There are many palaces turned into museums in Saint Petersburg. These provide you with a glimpse of what life was like in the time of emperors and empresses. One of the places I decided to visit during my stay was Pavlovsk Palace.
Isfahan is one of my favorite cities in all the countries I've been to. It has an old world charm minus the droves of tourists. It also has an artistic vibe with the many works of art, frescoes, poets and artisans selling their handmade products.