This book is aimed at those readers who are interested in the history, architecture and cultural life of St Petersburg. St Petersburg has always played an important role in the architectural history of Russia. In 1703, Peter the Great, in his attempt at modernism, decided that his new capital should be the first Russian city to be built entirely of stone, using bricks and mortar, as well as natural stones. For the first time, this book discusses the history of St Petersburg's construction in stone and its architecture. Although the subject matter is rather extensive, the author has tried to present the information in a comprehensive and engaging way, in a hope that it would be useful to visitors who would like to discover more interesting aspects of St Petersburg architecture.