ABOUT OUR CITY

St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is often referred to as the Venice of the North or the Paris of the East, but its beauty is really a brand all its own. From the White Nights festival during the mysterious summer twilight to top theater and ballet productions and concerts on magical winter evenings, the city offers a vibrant cultural life that is second to none.

CITY PROFILE

• Location: Eastern Europe, the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea (Gulf of Finland)

• Latitude: 59 degrees 57'

• Longitude: 30 degrees 19' East

• Time Zone: St. Petersburg is in the same zone as Moscow: UTC/GMT +3. So, when it's 12:00 in St. Petersburg, it's 04:00 in New York, 09:00 in London, 10:00 in Berlin and 20:00 in Sydney.

• Founded: 16 (27) May, 1703

• City's birthday: celebrated each year on May 27

• Population: 4 million 750 thousand

• Main river: Neva. The city is located in the delta of the Neva River on numerous islands, a fact which prompted some observers to call it "The City on 101 Islands"

• Main natural phenomena: White Nights, Floods

• Origin of the name: Origin of the name: named in honor of St. Peter and not Peter the Great, the founder of the city. The name can be translated as "The City of St. Peter". St. Petersburg, FL was named in honor of St. Petersburg, Russia by Russian-born railroad builder Piotr Dementyev (Peter Demens).

• Name changes:
  May, 1703 - August, 1914 St. Petersburg
  August, 1914 - February, 1924 Petrograd
  February, 1924 - July, 1991 Leningrad
  July, 1991 - Present St. Petersburg

• Nicknames:
  - "The Venice of the North" (referring to St. Petersburg's many rivers and canals)
  - "The Palmyra of the North"
  - "The Northern Capital of Russia" (referring to the centuries-old rivalry between St. Petersburg and Moscow)

• Symbols:
  - the Angel with a Cross (weather-vane on top of the Peter and Paul Cathedral)
  - the Little Ship - Korablik (weather-vane on top of the Admiralty tower)

• Main cultural attractions: The Hermitage Museum, The Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theater, The Imperial palace and park ensemble at Peterhof

• The Seal: A sea anchor and a river anchor with a scepter - a symbol of royal power - on a red field.

• Local government: The Governor and the Governor's Office, The Legislative Assembly

• Zoning: 20 administrative districts, including satellite towns under St. Petersburg's jurisdiction

• Airports: Pulkovo II (International), Pulkovo I (Domestic)

• Sea port: Passenger terminal on Vasilievsky Island

• Railroad Stations: Moscow station, Finland Station, Vitebsk Station, Baltic Station, Ladozhsky Station