In the 18th century, after his visit to the French court, Peter the Great decided that he wanted to build a palace that would overshadow even the impressive Versailles. He set his architects and landscapers to work, and that was the beginning of Peterhof Palace.
The beautiful complex is still around town, and you can visit the impressive cascades in which over 150 fountains reside. The most famous and renowned among them is the Bolshoy cascade, which features 64 fountains and 225 bronze statues.
Poverty in Russia
So far, we have only shown you the beautiful and glamorous sides of Russian life. However, there are many people in this country who will never get the chance to experience this beauty and luxury. Official data states that there are currently roughly 21 million Russians who are living under the poverty line.
When that figure is compared with the general population, it emerges that 14% of the population earns less than $220 dollars per month. That figure has been growing each year for the past several years. This can be seen all around. Moscow, for instance, is one of the prettiest cities in the world, but it also has an astounding number of street beggars.
Remember the Hares
On the side of the bridge, which takes you to the Peter and Paul Fortress, there is a statue of a small hare in the water. The adorable sculpture was built to help the Russians commemorate the many hares that once ran free on the island where the fortress still stands.
There aren’t many hares left, unfortunately. The floods which plagued St. Petersburg in the 18th and 19th centuries wiped most of them out. According to legend, one hare did survive by jumping onto the boot of Peter the Great as the water was rising.
The Elegant Metro System
It seems like Russians know how to appreciate beauty if they have even turned something as functional as their subway system into the most beautiful in the world. The metro operates in and around Moscow and is considered a tourist attraction even if you don’t want it to take you anywhere. While using this underground mode of transportation, don’t forget to look around; you won’t regret it!
The ceilings are beautiful works of art, while the floor you walk on is spotless. Every metro station is unique and features a different work of art. There are also rumors that there is a special line known as Metro-2 that leads to secret military bunkers, but its existence has never been confirmed and probably never will be.
Is Russia Red?
The immensely popular tourist draw, the Red Square, was built in Moscow in the 16th century as a market. Over the years, it has become a symbol of the city as well as a must-see on visitor’s agendas. Countless coronations and public ceremonies have taken place in the square in the centuries since it was built.
Many people mistakenly believe that the name is a reference to the color which is identified with communism, but that is not the case. The name comes from the Russian word “Krasnyi,” which sounds like the word “red” but actually means beautiful.