ST. PETERSBURG MUSEUM TOURS
State Hermitage
The State Hermitage ranks among the world’s most
outstanding art museums. The Hermitage takes up five buildings that of the Winter Palace,
the Small Hermitage, the Old Hermitage, the New Hermitage and the Hermitage Theatre which
are connected with small passages thus forming one single unit . Over 300 rooms are open
to the public and contain a rich selection from the Museum’s collections numbering
over 2,8000,000 items which can give us idea about the development of World Art from
prehistoric times to our days. World famous is the collection of West-European paintings
comprising works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian , El Greco , Rembrandt , Impressionists, etc. .
(open 10.30 – 17.00, closed MON )
STATE RUSSIAN MUSEUM
In the spring of 1895 an Imperial Decree was published
"Concerning the foundation of a specific establishment entitled "The Russian
Museum of Emperor Alexander III". The museum was opened three years later in the
Mikhailovsky Palace, built for Paul’s youngest son. Now it houses the world’s
largest collection of Russian fine art and sculpture which runs today up to 370,000
exhibits and traces the evolution of Russian art from the 10th century to the present day.
On 17 May, International Museum Day, a festival was held to mark the centenary of the
Russian Museum. March 19 also saw the ceremonial opening of two jubilee exhibitions :
"Conquering Time", devoted to the restoration of works of art and the "The
Golden Treasury-House", featuring unique articles from the museum’s reserves,
which belonged to the families of the princes and city elite of Kiev and other Russian cities. Besides its main building, the Russian Museum has in recent years acquired the
Stroganov and the Marble Palaces and the Engineer’s Castle: each of these magnificent
architectural monuments is unique in itself and has its own displays.
(open 10.00-18.00, 10.00-17.00 - MON, closed TUE)
PETER & PAUL FORTRESS
Built to secure Russia’s hold on the Neva delta, the Peter and Paul fortress
anticipated the foundation of St. Petersburg by a year- and may even have suggested to
Peter the Great the idea of founding a city. The construction began on May 16, 1703 and
this is the day when the city got its start. The fortress’ role as a prison for
political convicts dates back to 1718, when Peter the Great's son, Alexey, was
tortured to death here. Known as the ‘Russian Bastille", its grim reputation
struck terror until the Soviet period. In 1921 it was turned into the state museum with
many permanent exhibitions dealing mostly with the History of St. Petersburg. Peter &
Paul Cathedral (arch. Tressini, 1732) is a real landmark of the city and its main
attraction. Sited around the nave are the tombs of the Romanov monarchs from Peter the
Great onwards, whose coffins repose in vaults beneath the sarcophagi. On July 17, took
place the burial ceremony of the remains of the family of Tsar Nicholas II and members of
his retinue, who died tragically 80 years ago. Finally the last Emperor of Russia has been
laid to rest in the cathedral.
(open 10.00-17.00, Tue 10.00-16.00, closed
WED)
Peter & Paul Fortress
ST. ISAAC’S CATHEDRAL
It is a remarkable monument of Russian architecture (architect A.Monferrand), the
former principal cathedral of the Russian Capital, the largest cathedral in town which can
hold up to 7000 people and the third largest domed structure in the world (101,5 meters high.)
The cathedral took 40 years to be built and more than 200 artists took part in the works.
The vast interior is decorated with 43 kinds of minerals including 14 sorts of marble,
gilded stucco, 62 mosaics, 152 paintings, more than 300 sculptures and bas-reliefs. The
cathedral is adorned with 112 solid granite columns weighing 114 tons each and about 400
monumental bronze sculptures. The observation platform on the colonnade provides a
magnificent view of the city. Now the cathedral continues
to function as a museum and the services
have resumed on a sporadic basis.
(open 11.00-18.00, colonade 11.00-17.00, closed WED)
St. Isaac's Cathedral
CHURCH ON SPILLED BLOOD
The Church was begun in 1882 , on the order of Alexander III in memory of his
father Alexander II, who was assassinated on the site the previous year. It was decreed
that that the icon stand should be built on the very spot where his blood had stained the
cobblestones – hence the church’s unusual name. Deliberately designed to
resemble St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, it is one of Petersburg’s most striking
landmarks. Recently, the interior is being restored and opened for public as a Museum of
Mosaics. The authorities are still debating on returning the building to the Orthodox
Church.
