpieces of Russian classicism.