Saint-Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia. It is a well known cultural and an important educational and scientific center. UNESCO recognized Saint-Petersburg as one of the 10 most beautiful cities in the world. It impresses one by a combination of magnificent architecture with strict planning of its broad streets, squares, parks, gardens, canals and museums of great rarity. It could be rightly called an open-air museum. The cold, marshy plain was transferred into a miracle-city by man's efforts and the dull northern environment has also become part of Saint-Petersburg's charm.