( open 11.00-18.00 for the time being, closed WED)
RUSSIAN ETHNOGRAPHICAL MUSEUM
At the turn of this century, the east wing of the Russian Museum became an entirely
separate Museum of Ethnography (arch V.Svinyin, 1903) with displays items of fork art,
costumes, tools, reconstructed house interiors and photographs representing over sixty
nationalities. Now the collections include about 500.000 objects of ethnic culture of more
than 150 peoples in Russia of 19-20th centuries. The Marble Hall of the museum is one of
the most beautiful architectural monuments in St. Petersburg. The walls are faced with pink
Karelian marble of a rare kind. On the ground floor there is the exposition about Russian
peasant culture. On the first floor there are expositions " Peoples of Volga and Ural
regions" and " Peoples of Siberia and the Far East". The exhibition about
peoples of the North Caucasus and Dagestan is on the Gallery on the first floor. There are
also exhibitions on culture of the Ukrainians, Byelorussians, Moldavians and the peoples
from the Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Caucasus. In the Gold Chamber, part of the former
Royal Collection, one can admire "Exhibition of Jewelry" which contains
decorations, armaments and cult objects, made from precious stones.
(open 11.00-18.00, closed MON )
MUSEUM OF THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL ARTS
The museum, founded in 1918, is housed in the building of the former Imperial
theatres’ Administration. The Museum possesses 400,000 objects. These are the most
valuable pieces of memorabilia connected with the Russian theatre, past and present, such
as personal archives of M.Petipa, M.Savina, T.Vetcheslova; sets and costume designs from
the 18th century to the present day, portraits, a rich collection of theatrical costumes,
model scenery, photos, posters, personal articles that belonged to the famous Russian
theatrical people. It also exhibits a half-life sized replica of one of the Constructivist
stage sets designed for the Moscow Theatre in the early 1920s, and a gorgeous costumes
made for the Theatre Fantasia by Alla Frolova and Galina Belekhova in the 1980-s. There is
also a collection of vintage theatre costumes and props designed by Mir Iskusstva ( World
of Art ) masters, Benoir and Bakst. Recordings reproduce the voices of the best actors, or
one may watch videos of famous ballets and operas. Concerts are performed in the former
office of the Director of Imperial Theatres.
(open 11.00-18.00, WED 13.00-19.00, closed TUE)
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS COLLECTION
(ZUBOV PALACE)
The Director of the Court Orchestra of Nicholas II, K.Shtakelberg, founded the
museum in 1902. In the past, the collection of the museum accounted for more than 3000
items. Today, the collection is on display in two halls of the palace but the major part
has been transferred to the Sheremetev Palace. The first hall (first floor) exhibits Russian folk and professional
instruments including the historic balalayka and the baton of Andreev, the creator and
conductor of the first Russian Folk Orchestra. There are also some exotic instruments from
Japan, China and Africa on display. The second hall (ground floor) has the temporary exhibition "
The History of Musical collections" opened till June 1999. Most of the exhibits here
are rarities and have quite an interesting history. They came from the Reserves of
Kunstkamera, Russian Ethnographical Museum and include some exotic instruments from
Africa, Siberia, Indonesia, Russia (famous horn orchestra made in 1896 for the Throne
Ceremony of Nicholas II, olifantys -the Russian ancient musical instruments made from
ivory and presented to Alexander I). The museum is located in the historic center of St. Petersburg. The building originally belonged to Count P. Zubov, a favorite of Catherine
II, built at the end of the 18th century.
( open 10.00-18.00, closed MON, TUE, FRI )
CHALYAPIN MEMORIAL APARTMENT
The history of opera is inconceivable without Chalyapin. Memorial Apartment opened
on April 11, 1975 was the first museum devoted to the great artist and opera singer. The
house used to belong to Chalyapin, where the great singer and actor lived and worked from
1915 till 1922. Initially enthused by the Revolution, Chalyapin later decided to move to
Paris leaving his apartment to a friend, who preserved his belongings. On February 5, 1998 when we marked 125th anniversary of his birthday
the museum was opened to the public again after a long period of renovation. The museum is
the proud possessor of several items belonging to F. Chalyapin, including the jeweled robe
that he wore in the role of Boris Godunov, and the famous portrait of Chalyapin by Boris Kustodiev. It also exhibits the collection of his own drawings, caricatures and portraits
of the famous Russian painters. The museum is filled with operatic mementoes and
tortoise-shell furniture, and used as an occasional venue for Chamber music concerts. The
renovation of the house enabled the Museum to widen display space and present to the
public one of the most brilliant phenomena of World Culture - Russian opera theatre. (open
12.00-19.00, closed MON, TUE )
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV MEMORIAL MUSEUM
The Museum was inaugurated in 1969 at 28, Zagorodny Str. where the great composer
spent the last 15 years of his life - in this flat 11 operas and over 60 romances,
symphonies were created from 1893 till 1908. Everything is very carefully preserved in
four rooms by Rimsky-Korsakov relatives who donated his furniture and private belongings
to the museum. Like many years ago the music still sounds in the flat on
Wednesdays. Guests may attend a concert and enjoy a cup of tea in the dining room of
Rimsky-Korsakov.
