Across the river from the Peter and Paul fortress located the historical Summer Garden. Behind the beautiful wrought iron fence there is an old park that has witnessed some of the most spectacular moments in St. Petersburg’s early history.
Impressed by the royal parks that he had seen in Europe, Peter the Great was very keen to create something similar in his newly built «Venice of the North». In Peter’s new park everything was created according to the latest fashions; the trees and bushes were trimmed in the most elaborate way and all the alleys were decorated with marble statues and fountains. Peter the Great used to organize regular receptions and balls in the gardens, his » assamblei «, which involved dancing and drinking and impressive firework displays.
