“To the Peterburgers a gift from the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg”. Have you noticed the inscription on the \u0410\u043b\u043b\u0435\u044f \u043f\u0430\u0440\u043b\u0430\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0438\u0437\u043c\u0430 Stone?
Today we pause before the \u0410\u043b\u043b\u0435\u044f \u043f\u0430\u0440\u043b\u0430\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0438\u0437\u043c\u0430 Stone. This stone is a gift. It is a gift to the people of St. Petersburg. The Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg presented it. The date of installation was May 17, 2019.
Let’s explore the story behind this stone. It’s a story of remembrance. It’s a story of St. Petersburg. It is also known as Piter. The city has a rich and complex past. Founded by Tsar Peter I, it was named after the apostle Saint Peter.
After World War I, anti-German feelings rose. So, the city became Petrograd. This sounded less Germanic. After the socialist revolution, it was renamed Leningrad. This honored Vladimir Lenin. After the Soviet Union fell, the name went back to St. Petersburg.
During World War II, Leningrad faced a terrible siege. German forces cut off the city. Hitler planned a victory banquet at the Astoria Hotel. But the city never fell. People starved and froze. They lacked water and electricity for almost 900 days. Millions died. Still, they defended their city.
Local radio played a ticking metronome. This meant the city’s heart still beat. Beneath The Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad, you can still hear it.
Originally, St. Petersburg was a marsh. Tsar Peter wanted a connection to Europe by sea. He ordered serfs to build the city. Every year 40,000 serfs were expected to come and bring their own tools. Many died on the way. Estimates say construction caused about 100,000 deaths.
The city’s metro is one of the deepest. This is because of the geology. The deepest station is Admiralteyskaya. It lies 86 meters below ground.
St. Petersburg has many bridges. There are 342 bridges in the city.
From mid-June to early July, St. Petersburg has White Nights. Sunlight lights up the city all day. The White Nights Festival features ballet and opera.
The Hermitage Museum is one of the most famous landmarks. If you were to look at each artwork for one minute for 8 hours a day, you would need 25 years to properly see everything.
\u0410\u043b\u043b\u0435\u044f \u043f\u0430\u0440\u043b\u0430\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0438\u0437\u043c\u0430 Stone is more than just a stone. It is a reminder of the city’s story. It stands as a symbol. It is a symbol of St. Petersburg’s unbreakable spirit.