Leningrad in Three Days [antikvár]

Leningrad is among the world's most beautiful cities. Though itis comparatively young and has no ancient ruins or exotic beauty tooffer, a visit to Leningrad is an unforgettable experience.Many people find parts of Leningrad which remind them of theirown cities, seeing Paris in the tranquil embankments and steep roofs,Venice in the canals and bridges, Prague in the shady parks andmajestic palaces. But this is but a first and ephemeral impression, forLeningrad is a unique city among cities.The world knows Leningrad as the cradle of the Great OctoberSocialist Revolution, as the city which endured the 900-day fascistblockade and survived victorious. It is a great politicaleconomic andcultural centre of the Soviet Union, the embodiment of our people'sglory; its revolution, its military feats and its labour. A Hero-City, ahard-working city.Leningrad is closely linked with the life and work of Lenin. Here,at the turn of the century, Lenin began his revolutionary career and laidthe foundations of the Communist Party. In the city's working-classdistricts Lenin held Marxist groups and trained professional revolution-aries from among the workers. And it was in this city on the Neva Riverthat Lenin made his historic pronouncement: the Socialist Revolutionhad triumphed, and the world's first workers' and peasants' state hadbeen born! It was here that Lenin declared the Soviet power's peacefulpolicy, a policy which the Communist Party and the Soviet Governmenthave been following faithfully and consistently ever since.One can truly call Leningrad the home of Russian culture, for herePushkin, Chaikovsky, Dostoyevsky, Rastrelli, Gogol, Tolstoy, Repin andShostakovich lived and created their immortal works.One can wander around the streets, squares and museums ofLeningrad, admiring the work of world-famous architects, painters andsculptors, coming into contact with the history of this wonderful cityand meeting its hospitable and friendly people.This guidebook suggests a programme of excursions which atourist can manage in a three-day visit to Leningrad, taking in the mostinteresting places in the city. The division of the excursion routes overthree days is of course by no means obligatory, and every tourist canarrange the order in which he visits the sights of Leningrad as time andinterests dictate. Items marked by asterisks are of special interest.We hope that this guidebook will be a helpful companion on yourvisit to Leningrad.