Russia's former capital is certainly a marvel of ambition against the forces of nature.
The only serious way to get there is on an overnight train.
St Isaac's cathedral is one of the heaviest ever buildings, thanks to the fact that is appears to be entirely built of marble and semi-precious rock.
Full of Italianate painting - one would hardly have known this was Russia.
The Winter Palace, now the site of the world-famous Hermitage museum, stands proudly onto a neo-classical square and a whole neo-classical town.
Imagine waking up to this sight each morning!
Just opposite is the Peter-Paul Fortress, wrested by Peter the Great from the Swedes, and the foundation spot for St Petersburg.
However, the Soviet-era neglect of the city has left the city feeling somewhat hollow. Even the buildings reflect this - the facades are beautiful, while the unrenovated interiors are almost uninhabitable.
It's the town of Dostoevsky, and must be truly miserable in winter.
