ST. PETERSBURG Peter the Great’s city is a living, breathing museum of incredible architecture and imperial majesty, where tales of revolution and mystery can be found around every corner Founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, St. Petersburg is a young city in comparison to its European and even Russian counterparts. Despite this, it has built up a thrilling story as a center of intrigue, revolution and mystery. The first of Russia’s many revolutions was the Decembrist Revolt of 1825, following the sudden death of Tsar Alexander I. From 1825 onward, St. Petersburg experienced a flourishing of the arts known as the Golden Age of Russian culture. Rapid industrialization ensued in the second half of the 19th century as peasants poured into the city in search of work after Tsar Alexander II abolished serfdom. In 1917 Tsar Nicholas II and his family were murdered by the Bolsheviks. Civil war raged across the country until Stalin crushed the rebels and took control. A harsh Soviet period followed; the revival of the city began only in 1991 when voters elected to restore the original name of St. Petersburg. Must-sees Whether you choose to visit in the midst of a romantic and snowy Russian winter or during the long summer months, you will be spellbound by the city’s beauty and culture. St. Petersburg is known as the “City of 300 Bridges.” Peter the Great invited architects and engineers from Clockwise, from above: The Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood; the intricate ceiling inside St. Isaac’s Cathedral; a view of St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Neva River; a glittering statue at Peterhof Palace; the domes of the Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood all over Europe to build him a new, incredible Western capital. First to be built was the Peter and Paul Fortress on Zayachy Island; its gold-spired cathedral boasts the world’s tallest Orthodox bell tower. 114 EXPLORE MORE 2018
CITY GUIDE Next up is glittering Peterhof Palace, which was created on the Gulf of Finland to rival the Palace of Versailles. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the middle of the 18th century, Peter’s daughter Elizabeth commissioned the baroque Winter Palace, situated on the Neva River that flows through the heart of the capital. Make sure you visit St. Isaac’s Cathedral to gaze up at its colossal dome. And possibly the sight that is most synonymous with St. Petersburg is the Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood, with its colorful and swirling decorative onion domes. Shopping Head to the Kuznechny Market, where at the main entrance old ladies in Russian shawls sell woolen socks. Inside, Russian specialties such as caviar and cheeses are arranged in neat aisles waiting to be snapped up. For high-quality caviar, Yeliseev’s Food Hall is the go-to for Russian gourmands. Eating Discard dated stereotypes of flavorless but filling Soviet dishes and look forward to a range of establishments fit for a tsar, as well as cafés serving tasty traditional food. Quite possibly the best in Russia, the restaurant at the Grand Hotel Europe has a distinct atmosphere, as well as an amazing Art Nouveau interior and classical music performances. A charming chain of pie cafés known as Stolle exemplify the city’s new and relaxed approach to authentic Russian cooking. Do not leave without indulging in a good beef stroganoff or a blini, a thin pancake. Go online: Watch a video of the Waterways of the Tsars cruise at vrc.com/videos EXPLORE MORE 2018 115
EXPLORE more SEE MORE OF THE WORLD
WELCOME Welcome to our Explore More
80 PORTUGUESE MOMENTS 34 The Portug
CONTENTS 64 72 64 FAR EAST DISCOVER
INTERVIEW TOR’S FAMILY ALBUM Ragn
OUR AWARDS Viking is the World’s
GRAND European Tour Imagine 15 magi
GRAND Adventure Our Grand European
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Top to bottom: A windmill in Kinder
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Romantic DANUBE This voyage from Bu
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Scandinavian HISTORY The intrepid s
THE SCANDINAVIAN lifestyle One of t
SCANDINAVIAN food the Some of the m
SUKSESSTERTE This traditional Norwe
BERGEN Named as one of the secret c
North Stars Embark on a Baltic ocea
LANDS OF center to the Design Museu
Into the MIDNIGHT SUN This Nordic c
HELSINKI Dynamic, stylish and cosmo
In search of the NORTHERN LIGHTS Ex
with Denmark and Finland also in th
DALE OF NORWAY Famous for its class
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Mediterranean CULTURE From Greece a
MEDITERRANEAN food From the sun-soa
MEDITERRANEAN RECIPE LASAGNE AL FOR
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