PALACE SQUARE

Designed by Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, Palace Square is the central city square in St. Petersburg. Like the Red Square in Moscow, the Palace Square has witnessed a fair share of bloodshed, with several assassinations taking place here.

The Northern end of the Square is occupied by the Winter Palace, several larger than life statues, and a number of ornate columns. Magnificently lit up in the late evening hours, the Palace Square is one of the best places to visit in St. Petersburg at night, and is often frequented by pedestrians looking for a casual evening stroll.

Location: St Petersburg, Russia, 191186.

Highlights: Royal palaces, State Hermitage Museum, statues, ornate columns.