Built on the Neva River by Peter the Great in 1703 as the Window to Europe, the "Northern Capital" remains a huge tourist attraction with its gorgeous architecture, and many ways, the cultural center of Russia.
But the "white-stone" city (Moscow Kremlin's walls were once white, not red) regained the title in 1918, when Vladimir Lenin moved his government into the old capital as a matter of prudence and precaution, and the seven hills boast plenty of their own flavor and history.
The star on top of the Water Tower of the Moscow Kremlin.
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© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich
St. Isaac Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.
Dismantling of the Bank Bridge sculptures for restoration in St. Petersburg.
The monument to the first man in space Yury Gagarin in Moscow.
A football-shaped sculpture at the University Embarkment in St. Petersburg.
Floating bridge at the Zaryadye Park in Moscow.
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© Sputnik / Alexei Danichev
Icebreaker festival at the Neva River in St, Petersburg.
Visitors at the Zaryadye park in Moscow.
Strollers at the Summer Garden in St. Petersburg.
Nikola the Miracle Maker temple in Moscow.
A man bathing in the Neva River in St. Petersburg.
Passers-by on the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge in Moscow.
Petropavlovskaya Fortress gate in St. Petersburg.
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© Sputnik / Vitaliy Belousov
Presidential Regiment horsemen during a rehearsal at the Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin.
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© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich
Vasilyevsky Island's arrow in St. Petersburg.
Visitors at the Zaryadye park in Moscow.
HC SKA fans at the Palace Square in St. Petersburg during the parade celebrating the club's 2017 win in the Gagarin Cup.
