The turreted red brick History Museum and the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed stand at opposite ends of the Square. The walls of the Kremlin flank it to the west, across which stands the enormous 19th-century GUM department store. Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg in an effort to open the country to Europe, and in 1712 the city became the capital of the Russian Empire. The diverse cultural heritage is sensed in majestic palaces and avenues, designed by important Italian architects of the times, an evocation of Czarist Russia's lavish ceremonies in its display of unlimited power. All majors of all levels can benefit from seeing and learning about these lasting architectural achievements and the history surrounding them.
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