Peterhof

Peterhof (or Petrodvorets), Peter the Great's summer palace, is 30 kilometers west of St. Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland. We took a hydrofoil up the Neva River to get there. The photo below shows a distant view of the main palace from where the hydrofoil docks.

It's noted for its beautiful main palace, but since it's so similar to Catherine's Palace, having been remodeled by Rastrelli at Empress Elizabeth's behest, we did not visit it, but instead strolled the grounds (mined with tricky little fountains that go off unexpectedly, a private joke by the mischievous Peter).