Saint Petersburg Free Tour is somewhat equivalent to a private tour and the only difference is that you do not access the historic museums that need tickets, but in the rest, it is the same.
Saint Petersburg is called the Northern Versailles, hides many fascinating stories and buildings of a large history, artiSaintic and architectural interest, was founded by Tsar Peter the Great or Peter I, has been one of the most important hazans in the time of the Romanov dynasty.
In addition to its resemblance to the most beautiful European cities, it has been and remains a city of great political and strategic value, that is why Peter I has decided since before the construction of the first buildings that will be the capital of the Russian empire, a fact that has taken an extraordinary role in the events of Russian history.
The tour starts in the Palace Square, next to the Column of Alexander.
Some of the most emblematic places you see during the Saint Petersburg free walking tour:
- Walk through The Alexandervskiy Gardens
- Saint Isaac’s Cathedral (with the world’s largest golden dome)
- The Bronze Rider (the depiction of Tsar Peter I)
- Hike along the Neva River
- Panoramic view of Vasilievsky Island (with the buildings of the 18 century)
- Nevsky Avenue
- Stroganov Palace
- The Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan
- Walk in the banks of the Griboedov Canal
- Admire the dazzling exteriors of the Church of The Savior on Spilled Blood
- The municipal library
- And several points of great historical interest and unique beauty
For 2.5 hours of the Saint Petersburg Free Walking Tour we are accompanied by the English-speaking professional guide (OFFICIAL) to see almost all the emblematic places of the city, we talk about the history of the imperial capital of Russia.
History of Saint Petersburg
The Foundation of Saint Petersburg took place during the period of the Northern War with Sweden (1700-1721), when Peter I attempted to establish his authority over the entire territory along the Neva River.
The foundation stone of the city:
In the spring of 1703, the nienshanz fortress, which was located at the confluence of Ohta in the Neva, was taken. The fortress was in an awkward place, it was small and could not protect the Neva from the Swedish attempts to re-possess it.
Therefore, May 16, 1703, on the Hare Island in the Neva, Peter I decided to establish a new city and call it Saint Petersburg, in honour of his Saint.
The city of Saint Petersburg was originally a fortress made up of six bastions, and houses were built nearby for Peter and his friends, serfdom and nobles.
To this day a small wooden house of the king has been preserved, consisting of only two rooms.
First step of the city:
Since the beginning of the Saint Petersburg Foundation, there was not a single brick building, even the nobles lived in small mazanki-timyanki or rustic-style houses with wooden and thatched roofs. Naturally, this led to fires, especially the strongest fire that occurred in the summer of 1710, which, in one hour, completely destroyed the market.
In addition to the fires, the city was threatened by floods, since it was at sea level and the entire area was a swamp.
During the first period of construction, thousands of people died in the swampy ground and their bones stayed there, that’s why they also call it the city of bones.
The birth of the Russian fleet the change of the capital:
Almost immediately after the Foundation of Saint Petersburg, the construction of the Baltic fleet began. At the Olonets shipyard, as early as 1703, they had a fleet of 43 ships, and in 1705, shipbuilding began at the Admiralty shipyard in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg was conceived by Peter I as a bastion in the Baltic states, a commercial and military port, a “window to Europe”. But in 1713, the tsar made Saint Petersburg the capital of Russia. This was due to the fact that Peter did not like Moscow.
Do you want to know more about Saint Petersburg?
With our guides you will enjoy the city and its history in detail in Saint Petersburg free walking tour.
To do not miss the Saint Petersburg free walking tour, we recommend you to provide us with your phone number when you make the reservation
