SUMMER GARDENS and SUMMER PALACE

The Summer Gardens were designed in 1704 by Peter I who also planted its first trees. In addition to being a nice place for a stroll Peter used the gardens as the location for some of his strange festivities called "assemblies." The tsar would order the aristocrats to gather here with their wives and children. His soldiers would lock the gates and stand guard to ensure nobody left early and then distribute vodka, wine, and beer from huge barrels to all the guests, whether they wanted it or not. It was considered a faux pas of extraordinary magnitude to refuse to drink to the tsar's health and potentially quite dangerous to one's social position. At the end of the assembly those who could still manage to stagger would be free to go, their social position secure until the next assembly.

The statues (covered in the cold seasons) depict characters from Greek and Roman mythology as well as some historical figures. The gardens are also the location of Peter's Summer Palace, built between 1710 and 1714, which show how humbly this tsar lived relative to the more opulent style of Catherine the Great whose house is not too far from here. In autumn people stroll around wearing goofy hats woven out of golden leaves.

One of the main attractions of the Summer Gardens is the beautiful wrought-iron fence that borders the Neva embankment. Legend says that a 19th century English lord anchored his boat in the Neva opposite the Summer Gardens. The lord, an art connoisseur, admired the black and gold grille then immediately set sail for England, remarking that he had accomplished the goal of his voyage and that nothing could surpass the splendor of this sight. Hopefully you'll stay longer than this chump did.

Gardens open 08:00-22:00 (until 20:00 in the cold seasons); Summer Palace open 10:30-17:30 from May 1- mid of October, closed Tuesdays. Metro: Gostiny Dvor then trams 2, 12 or 34; Metro: Gorkovskaya then bus 25, 46 or 134. Palace tel: 314 0374.