Looking for some travel inspiration for a romantic escape? Look no further - St. Petersburg is shockingly romantic. It’s time to find yourself inside a fairytale without spending like a Russian oligarch.
There’s something for everyone in this lovers’ tour of the city.
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WATERWAYS OF THE TSARS
Our tour starts in St. Petersburg in the last week of June when the midnight sun bathes the whole city in soft twilight - the famous white nights at their peak. As you cruise along the romantic canals of St. Petersburg, the grandeur of Imperial Russia unfolds before you: the baroque columns of the Winter Palace, the glazed sugar-candy domes of the Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood, the golden spire of the Admiralty and the iconic dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral.
These are just some of the best sights of this magnificent city, each worth paying a visit.
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WORK OF ART FROM ABOVE
For a new perspective on the city climb up to the top of the colonnade of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. From up here the glorious St. Petersburg skyline and its architectural gems will delight you. Most people come for the city views but make sure you go inside the cathedral to see the lavish interior which is open as a museum. But it’s also a place of worship, and the Slavonic liturgy is mesmerising: the candlelit icons, chanting priests and spiritually uplifting choral music.
During the white nights both the cathedral and colonnade stay open until 4.30 am.
The Palace Square and the Hermitage
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THE TREASURES OF THE HERMITAGE
Just before you join the queue for the Hermitage, the world famous museum and formerly a royal residence, spend some time in the Palace Square. Many important historical events, shaping Russia into the country I know today, took place here. At its centre, the Alexander Column stands commemorating the victory over Napoleon in 1812.
Once you’re inside the Hermitage, it’s easy to get lost amidst its 3 million treasures. It would take you years to see everything that’s on display. If your time is limited, choose your targets well - paintings by Rembrandt, Titian, Leonardo, Monet, Cézanne, Gauguin, Matisse and Van Gogh – and zip by the rest. The theme of love is captured across the museum’s vast collections with the elegant and sensual sculpture of Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss by Antonio Canova being the most romantic piece. But at the moment it is the majestic life-size peacock clock which is my favourite object at the Hermitage. Incredibly, it’s still operational today but it's only wound up once a week, on Wednesdays.
When your eyes are simply unable to process so much art at once, head back to where you started - the Palace Square. Now is a great excuse to treat yourselves to a ride in that horse-drawn carriage you probably noticed earlier in the square. Not only will this recharge your batteries but also will make you feel like a royal.
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THE IMPERIAL EGG HUNT
The Fabergé Museum displays an eye-popping collection of the priceless Imperial Easter eggs. What is the significance of these Fabergé eggs?
Created by jeweller Peter Karl Fabergé, they were given as gifts between the members of the Romanov family. Some 50 of these Imperial eggs were created. Teams of talented craftsmen would work on one egg at a time with each project running for as long as a year. The eggs were designed around a different theme each year, but they all looked beautiful outside with an intricate surprise lying inside.
The House of Fabergé is also famous for other objets d’art, such as icon-covers, dinner services, samovar-shaped lighters, desk clocks and many more which are all in display. This museum is not to be missed.
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ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME PERFORMANCE
While St. Petersburg is a city of art, it is also a city of music above all. Pyotr Tchaikovsky lived and created his monumental music here. Therefore, there is no better place in the whole wide world than the impressive Mariinsky Theatre to see his Swan Lake, the greatest romantic ballet of all time. The ballet is a sacred cultural tradition for the Russians. Get dressed in all your holiday finery for this special occasion and be prepared for the magic: the haunting and unforgettable score, stunning choreography and sumptuous costumes.
Now you know the perfect itinerary for a romantic escape to St. Petersburg with that special someone.
The romantic adventure continues! The next step is Moscow.
Let me know what you think about these romantic places in St. Petersburg, and if you’d like language or travel advice to visit them.
Have you been to a particularly lovely romantic spot that’s not mentioned in the post? Let me know.
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