St. Petersburg, built and existed for more than 300 years as the capital of the Russian Empire, has concentrated such colossal cultural and material values ​ ​ that even the strongest cataclysms of the 20th century could not dispel. Elegant palaces, elegant monuments, impressive bridges, richest museums, magnificent suburban palace and park ensembles - more than 18 thousand historical buildings and monuments are in St. Petersburg, 4 thousand are protected UNESCO.