Horses and modern art........man oh man....

St. Petersburg is a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea. It was the imperial capital for 2 centuries, having been founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, subject of the city's iconic “Bronze Horseman” statue. It remains Russia's cultural center, with venues like the ultramodern Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet, and the State Russian Museum showcasing Russian art, from Orthodox icon paintings to Kandinsky works.

Founded: May 27, 1703

Area: 556 mi²

Weather: 35°F (2°C), Wind S at 4 mph (6 km/h), 86% Humidity

Local time: Saturday 8:22 PM

Hotels: 3-star averaging $47, 5-star averaging $151. View hotels

Getting there: 11 h 45 min flight, from $862. View flights

Population: 4.991 million (2012) UNdata

Major export: Tourism

Clubs and Teams: FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, More