The G8 summit held in St Petersburg in July was an endorsement of the city’s status as Russia’s fastest growing economic and business centre. Russia’s old imperial capital, which has already been declared a Unesco world heritage site, underwent a complete facelift prior to the arrival of the leaders of the world’s most powerful nations. New Latinised street signs were put up, the buildings in the historic centre were spruced up, and multilingual tourist guides known as ‘Angels’ were deployed in the street – all of which enhanced St Petersburg’s reputation as Russia’s most European city.
St Petersburg is the home of Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, who was determined to give his birthplace pride of place as Russia’s window on the EU. “Mr Putin has done all he can to raise St Petersburg’s status and restore its former grandeur,” says the city’s governor, Valentina Matviyenko, who two years ago was the first woman to be elected to the post of governor.