(open 12.00-18.00, closed MON, TUE)
MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF THE SAMOILOV ACTORS DYNASTY
The memorial apartment was open in 1994 and now welcomes visitors to get
acquainted
with the brilliant life of the celebrated actors’ family that has been popular on
Russian stage for one and a half-century. Founder of the actor’s family V.V.Samoilov
bought the house in the very centre of St. Petersburg in 1869. So the house became one of
the most popular centres of cultural life in Russia. For many years permanent guests at
the house were actors, composers and painters. The memorial apartment represents various
theatre relics of the 19-20th centuries. Just like hundred years ago the
Samoilov’s house remains one of the most attractive places in St. Petersburg where one
can meet talented actors, singers and musicians.
(open 12.00-18.00 closed MON, TUE, last FRI)
DOSTOEVSKY’S APARTMENT
Dostoyevsky lived in this apartment, at Kuznechny pereulok 5, just beyond the
market during the last years of his life. In 1971 this was turned into the Dostoevsky
Museum. Faithfully reconstructed from photos and drawings, the apartment is surprisingly
cheerful and comfortable. Dostoyevsky died of a throat hemorrhage while making an entry
in his diary. The clock in the study where he wrote "The Brothers Karamazov "
was stopped at the exact time of his death: 8.38 p.m. January 28 , 1881. At noon on Sundays Russian films of his novels are screened
downstairs.
(open 10.30 - 18.30 closed MON, last WED)
PUSHKIN’S APARTMENT
Among Russians Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) is probably the most universally
popular of all the great writers, however, the enormous difficulties in translating
Pushkin’s "subtle grammar" means that he is rarely lauded with such extreme
passion outside Russia. Pushkin lived in this apartment on Moika River the last year of his
life. It consists of 11 rooms, the most evocative of which is the poet’s study, which
contains his library of over 45000 books in 14 languages. Pushlin kept a
"blackamoor" figure on his desk to remind him of his great-grandfather, Abram
Hannibal, an Abyssinian prince who served under Peter the Great. In this very apartment
Pushkin died after the duel where he was mortally wounded. According to the Russian
tradition the clock in the study was stopped at the moment of Pushkin’s death (2.45)
(open 10.30-18.30, closed TUE)
PUSHKIN’S APARTMENT IN TSARSKOYE SELO
– KITAEVA’S VILLA
Ten minutes walk from the Lyceum where the great national poet of Russia once
studied stands the small single-storey house. The memorial plaque on the facade
reads" Alexander Pushkin lived here in 1831". Today the cottage, which belonged
to Anna Kitayeva, the widow of a court valet, houses the Pushkin Museum. The summer of 1831 was a happy one for Pushkin. He married Natalya
Goncharova, the belle of Moscow society, and the young couple moved to the cottage at
Tsarskoye Selo. Today six of the rooms have been made to look just as they did then,
including the study. Besides the Pushkin exposition in the two rooms on the ground floor,
there are also exhibitions devoted to the historian and writer Nicholay Karamzin and the
poet Vasiliy Zhukovsky, who were of no small importance in the life of Alexander
Pushkin.
(open 10.30-16.30, closed MON, TUE, last FRI)
AVANT
GARDE ART GALLERY (PUSHKINSKAYA, 10)
This gallery of alternative art is very active. The run down building was
conquered by St. Petersburg artists some years ago. Side by side with classical
presentations of modern painting one can admire the most interesting former
"underground" works of St. Petersburg artists. It has organized more than 60
exhibitions over the past two years and a half alone and concerts, readings and theatrical
evenings are held here according to some irregular, but still existing schedule. An open
ground at 10, Pushkinskaya Ul, offers other much interesting things. In the recent past,
the patio and even the street near the house were an ever seething arena for actions and
spontaneous meetings. The notice board near the house entrance provides information not
only about cultural events at Pushkinskaya, but about the whole city as well.
MUSEUM OF APPLIED ART
(ST. PETERSBURG ACADEMY
OF ART AND DESIGN)
The Museum of Applied Arts of the St.Petersburg Academy of Art and Design is one of
a number of interesting and distinctive phenomena in Russia. It is an integral part of the
Academy, its center of cultural enlightenment and its exhibition center. The history of the museum is linked with the opening of the Central
College of Technical Drawing in St.Petersburg, 1876. The great financier, industrialist
and court banker Alexader Stieglits founded it. Gradually a unique museum collection was
formed, distinguished by the diversity and high artistic quality of the objects. The basic
purpose of the museum was to introduce artists of the future to the treasures of world art
while the students were able to put into practice the knowledge they had received. The
museum building opened in 1896 is a unique architectural memorial where all historical
ages and artistic styles are reflected. Today the museum contains 30,000 objects from
ancient time to the present day, reflecting all the trends of Russian applied art.
