One of the most pres­ti­gious cul­tur­al insti­tu­tions in the coun­try, the Mari­in­sky The­ater, has been daz­zling opera and bal­let goers since it was found­ed in 1859. A fit­ting set­ting for all the world-class dancers, singers, and musi­cians that have per­formed on its stage over the decades, the lav­ish­ly dec­o­rat­ed con­cert hall real­ly is a delight to gaze upon. Named after the wife of Tsar Alexan­der II, the Mari­in­sky The­ater is one of the best places in Saint Peters­burg to watch a show.