Travel Notes

Renovation mostly historical

This summer, St. Petersburg will reopen its famous Summer Garden, the oldest park in the city Peter the Great founded in 1703. The park has been closed to the public for over two years while undergoing extensive reconstruction, causing plenty of contentious debate in Russia’s second city.

The scope of the changes to the romantic park is unclear. Officials have stated that the project has aimed to recreate the park’s original plan, resurrecting paths that date to the Petrine era. Eight fountains have been added, and old or dying trees have been replaced. The park’s famous sculptures were moved to a museum and replaced with replicas.