(open 11.00-18.00 TUE-SAT, closed MON, SUN)
ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
The building is one of the most outstanding samples of Rusian 18th century
architecture designed by A.Kokorinov and Vallin de la Mothe (1764-1788). The names of many
outstanding Russian artists are associated with the Academy of Fine Arts that was
established in 1754. It boasts an impressive roll call of graduates, including architects
Zakharov and Voronikhin, sculptor Pyotr Klodt, painters Karl Bryullov and Ilya
Repin. The
last has given his name to the Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture that now
occupies the building, whose museum displays graduates’ works collected over the
years and replicas of masterpieces painted as teaching aids in the early 19th
century.
MARBLE PALACE
The architect A. Rinaldi in the second half of the 18th century and its outward
appearance has remained almost unchanged ever since designed the splendid Marble Palace.
Both the interior and exterior are fronted in 32 different kinds of marble, hence the
name. Catherine the Great ordered the Marble Palace to be built as a present for her
lover, Count Orlov. After his death in 1783 the palace was acquired into the Treasury. It
used to be the residence of S.Poniatovsky, the last king of Rech Pospolita. Later, up to
1917, it was owned by several Grand Dukes in succession. By the mid-nineteenth century, the
palace was in ruins, only restored and refurbished by its owner, Grand Duke Constantine
Nickolaevich, a poet and playwright. His translation of Shakspeare’s Hamlet was
considered to be the best one at the time. He was the author of the tragedy "Czar
Judaic". Some interiors, in the southern wing of the palace, where he lived with his
family, have been restored and open for public. Formerly home to the Leningrad branch of
the Central Lenin Museum, it is now used for a subsidiary art gallery for the Russian
Museum, which puts on temporary and permanent exhibitions entitled "The twilight zone
between oblivion & remembrance", " Foreign artists in Russia" (VIII-
XIX cent.) and "Peter Ludvig Museum in the Russian Museum ".
(open 10.00-17.00, closed TUE)
TAURIDE PALACE
This palace, built by the architect I. Starov in 1789, became the residence of G.A. Potemkin, the favorite of Catherine the Great and high State dignitary, who joined the
Crimea to Russia. The old Greek name for the Crimea is Tauride, hence the name for the
palace. Later Catherine II turned it to the Government property and Paul I gave it under
the authority of the "Horse Guards Regiment". In 1905 the palace was used for
Duma sessions until the February Revolution, after which it was taken over by the
Provisional Government and the Soviets, the period of dual power in Russia. In 1918 the
Constituent Assembly met here before being dissolved by armed Bolsheviks. The Communist
Partyl used the building during the Soviet period as the Higher Party School. Nowadays the
palace is used for CIS meetings.
STROGANOV PALACE
Built by Rastrelli in 1753, it’s a fine example of Russian Baroque.The palace
belonged to Count A.Stroganov, who was an outstanding patron of arts and the president of
the Academy of Fine Arts. The Stroganovs owned vast tracts of Siberia and earned a fortune
from fur trading. The Stroganov Palace was visited by famous contemporary writers, poets,
composes and housed one of the best art collections in Russia. After the revolution the
art collections were transferred to the Hermitage. In 1988 the palace was handed over to
the State Russian Museum for restoration, rendering it inaccessible for the time being but
some parts of it have already been restored and open to visitors: the new front room with
its marble floor, the hall of mirrors and the main staircase with its painted ceiling. At
present the collection from the Russian Museum entitled "Tea Time" can be viewed
on display. One of Russia’s favorite pastimes gets its due with a heartfelt exhibition
featuring everything from cups to spoons. The palace is also used for the temporary
exhibition of wax figures entitled "Russian History and its Creators"
(open 10.00-17.00, closed TUE)
NIKOLAEVSKY PALACE
A remarkable monument of the 19th century architecture, the palace was
built in 1861 to the design of the Russian architect A.Shtakenchneider for Grand Duke Nicholas
Nicholaevich, son of Nicholas I, but subsequently housed an Institute for Noble
Young Ladies until after the revolution when it was allocated to the city’s Trade
Union Council as a Palace of Labor. The building of the palace is closely connected with
the construction of the first permanent bridge across the Neva river and the building of a
newly formed Blagoveshenskaya (Annunciation) Square. Its facade is designed according to
the Renaissance architectural principles and the interiors reflect the vast variety of the
decorative elements of the eclectic style. From the artistic point of view the most
interesting is a staircase decorated with slim gray granite pillars. The original decor has
been preserved in the former drawing room, official reception hall and the light hall with
Corinthian columns where the concerts of Russian folklore and classical music are held.
