Hermitage Museum - 2-2.5 hours. One of the biggest museums of the world, founded in 1764; its collection counts over 2.7 million items, including masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rodin, Rembrandt, Rubens, French impressionists, etc. Gala rooms of the Winter Palace, a former royal residence, are open for visitors.
Winter Palace (Gala rooms) - 2 hours. The Winter Palace, a former residence of the royal family, was built in the 18th century in Russian baroque style by Bartolommeo Rastrelli. The main Ambassadorial Staircase leads on to two suites of gala rooms. The larger suite contains the Grand Fieldmarshal Hall; the Minister Study; the Memorial Room of Peter the Great, or the Small Throne Hall; the Armorial Hall; the 1812 War Gallery; the St. George Hall, or the Grand Throne Hall; the Church and the Apollos Hall. Former residential rooms include the Green Dining Room, the Rotunda, the Arab Hall, the Private Dining-Room, the Malachite Room and the Boudoir. The Neva suite is composed of the Concert Hall, the Great Hall, the Antechamber and the Peter Gallery.
Marble Palace - 2 hours. Built in 1785 by Antonio Rinaldi, the Marble Palace is a vivid example of early classical style. A monument to Alexander III mounted (sculptor Mikhail Trubetskoi) has recently been erected in front of the palace. The relationship between the Russian and European art is the focus of attention of exhibitions held in the palace. The permanent exhibition, Foreign Painters in Russia, presents works by painters and sculptors from France, Germany and other European countries who worked in Russia in 18-19 centuries. Another permanent exhibition, The Gift of Peter and Irena Ludvig to the Russian Museum, is dedicated to post-war Russian and European painting. The Marble Palace also houses international exhibitions of modern art.
Russian Museum - 2 hours. Collection of Russian art which includes over 300 000 works of Russian painters starting from the 11th century. Masterpieces of great icon-painters such as Andrei Rublev and Simeon Ushakov, artists Brullov, Repin, Surikov, Vereshchagin, Venetsianov, Petrov and Serov. The collection is displayed in 3 buildings. The main one is the Michael Palace, built for Grand Prince Michael in 1819-1825 (architect Rossi).
St. Isaac's Cathedral - 1.5 hours. One of the most beautiful and tallest buildings with a cupola 101.5 meters high. It was built during 40 years (1818-1858) to the design of French architect August Monferan in Russian classical style. It is interesting not only for its architectural style and construction technology but also for its interior decorated with 150 paintings, 62 mosaics, sculptures of Russian and Italian sculptors.
Peter-and-Paul Fortress - 1.5-2 hours. The oldest monument of history and architecture in St. Petersburg. The construction began in 1703. It was built as a fortification during the Russian-Swedish war, but it was never used as a fortress and its bastions were turned into political prison cells. There a son of Peter the Great, Prince Alexei, a famous pretender to the throne, Princess Tarakanova, writer Radishchev, Decembrists, narodniks and revolutionaries were held prisoners. Peter-and-Paul Cathedral designed by Tresini was the burial-vault of Russian emperors since 1725.
Yusupov Palace - 1.5 hours. The residence of an old and noble Russian family - the Yusupovs. It was also the site where Rasputin was murdered. Gala and residential rooms of the palace are open to visitors. Concerts of classical and folk music are held there.
COUNTRY RESIDENCIES OT THE ROYAL FAMILY
Peterhof (Petrodvorets) - 1.5 hours. The imperial summer residence on the Gulf of Finland, 29 km from the city. At the beginning of the 18th century palaces were built and parks with fountains were constructed under the order of Peter the Great to commemorate the victory of the Russian army over the Swedes near Poltava. The highest fountain of Peterhof, depicting Samson (21 m), was built as a symbol of that victory 25 years after the battle. The tour of the Big Palace includes gala halls, residential rooms and studies. Here art pieces of the 18th and the 19th centuries such as paintings, clocks, chandeliers, dinner sets and decorative lacquer panels are displayed.
The Monplaisire Palace - 40 minutes. The palace features private possessions of Peter the Great and his family - paintings, furniture and applied art objects. Other Palaces of Peterhof contain interior decorations, furniture, paintings and applied art items that belonged to different generations of Russian tzars. On the grounds of Peterhof there is another interesting park - Alexandria with the Cottage Palace, given as a present by Nicholas I to his wife Alexandra. This museum contains items of applied art of the 19th century (1 hour).
Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) - 1.5 hours. Located 29 km to the south of St. Petersburg. The construction of Catherine's Palace for Empress Catherine I started in 1717. A park in the French style was laid out around it. In the middle of the 18th century Tsarskoye Selo became the official royal residence. Not far from the Catherine's Palace there is the Lyceum where the great poet Alexander Pushkin studied. The Lyceum is open for visitors.
Pavlovsk - 2 hours. The residence of the family of Paul I is loca-ted 5 km from Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo). In its rooms created by architects Cameron, Voronikhin and Rossi, wonderful pieces of 19th century applied art, paintings of Russian and European masters that belonged to Paul I and his family are exhibited. Among them are some items made by the Empress Maria Fyodorovna.
Gatchina Palace-Museum - 2 hours. Built in 1766 by Antonio Rinaldi, the palace overlooking the lake was a gift of Catherine the Great to her favorite, count Orlov. In 1783 the Gatchina Palace became the residence of Paul I, a future Russian Emperor, and in 1845-1856 it was a residence of Emperor Nicholas I. Most of the palace's interior, decor items and precious water-colors have preserved up to the present day. The palace-museum is a gem of the nation's cultural heritage, and though its restoration is still underway, it is open to the public.
Lomonosov (Oranienbaum) - 2 hours. In 1710, the governor of St. Petersburg and Peter the Great's favorite Alexander Menshikov ordered to construct a grand summer residence not far from Peterhof (10 km) on the Gulf of Finland and called it Oranienbaum (orange tree). Visitors can see residential and household rooms of the time of Peter III in the China Palace built by architect Rinaldi. In the Katalnaya Gorka pavilion, exhibitions are held, one of the most interesting of them is the porcelain collection.
