Saint-Petersburg was founded on May 27, 1703. 
The plan of the city was developed personally by Peter the Great. The Neva river has prepared an ideal place for a fortress which has been incorporated here during the Northern war. The fortress has been named Saint-Petersburg, in honour of apostle Peter — the keeper of keys from the paradise and the heavenly patron of young emperor.
During the first decade the city has been developing as a fortress and a trading and military port of the Baltic fleet, but the sea trade has gradually transformed it into the economic centre. In 1710 the foundation Alexander-Nevskiy laurels and the subsequent transferring the body of sacred Alexander Nevsky here, Peter the Great has moved the spiritual center of the country to city on Neva. And in the same year the capital has been transferred here from Moscow. In 1712 the royal family, the Court and the main government facilities have moved here.
Initially building Saint-Petersburg Peter the Great wanted to create a «regular city», with a precise lay-out, built up on standard projects — a certain similarity of Amsterdam or Venice. Under the order of the emperor Z. B. Leblon’s architects and Domeniko Trezini have developed general plans of new capital. There have been constructed in the city: Peter’s Summer Palace, the house of Twelve Boards, Kunstcamera, Menshikov’s palace. In city all has been focused on Europe and was done on its image and similarity by its architects and builders. But it is visible, something has been incorporated in the most Petersburg character. Unusual and original character.
But nevertheless the spirit of Venice was soaring above Petersburg. In the 18th century the Venetian gondolas floated on the small rivers and channels of city. The Italian, German composers, musicians and theatrical set dressers created excellent performances at the capital theatres.
During the short reign of Peter II (1727—1730) the court has left for Moscow, construction of Petersburg has been suspended. But three years later, during the reign of Anna Ioannovna (1730—1740), Saint-Petersburg becomes capital of Russian Empire again. During the reign of Catherine II (1762—1796) the brilliant Petersburg is first of all associated with the Winter palace and Admiralty, the Nevsky avenue and granite quays of Neva, the Sink, Fontanka, the channel of Ekaterina and, certainly, The Copper Horseman erected on a rock not far from shipyards and the governmental buildings, magnificent palaces and temples.
Transformation operations of the city centre and the suburbs proceeded during the reign of Paul I (1796—1801). In that time was constructed Mikhaylovskiy Palace — a mysterious building of Saint-Petersburg with which even nowadays many legends are connected.
The victory of Russia over Napoleonic armies in 1812 has found reflection in a new rise of town-planning works in Saint-Petersburg. Those years have been created: the ensemble of Mikhaylovskiy palace, the ensemble of Aleksandrovskiy theatre, the houses of top government departments of Russia — the Senate and the Synod, the house of General Headquarters and ministries on the Palace Square. The ensemble of the Palace Square has been completed by the erection of granite Alexandrovsky columns. Also there has been constructed Isaakovskiy cathedral at the Isaakovskaya square.
Within reign of the emperor Nikolay I (1825—1855) the industry was developing. Saint-Petersburg has become the centre of Russian industrial capitalism. By the beginning of the 20th century Saint-Petersburg became true European city. The industry of Saint-Petersburg produced almost everything what such large state as Russian 
empire needed — from ships and the then-newest arms to any products of light industry. Also the city every year became more and more convenient place for habitation. Tens of bridges have connected islands on which Saint-Petersburg stretched. Several branch lines have connected the capital with the other regions of the country and the European countries. The tram which has appeared in 1907 at once became the basic and favourite type of transport of the citizens and solved many problems connected with the growing population of the city.
The first world war has caught unawares the city and the whole country. As the result of the Anti-German moods Saint-Petersburg was renamed into Petrograd in 1914. In 1917 the city has become the centre of drama events. «The city of three revolutions» has its certain monuments-symbols: Smolniy, the cruiser Aurora, the Field of Mars. In 1
924 after Lenin’s death bolshevists have renamed the city into Leningrad.
The Great Petriotic War (1941—1945) was the hardest trial for Leningrad. During the 900-day blockade (1941—1944) the city has lost about one million its inhabitants from cold, famine and bombardments. But the city stand out — it has never been occupied or won by anybody. Strongly destroyed by fascist aircraft, the city has been completely restored by 1950—1960.
In 1991 the historical record was put straight — to the city on Neva has been returned its original name — Saint-Petersburg.
Today Saint-Petersburg — the cross functional centre of the country with great opportunities in terms of attraction of investments, development of tourism, international communications. The construction of city, development and improvement of its infrastructure proceeds: the historical centre is restoring, new metro stations are building, railroad station, bridges cross Neva are rejuvenating, sports and entertaining complexes are being under construction, the airport and the river port is constructing, the 
Hermitage, Russian museum, the Pushkin house, Yusupovskiy palace, the Russian National library have acquired a new breath.
Under the decision of UNESCO Saint-Petersburg is recognized as the monument city of world culture. In 2003 the city has successfully celebrated the 300-year anniversary. On July 9th, 2006 the summit of the Group of Eight has been lead in territory of the Russian Federation for the first time and it is not surprising, that as the place of carrying out had been chosen Saint-Petersburg.
