Russian architecture has a rich and diverse history, shaped by various cultural, political, and historical influences. From its humble beginnings in the ancient Slavic tribes to its modern… Read More

Historical Events 1139 Capture of Pope Innocent II In 1139, Pope Innocent II found himself in a perilous situation as he was ambushed and taken captive by the forces of Roger II of Sicily… Read More

As a four-decade Certified Travel Agent, international airline employee, researcher, writer, teacher, and photographer, travel, whether for pleasure or business purposes, has always been a s… Read More

Smolny Cathedral interior looking straight up (Saint Petersburg, Russia) August 2019 This is my only decent photo of the Smolny Cathedral interior. There are two reasons for this. One is tha… Read More

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Many things can shape a city—its culture, history, social life, or food scene. But perhaps nothing is more visually pleasing than its architecture. Some buildings can completely fascin… Read More

Russia is full of wonderful travel destinations which will leave you spellbound. Everyone already knows about Moscow and St. Petersburg and the glorious monuments and other tourist attractio… Read More

It’s no accident that St Petersburg is known as the ‘Venice of the North’. The city is built on a network of hundreds of rivers and canals, all waiting to be explored. With… Read More

The most beautiful city in northeast Europe, the pearl of the former Tsarist empire, welcomes its tourists with a vast offer of palaces with… Read More