Grand Duke Vladimir’s Palace
Grand Duke Vladimir was a key statesman in the reign of the last two Rusian Tsars,
his brother Alexander III and his nephew Nicholas II. His Palace has survived almost as it
was left by the family in 1917 because it was assigned as a club for scientists and thus
spared any destruction. It was designed by the architect A. Rezanov (1867-1872) who was the
master of ancient Russian architecture. It’s worth trying to get inside the palace to
see its sumptuously gilded interiors where different styles were deliberately used
together to create a rich and opulent effect. Grand Duke’s wife hosted a popular
salon and his family was popular for fancy dress balls. This tradition is brought to life
again and the palace is the most popular place to arrange banquets, lunch and dinner, and
other special events like the New Year Gala Dinner.
ENGINEER’S CASTLE
Paul I began the heavily fortified castles shortly after he assumed the throne, in
an attempt to allay his fear of being assassinated. In January 1801 the imperial family
moved onto it. On the night of March 12, 1801, only 40 days after he had moved in, Paul I
was assassinated in his bedroom by conspirators. In 1819 the building was handed over to
the School of Military Engineers, hence the name. F. Dostoevsky, famous Russian writer,
graduated from the School as a fortification engineer. Since the Revolution, it has been
used to house various libraries and record officers and most recently the restorers’ workshops of the State Russian Museum. In 1991 it was transferred into the
complete possession of the Museum. At present it houses the collection of the Romanov
Portrait Gallery in some restored halls.
(open 10.00 - 17.00 closed TUE)
MENSHIKOV PALACE
The palace of the first Governor of St. Petersburg, built in the early XVIII century
was the first stone building in St. Petersburg (architects G. Fontana and I.
Schedel), first
residential structure on Vasilievsky Island and the finest one in the city, surpassing
even Peter’s Summer Palace. The Tsar had no objections, preferring to entertain at
Menshikov’s Palace, which was furnished to suit his tastes. In the building, the
fragments of the original interiors of the XVIII century has been preserved, among them
the famous Dutch tiles. Exhibition of the State Hermitage Museum, dedicated to Russian
culture of Peter’s time open to the public.
(open 10.30-16.30, closed on MON)
ANICHKOV PALACE
The Palace is situated right on Nevsky prospect and bears the name of the colonel
who sited an encampment here in 1704. In 1741, the site was purchased by Empress Elizabeth
to build a palace for her new lover, Alexey Razumovsky, a Ukrainian chorister whom she
might have secretly married. Her successor Catherine the Great gave the palace to her own favorite, Grigory Potemkin. Later, Alexander I moved his
Chancellery into the palace.
During the reign of Alexander III, it witnessed glittering balls hosted by his wife Maria Fyodorovna. In Soviet times the Anichkov Palace became the Palace of Pioneers, a clubhouse
where schoolchildren were involved in extra curriculum activities. If someone displayed
any interest in dancing, singing, sports, chess playing, theatre performing etc., then it
was the right spot to spend the leisure time under the supervision of the very talented
teachers. Today the Palace bears a new name "The City Palace of Youth Creative Work", where talented youth is more desirable for studies and serious
occupations rather than those who want to be a mere participant of amateur circles. The
exhibitions of their works are regularly held in the Palace. Now the grounds include a
modern theatre and concert hall where folklore and ballet companies perform in summer
time.
MARIINSKY PALACE
Built for Maria, the favorite daughter of Nickolas I, it later became the seat of
the State Council; the Council of Ministers met here while Tsarism was falling, as did the
Provisional Government before it moved to the Winter Palace. After 1948, the palace housed
the Executive Committee of the City Council, making it, in effect, St.Petersburg’s
Town Hall – until the Committee was abolished in 1991. After the putsch the
Mayor’s Office moved to the Smolny Institute, leaving the palace to the City Hall.
Now it houses the Legislative Assembly. Some groups on request stand a chance of seeing interior, with its
monumental staircase and colonnaded Rotunda Hall, the Red Drawing Room, Gala Reception
Room, Concert Hall, Library and Pompei Gallery, the attic with a private chapel, decorated
with frescoes in pseudo-Byzantine style.
