Nestled on the Neva River, it spreads out from its banks and across a series of islands that lie within the river delta.

涅瓦河自沿岸穿越聖彼得堡市區，也流經涅瓦河三角洲周遭的島嶼。

With a wealth of extravagant palaces,

聖彼得堡市區有很多豪華的宮殿，

breathtaking cathedrals and magnificent gardens,

令人嘆為觀止的大教堂和壯麗的花園，

St Petersburg is truly Russia’s Imperial city.

聖彼得堡是實至名歸的俄羅斯皇城。

Its grandiose architecture and picturesque canals

宏偉的建築和風景如畫的運河

were born from the glitering ambition of

於 18 世紀早期，

Peter the Great early in the 18th century,

正值彼得大帝盛世時所建立，

and progressively gilded by generations of Russian royalty. 

並且持續了好幾個世代的極盛時期。

Over the centuries, this dynasty sought to create

幾個世紀以來，這個皇朝一直在尋求

a city to rival the greatest cities of Europe,

建立一個與歐洲最偉大城市媲美的城市，

and as you step onto the cobblestone streets here,

當你踏在這裡的鵝卵石街道時，

you’ll discover they succeeded.

你會發現他們成功了。

Most visitors start their adventures

大多數遊客來到

right in the heart of historic St Petersburg.

聖彼得堡歷史中心，開始他們的旅程，

Palace Square is dominated by the Alexander Column and is home to the Winter Palace.

亞歷山大柱位於冬宮廣場的中心，也就是冬宮的所在地，

This monumental palace is a legacy of Catherine the Great

這座紀念性的宮殿是凱瑟琳大帝的遺產，

and was designed to reflect the might and power of Imperial Russia.

旨在反映俄羅斯帝國的權力和力量。

Experience some of the country’s most extravagant architecture

沿著主要大道涅瓦大街漫步，

by strolling along Nevsky Prospect, the city’s main avenue.

體驗俄羅斯最奢華的建築風景。

During St Petersburg’s construction,

在聖彼得堡建造時期，

Peter the Great banned the use of stone elsewhere in Russia

彼得大帝禁止在俄羅斯以外的地方使用石頭，

so wealth and talent poured into the city.

於是，財富和人才湧進了這個城市。

Visit the Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood,

參觀滴血救世主教堂，

with its extraordinary mosaics

欣賞那令人讚嘆的馬賽克藝術，

and Kazan Cathedral, another architectural gem.

以及另一個建築瑰寶─喀山主教座堂。

Further along the river is St Isaac’s cathedral,

沿著河岸過去，是聖以撒主教座堂，

whose gold plated dome has been glittering under Russia’s sun

那鍍金的圓頂在俄羅斯的太陽下，

for more than 100 years.

已經閃耀了 100 多年。

Climb to the top for superb views over the city.

爬上山頂，一起欣賞這個城市的美景。

St Petersburg was also important strategically as it gave Russia

聖彼得堡的位置在戰略上也很重要，因為它是俄羅斯

a year-round gateway to the Baltic Sea.

長年通往波羅的海的門戶。

Admire the golden spire of the Admiralty building

遙望海軍部大廈金色的穹頂，在那裡，

where more than 10,000 tradesmen toiled around the clock

超過 10,000 名商人全天候辛勤地工作，

to create Russia’s first warships.

建造了俄羅斯第一艘戰艦。

Just across the river is the Peter and Paul Fortress,

河的對岸是彼得保羅要塞，

St Petersburg’s original citadel.

這裡是聖彼得堡最初的堡壘，

The cathedral here is the oldest church in the city

這裡的大教堂是這座城市最古老的教堂，

and the final resting place of many Russian Emperors and Empresses.

這裡也是許多俄羅斯皇帝和皇后養老的地方。

The days of Imperial Russia may be over

俄羅斯帝國的時代可能已經結束，

but the echoes of treachery and intrigue still resonate in regal estates all over the city.

但當中充滿背叛和陰謀的詭譎氛圍，仍然濔漫在整個皇室之中。

Take a hydrofoil to the sumptuous Peterhof Palace and Gardens complex

乘坐水翼船前往豪華的彼得霍夫夏宮和花園，

which was created to rival the Palace of Versailles in France.

這個宮殿的設計足以媲美法國凡爾賽宮。

Stand before the shimmering waters of the Great Cascade,

站在大瀑布前，

a triumph of engineering with more than 60 fountains runing entirely without pumps.

這裡著名的是 60 個噴泉都不用泵浦加壓的工程。

To the South East of the city is the Catherine Palace,

凱瑟琳宮殿位於城市的東南部，

its roof gilded with more than 100 kilograms of gold.

屋頂上的鍍金超過 100 公斤。

Back in the heart of the city, visit the Summer Palace and Gardens.

回到市中心，參觀夏宮和夏園。

Imagine the extravagant balls that were once held here

想像一下曾經在這裡舉辦的奢華舞會，

and see where Tsar Peter planned the graceful canal system

看看彼得大帝計畫建造的

that spreads throughout the city’s many islands.

可以連接城市各個島嶼的運河系統。

These elegant waterways, crossed by over 300 bridges,

這些優美的水道穿過 300 多座橋，

are the perfect compliment to the city’s soaring spires.

與城市的尖塔並列為著名的景點。

As the sun sets, take a canal cruise to discover the romance of St Petersburg at night.

日落時分，乘坐運河遊船，享受聖彼得堡夜晚的浪漫。

Pass through a network of draw-bridges

在遊船時經過運河系統所連接的網絡，

on a journey that shows the true scale of Peter the Great’s vision.

一窺彼得大帝願景的實際呈現。

Romantic, opulent and spectacular,

浪漫，華麗、壯觀，

St Petersburg is a glittering testiment to Russia’s royal history

聖彼得堡是俄羅斯王國輝煌歷史的見證，

and a celebration of the power of one man’s dream. 

也是每個人慶祝自已夢想實現的地方。