The White Nights Of Saint Petersburg
Located at an extremely northern latitude on the European continent, the city of Saint Petersburg has a few days on its calendar when the sun barely sets, so that the day never ends. It is what are called white nights, an event that is lived with the intensity it deserves, with interesting events at any time of the day or night.
When do the white nights of St. Petersburg happen?
Saint Petersburg is very close to parallel 60 N. That is, there, just as there are winter days in which the sun is barely sensed, there is also a period of the year in which the star king does not cease to be seen. They are the white nights and they begin to be felt at the end of May and last until mid-July.
That is to say, the sky is illuminated 24 hours a day, although in what would be the night, the sky shines with the light of a long sunset that merges with sunrise. It is not something unique to Saint Petersburg, it occurs in many other places and, of course, in all its Baltic surroundings. But in the old capital of the tsars, people live in a special way.
Just to experience that sensational atmospheric effect it is worth planning a trip to St. Petersburg on those dates. But also, once you are there, you discover that the Russian city makes the most of those hours of light, so there is always something to do.
White nights: cultural and tourist strategy
To understand such a frenzy of activities, you have to consider the other side of the coin. Long winters make spring and summer especially lively in Saint Petersburg.
And all without forgetting the great cultural tradition of this city, which has a unique heritage, both in the form of old palaces from the time of the Tsars and in the form of museums, especially the Hermitage, one of the best museums in the world. For all this, without a doubt, it has become the great tourist capital of Russia.
It is true that many people travel to Moscow to see places like the Kremlin and its historic Red Square. But the truth is that there are more who prepare a getaway to Saint Petersburg, especially in the period of the white nights, when the city can surprise us with proposals like these :
1. ‘Night’ cruises on the canals of St. Petersburg
One of the most popular activities during the White Nights is the tours at night through the canals of Saint Petersburg. The reason is that from one o’clock in the morning the drawbridges of the city are raised for the passage of large ships that go from the Volga to the Baltic, crossing the Neva river that crosses the city.
2. White Nights Stars Festival
A classic from May to July in the city is the White Nights Stars Festival. It is an unmissable appointment for lovers of ballet, opera and music. And the appointment is the Mariinsky Theater, which offers a fantastic program.
3. Festival of the Scarlet Sails
The shortest night of the year is the summer solstice, and here darkness is non-existent. Well, on the Saturday closest to that moment in the solar calendar this festival is celebrated, in which High School graduates celebrate the end of the year.
Its name is due to the fact that a large ship with scarlet sails sails down the river, starring in a great open-air show. Meanwhile, the music does not stop in the Plaza de Palacio.
4. More festivals and events
During this period there are many more events, such as a jazz festival or the International Music Festival at the Ice Palace, where stars from all over the world perform. Classical music is also played in many concerts in different historical palaces. And the Festival of Sounds and Colors of the White Nights takes place, where the protagonists are the most talented children.
In addition, there are spectacular events such as the opening of wonderful fountains, including those in the Peterhof gardens. And even for 30 years, the long days at the end of June have been used to organize a massive marathon attended by runners from all over Russia and Europe. So now you know, if you are well prepared, you will be able to do sports and tourism in a single trip.
