St. Petersburg tour is one of Russia's most popular tourism programs, which attracts millions of tourists every year. One of the reasons for the popularity of St. Petersburg in Russia is the large number of tourist attractions and places of interest and the number of entertainment and cultural programs in this beautiful and historic city. Visiting art, cultural, historical, political, and scientific museums or beautiful sights and magnificent imperial palaces to participate in modern entertainment programs and going to many cultural centers in this city are all activities that you can enjoy during the St. Petersburg tour programs. Of course, among the tourist attractions and entertainment programs of St. Petersburg, art museums such as the Hermitage Museum, which is the second-largest art museum globally, and cultural programs such as seeing art performances on the St. Petersburg tour are more popular. Given that St. Petersburg has been the capital of the Russian Empire for two centuries and then the cultural capital of Russia, this is not far off the mark. One of the main cultural and artistic performances that no tourist should miss the opportunity to see during the tour to St. Petersburg is the Russian Ballet.
Russian ballet is one of the most popular and essential theatrical and artistic performances in Russia, which, surprisingly, has only entered Russia in the 18th century. Peter the Great, who was very interested in Western culture and the reform of Russian culture, invited many artists from different European countries such as France, Italy, and Germany to settle in St. Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire, and bringing some parts of the western culture to Russia, including ballet. After the activity of foreign artists and masters in St. Petersburg and educating Russian artists, Russian ballet was gradually formed and later became one of the best theatrical performances in the world, so that many people around the world travel to Russia to see Russian ballet. We have already talked about the importance of watching Russian ballet during the Russia tour program. You can also visit our blog to find out about the best Russian ballet performances and the top ballet theaters and halls in Russia. Another of St. Petersburg's entertainment and tourism programs is walking around the city and visiting the significant sights of St. Petersburg. Here, we will introduce the route in St. Petersburg, at the end of which you will learn about the reasons for the glory of Russian ballet. Along the way, you will visit several museums, aristocratic and imperial palaces, famous theater halls, and many other places of interest related to Russian ballet.
Our tour begins at Palace Square and a visit to the Hermitage Theater, which was the site of Peter the Great Winter Palace before the 19th century. Peter the Great Winter Palace became a Lande dance school during the reign of Empress Anna and was replaced in the late 18th century by the Hermitage Theater. Giacomo Quarenghi built the Hermitage Theater at the request of Empress Catherine the Great on the site of the former Peter the Great Winter Palace. This theater, which is still one of the most famous theaters for Russian ballet in St. Petersburg, became one of the most important cultural centers in St. Petersburg from the beginning of its construction in the Russian Empire.
After visiting the Hermitage Theater, take the Nevsky Prospect to Arts Square to see another of St. Petersburg's most famous and essential theater halls, the Mikhailovsky Theater. The Mikhailovsky Theater is of particular importance in the history of Russian ballet. The theater was built in 1833 by order of Nicholas I and features famous French and German theater and ballet troupes. This theater is one of the most important cultural centers of St. Petersburg on tour to Russia, where you can visit and see some of the best Russian ballet performances. The Stray Dog Cafe on this street has hosted some of St. Petersburg's most famous ballet dancers and other artists since 1911, such as Anna Akhmatova, Osip Mandelshtam, and many others. It's another one of the places of interest on this tour program.
In the continuation of the cultural tour and acquaintance with Russian ballet, we go to the Theater Square and visit three of the most important cultural and artistic centers of St. Petersburg on the Russia tour. The Mariinsky Theater, number one and two, and the St. Petersburg Conservatory, named after the great Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov. The Mariinsky Theater and the famous composer Rimsky-Korsakov do not need much introduction in the history of St. Petersburg. From the very beginning, the Mariinsky Theater has been one of the most important and influential cultural centers in St. Petersburg, where many artists have performed memorable and historical performances. The St. Petersburg Conservatory also has a strong presence in this part of history. It has produced great artists both in the field of dance and choreography and in the area of classical music production in St. Petersburg. Today, many tourists on St. Petersburg tour prefer to choose Mariinsky Theatre as their number one choice of Theatre Hall in St. Petersburg.
Continuing the cultural tour of St. Petersburg and getting acquainted with the route of the glory of Russian ballet, we move to Ostrovsky Square. In the meantime, we also take Carlo Rossi Street, the famous Italian architect who has designed many famous and historical architectural projects in St. Petersburg. On this street is the Vaganova Ballet Academy, which has introduced great Russian ballet dancers and choreographers to the world. Afterward, tourists visit the Museum of Theater and Music headquarter, which is located next to the Alexanderinsky Theater. This museum is significant for getting acquainted with Russian ballet and theater history and its development through time. In general, like Arts Square and Theater Square, Ostrovsky Square are among the most important cultural centers of St. Petersburg on tour to Russia, and no tourist should miss the opportunity to visit them.
Another museum in St. Petersburg that helps to introduce Russian ballet and introduce this national dance to tourists on Russia tour is the Samilov Family Museum, which operates under the administration of the Museum of Theater and Music. This museum has dedicated a significant and essential part of its unique collection to the history of Russian ballet and the introduction of figures who have worked hard to develop this art in St. Petersburg. There are also notable exhibitions related to Russian ballet and Russian theater in this collection, worth visiting. Following the cultural tour of St. Petersburg, we can also visit the State Academy of Ballet and Theater, from which the significant figures of the Russian ballet and theater are introduced to the world. This academy has also played an essential role in the development of Russian ballet and its introduction to the world in Russian ballet history.
There are three other vital attractions on the St. Petersburg tour directly connected to the Russian Ballet, located in the Petrogradsky district, that you should visit during your tour to St. Petersburg. First, the Kschessinska Mansion, now home to the Museum of Political History. Second, the Boris Eifman Dance Academy, and next, the Museum of Russian Ballet, which is under the management of the Boris Eifman Dance Academy. Although a large part of the Kschessinska Mansion is dedicated to the Museum of Political History, part of the museum is still devoted to its initial owner, Mathilde Kschessinska, one of St. Petersburg's most famous ballerinas. No tourist interested in this art style should miss the opportunity to visit it. You can find out about other cultural centers in St. Petersburg that you can see during your travel to Russia by visiting our blog.
