St. Petersburg is a city and port in northwestern Russia, approximately 400 miles (640 km) northwest of Moscow. Founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter I (the Great), it served as the capital of the Russian Empire for two centuries (1712–1918) and is known as Russia’s cultural capital.
St. Petersburg is known for its harmonious blend of Western European and Russian architecture, its many waterways, and the White Nights, when daylight lasts nearly 19 hours. The city’s historic district became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1990.