One of the world's most beautiful cities, St. Petersburg has all the ingredients for an unforgettable travel experience: high art, lavish architecture, wild nightlife, an extraordinary history and rich cultural traditions that have inspired and nurtured some of the modern world's greatest literature, music, and visual art.   Created by Peter the Great in 1 703 to be his "window on Europe", St Petersburg combines its fascinating Russian heritage with a distinctly European outlook. Considered the cultural heart of modern day Russia, St. Petersburg is rapidly regaining its reputation as one of the Great Cities of Europe. From the mysterious twilight of the White Nights to world-beating opera and ballet productions on magical winter evenings, St. Petersburg charms and entices in every season. Among St. Petersburg's greatest visitor attractions are the incredible Imperial parks and palaces in the suburbs of the city. Built for generations of Romanovs, these extravagant and extraordinary estates reflect the individual tastes of each of Russia's remarkable leaders, as well as two centuries of European high fashions in architecture and landscaping