St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and one of the most beautiful ones in the world. It was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great as the "Window on Europe." St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia from 1712 till 1918.

The city was built on the swampy land at the mouth of the Neva river. Prominent European and Russian architects worked here. The new capital grew rapidly in wealth and beauty.

Now St. Petersburg is an industrial, cultural and scientific centre. There are over 80 museums, more than 20 theatres, a lot of exhibitions, clubs and parks. The Alexandrinski Drama Theatre, the Bolshoi Drama Theatre, the Mariinsky Theatre of Opera and Ballet are pearls of the Russian art.

A lot of parks and gardens allow citizens and guests to enjoy their free time. The Summer Garden is the oldest and most fascinating park. Rare trees, bushes and flowers grow there. Beautiful marble statues made by Italian sculptors and a famous cast iron grille decorate the Summer Garden. 

St. Petersburg is famous for its magnificent architectural ensembles of the 18th and 19th centuries. The city began with the Peter and Paul Portress built to protect the Neva banks from Swedish invasion. Later Domeniko Trezzini, the famous Swiss architect, reconstructed the fortress. It became a prison. Now it is a museum. Trezzini erected the Peter and Paul Cathedral here, and Russian tsars were buried in it.

The most famous square in the city is the Palace Square with its grand surroundings. Here one can see the Winter Palace built by Rastrelli. Till the revolution it was the residence of the Russian tsars. Now the Winter Palace and four other buildings are occupied by the Hermitage, one of the oldest art museums in Russia. There one can see masterpieces of outstanding artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, Velazquez and other unique works of art.

The streets and squares in St. Petersburg are also very beautiful. Nevsky Prospect is the main street of the city, where there are amazing buildings, shops, hotels and the remarkable Kazan Cathedral (by Voronikhin) with a colonnade and monuments to M. Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly. Here in the prospect one can see the magnificent building of the Admiralty (by Zakharov) and the ensemble of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Famous Russian writers, painters, composers and actors were buried in the Lavra.

The city is often called the Venice of the North because there are 65 rivers and canals with artistically decorated cast iron bridges. Within the dates of the conference, St. Petersburg will be especially splendid. "White nights", when there is no need for lightening the streets all night long, give a chance to fell special charm of the city.