Peter the First (the Great) was a kind man but ruthless czar. He kept his habits throughout his life. Despite of his European dress and yearly visits to Europe he was Russian to the tips of his fingernails. Peter believed in God but never understood religion. He did not like public church services and prayers. In all his habits he was an immoral person by western moral standards. Czar loved wine, women and parties – in one word - everything that Russian men like today. He loved parties so much that some of his visitors died drinking. He traveled a lot and was a guest at his own house. He never repented or regretted of how he lived.

Neither was he a good father. He did not have time to raise his only living son Alexei, who grew increasingly religious and loved Moscow. He should have spent time with his father to understand him but instead he spent time in solitude. Eventually Czar ordered Alexei to study with a German tutor under supervision of Menshikov. But Alexei did not like St Petersburg, the sea and ships. Czar realized that his son was not fit to govern the country. If he did, Russia would be in hands of a religious nut. Unlike in the West, in Russia being a strong and able leader comes first. The religious and moral person comes last. After Alexei’s wife died giving birth, he runs away to Austria with his girlfriend. The intelligence tracked him down. Peter asked his son to return and promised forgiveness. Alexei came and died of torture at the age of 26 when Peter was 46.

Czar-reformer made many enemies and had a wide net of spies all over the state. Many of his favorites were found guilty and condemned but later pardoned. None of them were executed. That shows again the oriental mindset of the czar. Russians can forgive much. In Europe such favorites would be definitely executed publicly in name of the "justice"! Many Russian religious leaders and Christians disliked Peter calling him antichrist. But over the years the portrait of the Czar became more appealing. Some of the facts of his personal life were rarely mentioned. He ruled for the future of the country and not for the comfort of its current inhabitants.

The character of the czar can be seen in two buildings that are preserved for tourists: the log house on the city’s Petrogradskaya Storona and the summer residence in Peterhoff. The house in the center of St Petersburg has some of the furniture built by Peter himself. It is small and cozy. The summer palace was designed in French style mostly for the entertainment. The building is not big but can seat 180 people at one table. The doors open in a way that makes it possible.