By Susan Chalom

I traveled to St. Petersburg from Moscow by train and immediately stepped into something out of a fairytale. It is one of the most beautiful and opulent cities in the world, imbued with magic in the pastel colors, rococo design, and extremely light-hearted baroque-themed architecture. Influenced by its earlier female rulers, Catherine and her daughter Elizabeth, St. Petersburg combines a hip Scandinavian city with canals comparable to Amsterdam and a Parisian feel.

Not only does St. Petersburg have an impressive young, creative food scene, they also offer so much to see, such as the stunning Winter Palace painted a glistening aquamarine. Many amazing frescoes are enveloped in palatial architecture and gold leaf in the Neoclassical St. Isaacs Cathedral.

Faberge Museum also clearly exhibits incredible artistry that extends far beyond the classic Eggs. It presents beautiful enamel cigarette cases, matching malachite desk sets, silver and porcelain objects, clocks, and more extravagant gifts for those who once had it all.

One can never be bored in this city; in fact, one could spend months exploring just the treasures of The Hermitage. Visiting the Mariinsky Theatre for the ballet is a must. Amongst must-see sites are Catherine Palace, Gaudy Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Peter and Paul Fortress, and the Russian Museum.

The Grand Choral Synagogue was fully renovated in 2003, demonstrating impressive architecture. If one needs his or her fill of spine-chilling history, he can also visit Yusupov Palace, where Rasputin was fed cyanide cakes.

One of my favorite sites was the Peterhof Palace and Garden complex, which previously served as a residence to Russian monarchs. Not only does it have spectacular works of art, but it is set in the beautiful coastal landscape and outshines Versailles!

I always wanted to explore Russia because of its rich history, but I never imagined it would be this magnificent. I was lucky enough to visit during the White Nights, when the sun barely sets. I had to pinch myself throughout the entire trip to make sure it wasn’t all a dream!

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