Gondolas for the “Venice of the North”
St Petersburg, the Russian city often referred to as the “Venice of the North”, has been given its own fleet of gondolas.
A report in today’s edition of The Independent, accompanied with a striking photograph of a gondola passing in front of the city’s St Isaak Cathedral, stated that the initiative of a lawyer named Alexander Smirnov.
While his company Venetsia Nord has just six gondolas at present, he is planning to expand the service if it proves popular.
Smirnov is quoted as saying: “It will be great if the black swans of Venice go along the canals of St Petersburg,” adding that the boats are authentic “down to the last detail”.
The newspaper quotes one resident as saying that the fare for a trip, about 10 euros per hour, will preclude locals – and that St Peterburg’s changeable weather may also affect the success of the project.
Confusingly, The Independent reports that Peter the Great, the founder of St Petersburg, modelled the city on Amsterdam, not Venice – and that the city is also referred to as “the Paris of the East”.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season