SHEREMETEV PALACE (FOUNTAIN HOUSE)
The Palace is situated on the Fontanka River, hence the other name The Fountain
House, The palace had for almost two centuries belonged to one of Peter the Great’s
marshals, the Counts Sheremetev. It was built in 1712, the existing building was erected
in the mid-eighteenth century. The Sheremetevs were famous for the theatrical company, the cast of
which was composed mainly of serfs. And all the time it had been one of the cultural
centers of Petersburg; the names and lives of many prominent men were linked with the
house. Besides, in the late 19th century the palace used to house the Old Russian Writing
Fans Society, of which many well-known historians, linguists and philosophers were
members. The Museum of Everyday Life was opened there that existed till 1931. It should be
noted that the palace is closely linked with the name of the very well known Russian and
Soviet poetess A.Akhmatova. For many years she used to live in the former garden
overbuilding, where in 1989 a memorial museum was opened. In 1990 the palace was handed
over to the Museum of Performing Arts. Today, there are some permanent and temporary
exhibitions opened for public: "The history of the Sheremetevs", "The
exhibition of Musical Instruments ", "Noblemen Assembly", "People and
Works of Art from the collection of V.V. Strekalov-Obolenskiy" English furniture,
porcelain and other about 200 items, were presented to the museum from his widow in 1991.
YUSUPOV PALACE
The Yusupov’s Palace, now included into the most interesting sights of St.
Petersburg, represents a rare combination of an architectural monument and "a temple
of art ". Since 1830 unabashedly rich and powerful Yusupov family owned the
palace. The interior of the palace records the succession of different
styles and trends in Russian architecture over the course of a century and a half. The
atmosphere of an illusory and mysterious world reigns in the "Yusupov’s
chambers", where vague visions of the past remind us its aristocratic owners, their immense riches, brilliant balls and receptions.
The unique collections of art assembled by the Yusupovs and their
reputation as enlightened and well-educated hosts attracted the most outstanding
representatives of Russian cultural life to the palace. Unfailing attractions at formal
receptions in the palace were performances staged in the Yusupovs’ private theatre.
However, the palace is not as famous for its elegant rooms, beautiful theatre and what
remains of its original collection as it is for Grigory Rasputin’s assassination which
took place here in the winter 1916. After the Revolution the building was transferred to
the Teachers Trade Union. This year the apartments of the last owners of the Palace, Felix
and Irina Yusupovs have been opened to the public. New exhibition is being prepared and
opened in Nicholaevskiy Hall, "The Relics of the Romanovs". The exhibits are
taken from the reserves of the Kazan Cathedral.
SHUVALOV PALACE
The Palace had been in the possession of many aristocratic families since 1790 and
rebuilt several times by a galaxy of very famous architects. The house was intended as a
wedding gift for Dimitry Naryshkin who in 1795 married Maria Chetvertynsk. Her beauty
attracted the attention of Emperor Alexander I. their passionate liason lasted until 1814
while Maria was known as the uncrowned Russian queen. In 1846 L.Naryshkin’s only
child, Sophie, married count Peter Shuvalov and the palace was part of her dowry. Before
1917 the palace was full of valuable artwork. In 1919-23 a museum of ‘nobelman’s
lifestyle’ was opened in 17 rooms to display some of this reach hoard. Now part of
this valuable and varied collection can be seen at the Hermitage but interiors are still
sumptuous as those of Romanovs and worth to see. The interior was redesigned in the
Eclectic fashion of the mid-19th century, each room echoing different
historical style. After the Second World War it was assigned to accommodate the local
Peace Committee and Friendship societies, they still occupy the building.
Concerts, meetings and parties can be arranged in the palace.
BELOSELSKY-BELOZERSKY PALACE
One of the most striking buildings on Nevsky Prospect, the palace was put up on
order of Prince K. Beloselsky-Belozersky. It is one of the first buildings in
Neo-Baroque style in St.Petersburg built in the mid-nineteenth century (architect A.Shtakenshneider). In 1884 the Crown purchased it for Grand Duke Sergei - brother of Tzar
Alexander III, and his wife Elizabeth of Hesse . The Palace was considered to be one of
the most beautiful in St.Petersburg, both by its lavish exterior decoration and by the
grandeur of its interiors. The Palace interiors have mostly remained intact and are of
considerable artistic value. The wide main staircase has an openwork wrought iron railing,
while its walls are decorated with pillasters and caryatides. Reception halls are lavishly
decorated with stuccowork, gilded moldings, paintings, gilded carving, and mirrors and
damask upholstery. The Palace was subsequently occupied by the district branch of the
Communist Party until 1991, when the City Council turned it into the Exhibition and
Municipal Cultural Center.
