Did you hear about the cats saving St Petersburg from rodents? We are standing near a place that indirectly benefited from their heroic actions. Let me tell you about St Petersburg. This city has many interesting stories. One concerns our viewpoint.
St Petersburg is a city of many names. It was founded by Tsar Peter the Great. The city was named after the Tsar’s patron saint. After World War I, its name changed to Petrograd. This sounded less Germanic. After the socialist revolution, it was renamed Leningrad. This honored Vladimir Lenin. After the fall of the Soviet Union, it reverted to St Petersburg. Locals often call it Piter.
St Petersburg became Russia’s capital in 1712. It remained the capital for 200 years. The Revolution of 1917 moved the capital back to Moscow. The city is known as the Venice of the North. This is because of its canals and many bridges. St Petersburg has 342 bridges. Peter I wanted the city to be like Venice. People would travel by boat.
St Petersburg faced a terrible siege during World War II. German forces surrounded Leningrad. Entry and exit points were cut off. Hitler planned a banquet at the Astoria Hotel. He never conquered the city. People starved. They endured freezing temperatures. They lacked water and electricity for almost 900 days. Millions died. They protected their city. Local radio played a ticking metronome. This showed the city’s heart still beat.
The city had another problem. Rodents infested food stores. They spread diseases. About 5000 cats were drafted. They controlled the rodents. You can find bronze cats on Malaya Sadovaya Street. One is named Yelisei. The other is Vasilisa. Make a wish. Throw money at Yelisei’s feet.
St Petersburg has long tram tracks. They cover at least 600 kilometers. This earned it a Guinness World Record. The city’s metro is one of the deepest. Admiralteyskaya station is 86 meters below ground. This is because of the city’s geology.
The Hermitage Museum is famous. It has over 3 million art pieces. You could spend 25 years exploring it. The Peter and Paul Fortress marks the city’s founding. Nevsky Prospekt is its main avenue.
St Petersburg has a unique phenomenon. From mid-June to early July are the White Nights. The city is lit by sunlight almost all day. The White Nights Festival features ballet and opera. The Mariinsky Theatre is a renowned venue.
St Petersburg is noisy. It ranks high in noise pollution. The Alexander Column is unique. It is held up by gravity. The Chizhik-Pyzhik statue is prized. It is said to make wishes come true.
St Petersburg. It is a city of resilience. It is a city of art. It is a city of light. It is a city of stories.