St. Petersburg, the former capital of imperial Russia, was founded by Czar Peter the Great in 1703 on the Nieva River. As a symbol of Russian's resolute turn to Europe, the city is often compared with Venice. This might be a misnomer, because everything here is of a bigger scale. Wide rivers replace narrow canals. Indeed, the city was built to showcase the imperial grandeur. Palaces like the Hermitage, Peterhof and Pushkin are world-class heritage sites. A walk along the esplanade of Nieva brought one face to face with the tumultuous period of the October Revolution. In short, a visit to St.Petersburg is a must for anyone interested in the modern history. It is above all, a stunningly beautiful city.