Leningrad (USSR name) is a city located in northwestern Russia, on the banks of the Neva River, which flows into the Gulf of Finland. The city was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great and named Saint Petersburg in his honor. From 1924 to 1991, the city was called Leningrad, in honor of the revolutionary leader Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
During the existence of the USSR, Leningrad was an important political, economic and cultural center of the country. The city was associated with the formation of the Soviet state: it had the famous provisional government, the cruiser Aurora, and outstanding institutions and cultural centers were created.
During the Great Patriotic War, Leningrad was one of the key cities, trapped in a blockade by Nazi troops from September 1941. Without communication with other cities, Leningrad survived thanks to the heroism of its residents and the help of other Soviet regions. The city was liberated in early 1944.
During the post-war development, Leningrad became a powerful cultural center of the USSR. The best theaters, museums, galleries and libraries were created here. The Leningrad Theater named after M. Gorky, the Comedy Theater named after N. Akimov are just some of the outstanding cultural institutions of the city.
In 1991, after the collapse of the USSR, Leningrad returned to its historical name – Saint Petersburg. Currently, the city remains one of the largest cultural centers of Russia and attracts millions of tourists from all over the world.