In the morning the Russian President's authorized representative in the Northwestern federal district, Ilya Klebanov, St. Petersburg governor Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the city's legislative assembly Vadim Tyulpanov and honored citizens of St. Petersburg laid flowers to the monument to Peter the Great, the founder of the northern capital, on Senate Square.
The flags of St. Petersburg were hoisted near the monument known as the Copper Rider. An orchestra played the city's anthem and guards of honor marched on the square.
After that, Matviyenko, Klebanov and Tyulpanov headed for the legislative assembly in the Mariinsky Palace to congratulate newly elected honored citizens of St. Petersburg.
The festivities continued in the Peter and Paul fortress. A gun fired in the czar's bastion to mark the 302nd anniversary of St. Petersburg and the 1000th anniversary of Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan (the Volga area). Valentina Matviyenko and President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiyev attended the ceremony.
The celebrations will last for 3 days.