SUMMER PALACE (in the SUMMER GARDEN)
Summer Palace, one of the first stone buildings in St.Petersburg (architect
D.Trezini, 1710) is located on the grounds of the Summer Garden, laid out by the order of
Peter the Great (architect Le Blond, 1704). All traces of Le Blond’s fountains disappeared, but more than eighty Baroque statues still punctuate the northern half of
the garden. The Tea House and Carlo Rossi’s nearby Coffee House are currently used
for exhibitions. The interior decoration of the Summer Palace offers a nice selection of
Russian and West-European paintings and decorative and applied art of late XVII- beginning
of the XVIII centuries, as well as personal belongings of Peter the Great. Along with
Monplaisir at Peterhof, the Summer Palace still carries a faint whiff of Court life of
Petrine times. (open 10.30-17.30, closed on TUE, last MON )
PETER’S LOG CABIN
It’s one of the oldest structures in St. Petersburg
and a unique historical monument. Army carpenters built it in May 1703 to enable the tzar
to keep a close eye on the construction of Peter and Paul Fortress over that summer. Its
rough-hewn pine logs are painted in imitation of bricks and there are only 3 rooms. The
museum includes Peter’s personal belongings as well as engravings of St. Petersburg,
Kronstadt and the battles of Hango and Poltava. Some measures were taken to protect the
house from destruction. A shed was arranged over it, that was in 1784 replaced with stone
case. In 1872 the plot was fenced off with cast-iron railing while in 1875 a bronze bust
of Peter I was installed in front of the house (sculptor P. Zabello)
(open 10.00 – 17.00, closed TUE)
YELAGIN PALACE
Yelagin Island is designed as a "Central Park of Culture and Rest" with
traffic banned from its roads, and access from the archipelago and the main land limited
to wooden footbridges. Though largely deserted on working days its serpentine lakes shady clearance attract families at weekends; in particular, the island hosts carnivals making
the opening and closing of the "White Nights". The island’s chief
attraction is the Yelagin Palace commissioned by Alexandre I for his mother Maria
Fyodorovna in 1817. The classical palace contains half a dozen exquisite rooms linked by
bronze inlaid mahogany doors. Molded friezes are juxtaposed with motifs in grizaille while
the Grand Hall boasts a plethora of statuary and trompe l ‘oeils. The Palace is the
central building of a vast ensemble of park and palaces on Yelagin island and it is one of
the best examples of country residences of the period of Russian high Neoclassicism.
(open 10.00-18.00 closed MON, TUE).
MILITARY HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF ARTILLERY,
ENGINEERS AND SIGNAL CORPS
The Military Historical Museum was founded on the order of Empress Elisabeth in
1756. Now the museum exhibition placed in 13 halls contains more than 240
thousand items. Museum exhibits weapons and military objects from 15th century firearms to
ballistic missiles. Among the most valuable exhibits are: parade chariot for artillery
banners, cannons of Peter I regiments, military awards of Russian emperors, personal
weapon of Russian Tsars, Napoleon Buonaparte, Soviet Commanders. Especial interest takes
the exhibition created practically anew in 1996 which includes large-sized artillery from
ancient time up to date, former and recent rocket complexes, the engineering and
communication technique.
(open 11.00-05.00 p.m., closed MON, TUE, last THU )
SUVOROV MUSEUM
The Suvorov Museum was inaugurated in 1904 to
commemorate the 18th century generalissimo, a veteran of the Italian campaigns against
Napoleon, Alexander Suvorov. The building has the architectural elements, which remind
Russian ancient fortifications. The main facade of the building (arch. Gogin ) carries mosaic panels
called "Suvorov’s Departure for the Italian Campaign of 1799" and
"Suvorov’s March over the Alps". After the renovation it was opened again in May, 1988 and now
contains more than 100 items of arms, weapons, paintings, graphics, rare books, uniforms,
furniture, Suvorov’s personal belongings, his portraits and military awards. Various
tours are offered as well as concert of orchestra and chamber music.
(open MON 10.00-17.00; THU, FRI 10.00-18.00; SAT 10.00-18.00; SUN
10.00-18.00
closed TUE, WED, last MON)
CENTRAL NAVAL MUSEUM
St. Petersburg is the birthplace of Russian Navy. It was here that Peter the Great
founded the first shipyard in the early 18th century. The Central Naval Museum is one of
the oldest in the country and one of the largest naval museums in the world. It is located
in the building of the former Stock Exchange and its most prized exhibit is the boat of
Peter I - vessel, which is often, called the "Grandfather of the Russian Navy".
There are a lot of models and photos of ships, a collection of fancy uniforms, a
collection of carved figureheads from 18th century vessels, paintings by famous marine
painters, weapons, standards, naval flags, decorations, medals and original historical
documents.
(open 10.30 - 17.30, closed - MON, TUE)
SMOLNY INSTITUTE
The Smolny Institute, now the City Administration Office,
was built in 1806-08 to house the Institute for the Noble Young Ladies. In October 1917
Smolny became the seat of the Revolutionary Military Committee, which was the legal headquarters of the armed uprising.
Smolny, which went down in history as the headquarters of the Great
October Socialist Revolution, as the cradle of the Soviet State and the seat of the first
Socialist government in the world, is inseparable from the name of V. I. Lenin.
