Russia is a land defined by contradictions. In the heart of one of the harshest environments on Earth lies the beautiful and refined city of St. Petersburg. A mixture of traditional Russian culture and modern global technology combine to create a city that really has no counterpart.St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia, following the capital of Moscow. The Russian culture is at its most prominent in this city, and traveling to St. Petersburg will show you just how true this really is. You will need a passport in order to travel outside the United States. However, filling out a American passport application form online can get this process started for you.

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A large part of Russian culture is embedded in love of the arts. This is made obvious if you consider the number of Russian composers, artists and authors. This also comes as no surprise if you have ever enjoyed the world famous Russian Ballet Company. This artistic love is quite evident in St. Petersburg as there are over fifty theatres in this beautiful city including the Mariinsky Theatre. Home of the world famous Mariinsky Ballet Company, this city is known for some of the best known ballet stars of the entire world.

Winter Palace is certainly one of the most popular and visited sites in St. Petersburg. It is the home of the Hermitage Museum and you will find it located in Palace Square. Exhibited here are over 3 million pieces of world famous art including pieces by Ruebens, Michelangelo and Da Vinci.

Located in the center of harsh wasteland, it is surprising to find beautiful, lush gardens within the boundaries of St. Petersburg but, nevertheless, that is exactly what you will find. Summer Gardens is one of the favorites and here you will be able to enjoy tree lined walkways, streams and ponds as well as an array of foliage and flowers. It makes a perfect conclusion to a busy day of sightseeing.

Vasilievsky Island is a great place to spend a day, as many popular sites can be found here. Andreyevsky Cathedral displays stunning architecture and an imposing stature. Considered one of the most beautiful religious buildings on the island, it serves as a beautiful example of Russian art and architecture. Kunstkamera, translated as the Room of Curiosities, is the Russian equivalent to Ripley's Believe It Or Not. All sorts of strange and deformed artifacts from all over the world can be found in this museum. Other sites to see on the island are the ancient Theban Sphinxes, the Rostral Columns, Rumyantsevsky Park and its Obelisk, and the Menshikov Palace.