It is no doubt that St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful and touristy places in the whole world. Some of the things that contribute to the overall beauty of the place are the various buildings and structures which have these stunning architectures. Although these can be explored by foot or on wheels, there is another way of seeing these lovely landmarks of St. Petersburg – through a river cruise.

River cruises have been popular in St. Petersburg for some time now, and is still gaining more patrons as the rivers and canals become a busy thoroughfare of small and big tour boats. Companies that offer river tours are increasing in the area, and more are expected to be put up in the future, which is only normal as more and more people are wanting to experience seeing St. Petersburg from a different angle.

From the rivers and canals you can see and be awed as you pass by some of St. Petersburg’s most beautiful buildings and panoramic views. Some of these include grand and majestic palaces situated near the river banks like the Sheremetev Palace and Yusupov Palace. The Sheremetev Palace was constructed sometime in the middle of the 1700s, and boasts of a wonderful baroque architecture which is obvious from the white columns and yellow walls and the ornately designed windows. The Fountain House, as it is also called, was called such because of the many fountains that once adorned its front lawn. Other famous palaces that can be seen are Mariinsky Palace, Marble Palace, the Naryshkin-Shuvalov Palace to name a few.

Aside from these, you can also see government buildings which have served historical and political importance not just the in the past decades but centuries. One such building is the Winter Palace which can be seen from the Neva River. The building used to serve as the house of Russian Monarchs from the 18^th to the early 19^th centuries. Its green and white walls, along with its immense size give justice to its name. The palace underwent several renovations and restorations, and the last one – the one that you can see now, is an Elizabethan Baroque architecture which was the fad back in those days.

Churches are also popular landmarks in the area, like the Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas, or also known as the Sailor’s Cathedral. It has blue walls and white columns and trimmings, and the most eye-catching feature of the cathedral are the golden domes and crosses that top the towers of the church. The church was built in the 18^th century, and like other ancient buildings, has gone several renovations, and has become more beautiful since then.

The numerous rivers and canals of St. Petersburg make it a great place for a river cruise, whether it is with a special someone, family, or friends. With these things and the beautiful landmarks, it is no wonder that St. Petersburg is becoming known as the “Venice of the North.”

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Photo by achillifamily on Flickr