Lenin arrived at Smolny on October 24, 1917. He left Smolny 124 days
later on March 10, 1918, when the government, which he headed, moved from Petrograd to
Moscow. In Smolny there are several rooms in which Lenin lived and worked:
his study where he signed the first decrees and enactments of the Soviet Government and
met the workers, peasants and soldiers; the room of Lenin and his wife Nadezda
Krupskaya,
in which they lived from January 10, 1917 until March 10, 1918. In 1927 this room,
retaining the original furniture, became one of the first Lenin’s museums in
Leningrad. The State Historical Memorial Museum of V.I. Lenin was opened in
December, 28, 1991 and you can join reverential tours of the rooms which are closely
associated with Lenin’s name.
MUSEUM OF POLITICAL HISTORY OF RUSSIA –
KSHESINSKAYA MANSION
The palace, built in 1906 (architect A.Gogen ) originally belonged to a famous
Russia’s prima ballerina of Mariinsky Imperial Theatre, Mathilda
Kshesinskaya. The
palace is an exceptional example of the Art Nouveau style. The outstanding feature is the
main enfilade, which includes the grand memorial hall, winter garden and rotunda. In March
1917 the Bolsheviks commandeered the house as their headquarters. After restoration, it
was an obvious site for the Museum of the Great October Socialist Revolution. Today, the
palace houses Museum of Political History of Russia.
(open 10.00-17.00, closed on THU)
MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF LENINGRAD
DEFENSE AND THE
SIEGE
In June 22, 1941, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, starting what is known in Russia
as the Great Patriotic War. By September 1941, Leningrad was virtually surrounded by
German forces. So began the terrible "900 Days" of starvation and bombardment,
known to Russians as the Blockade (blokada). The museum consists of just one large exhibition hall on the first
floor, with a fine array of wartime posters. The centerpiece is a reconstruction of a
typical apartment during the Blockade; around the edges of the hall are exhibits on
artistic life during the siege. The collection of the museum contains original documents
and possessions, which were preserved and later presented to the museum by Leningraders.
(open 10.00-17.00, closed on WED)
VICTORY MUSEUM
The Victory Museum officially entitled the
"Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad" was paid for by the public
donations and unveiled in 1975 as the centerpiece of Victory Square which marked the front
line of the Russian defenses during the Blockade. This memorial is dedicated to the
900-day unprecedented heroic defense of the city in the World War II. The architectural ensemble consists of an obelisk, sculptural composition and an underground Memorial Hall,
where original documents and items of that time are displayed. The bowels of the monument
represent a vast broken ring of granite with steel giant medals, in the midst of which
flickers an eternal flame. (open 10.00-17.00, closed on WED, last TUE )
CRUISER AURORA
A battleship of the Russian Navy, put on eternal moorage. It was launched at the
shipyard of St. Petersburg in 1903. The cruiser experienced a baptism of fire at Tsushima
Bay during the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905. Docked for overhaul just before the
February revolution in 1917, the Aurora was the first ship in the Navy to side with the
Bolsheviks. On the night of October 25 its forward cannon fired the historic blank shot at
the Winter Palace - the first in a sporadic barrage that accompanied the
"storming" of the building. The crew of the ship took an active part in the
battles of the Civil War at the approaches of St. Petersburg. In the early 1920s the Aurora
was converted into a training ship. When WW II broke out, Aurora heavy guns were removed
for use in the front. In 1948 the Cruiser was declared a national monument, later museum
was open on board.
(open 10.30-16.00, closed MON, FRI)
KUNSTKAMMER
Founded by Peter in 1714, its name meaning "art chamber" in German,
dignified his fascination for curiosities and freaks. Now the museum unites three
establishments: the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, Peter’s curiosities and
grotesqueries and the Museum of M.Lomonosov, the poet and the scientist, who worked here
from 1741 until his death. He also helped to design the Great Academic Globe, a kind of
18-th century planetarium. Spectators sat inside the globe, which rotated on its axis,
causing the planets and stars painted on the inner surface to revolve. Stolen from
Tsarskoye Selo during World War II, the globe was found at Lubeck in 1947 and returned to
the Museum where it now occupies a room in the tower.
(open 11.00 -16.30 closed THU )
Zoological Museum
Founded in 1832, the museum has one of the finest collections of its kind in the world, with over 100,000 specimens, including a set of
stuffed animals, which once belonged to Peter the Great. The collection includes the
skeleton of a blue whale, models of polar bears and other arctic life, vertebrates and
invertebrates, as well mammals, primates and quadrupeds, insects. The most evocative
display shows the discovery of a 44,000-year-old mammoth in the permafrost of
Yakutia, in
1903.
(open 11.00-17.00, closed FRI)
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