Founded in 1703 by Russian Emperor Peter the Great, St. Petersburg was, and still is, Russia's "Window to the West." Made up of more than one hundred islands and criss-crossed by some 60 canals, St. Petersburg is often referred to as the "Venice of the North." Some of the city's great sites include Imperial palaces along the Neva River, the Admirality, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Hermitage Museum, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Summer Garden, and, of course, the Mariinsky Theatre.

For more information on St. Petersburg's rich musical history, please visit the St. Petersburg Music Guide.