Petrodvorets is situated on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, 29 km from Saint Petersburg. Its parks occupy a territory of about 1000 ha. In 1714 on a high littoral terrace a palace was founded (known as upper halls) and behind the palace the Upper Garden was laid out.

  At that same time construction of fountain cascades and sea channels began. There is a unique system of water-supply of the fountains which is based on the principle of communicating vessels. The fountains are connected by means of a water-main with springs welling out in the Ropshinsky Heights. It was also the time when the park later named as Lower was established there. In the middle of the XVIII century the palace was augmented upon the project of the architect Rastrelli.

  On the steep slope in front of the palace the Grand Cascade of fountains embellished with bronze sculptures and bas-reliefs dedicated to Russia's victories in the Northern war is located. It consists of 64 fountains. The bronze gilded sculptures are designed by Kozlovsky, Shoubin, Shchedrin and Martos. In the center of the cascade there is the famous sculptural group "Samson tearing the lion's jaws", symbolizing the victory of Russia over Sweden. At the base of the cascade there are fountains "Volkhov" and "Neva".

  In the lower park there were constructed the Marli Palace, the Hermitage and the Monplaisir Palace. The Monplaisir became the first picture gallery in Russia which contained a large collection of paintings of Dutch and Flemish masters. In front of the palace a garden with a fountain, parterre and several sculptures.

  The lower park was planned so that every palace had its portion of fountains : the Grand Cascade corresponds to the Grand Peterhof Palace, the Cascade of Dragons corresponds to the Monplaisir, the Cascade of Lions - to the Hermitage, the "Golden Mountain" cascade - to the Marli Palace.

  There are also two marble fountains in the square which bear resemblance to the fountain in front of the St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, hence their name, the "Roman" fountains.

  The Marli Palace is situated on the shore of a pond and opposite it there is the "Golden Mountain" cascade, the steps of which are faced with marble and gilded copper panels. The marble statues decorating the cascade are designed from the ancient original sculptures or brought in from Italy in 1870. In the park the alleys are laid out which are also adorned with fountains.

  Next to the Lower Park there is the Alexandria Park, the tsar residence of the XIX - XX centuries. The Alexandria is located in the littoral zone and the upper part of the coastal ledge. There are hundred-year-old oaks, lindens, maples, poplars as well as trees from Siberia, Kirghizia, the Far East and Europe.

The largest building in the Alexandria Park is a three-story cottage, standing on the edge of a steep slope descending to the sea. ...Как дружно эти водометы Шумят среди столетних древ, Днем и в часы ночной дремоты Не умолкает их напев. Изгибистым, разнообразным В игре причудливой своей Они кипят дождем алмазным Под блеском солнечных лучей. Ночь разливает сны и чары, И полон этих чудных снов, Преданьями своими старый И вечно юный Петергоф.