Saint Petersburg celebrates its 310th birthday on May 27. If compared to other cities, St Pete is relatively young but since its founder was Peter the Great it has already made a large contribution to global history. Seen by many as Russia`s cultural capital, Saint Petersburg amazes by its architecture and people.
The historical centre of Saint Petersburg and its suburban palaces are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. “The city is unique for several reasons, - says Olga Slepenkova of the Peter and Paul Fortress Museum. – Even those who know nothing about architecture but travel a lot will agree that there is no other place like Petersburg from the point of view of architecture. There are lots of beautiful towns in the world, some of them are absolutely unique in terms of monuments but what you can find only in Saint Petersburg is fantastic architectural harmony of its city centre.”
Saint Petersburg-born actor Mikhail Boyarsky says the secret of the city’s charm is about its residents: “Many composers, artists as well as rulers, from Peter the Great to President Putin, were born in Saint Petersburg. This city is blessed, it is very diverse, as well as its people. We all here seem to be united by Petersburg’s mystery…I can’t imagine living somewhere else.”
First residents of Petersburg were craftsmen. They had to develop a truly European city. Peter the Great wanted everyone who visits Saint Petersburg to be surprised, and his dream came true. Alexander Gorodnitsky, 80, scientist, bard and St Pete native: “From the very start Petersburg was designed as the capital of the great empire. This could not but have its impact on its architecture and its cultural life. I think that Petersburg is Russia`s European future. It has always been and remains the cultural capital of Russia.”
Saint Petersburg will hold city day celebrations for several days, with guests from Austria, Belarus, Germany, US, Holland, Ukraine, and France taking part in numerous open-air drama and music festivals.

News source: The Voice of Russia
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