The Hermitage is a museum in St. Petersburg, which everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime. His fame goes around the world. At any time of the year, the Hermitage halls are full of guests who have arrived in North Palmyra from different parts of the globe. The museum’s collections contain almost 3 million interesting exhibits, and in order to see them all, the excursionist will have to go through the numerous halls, corridors and stairs of the museum complex for 20 kilometers.
What buildings are included in the museum complex "Hermitage"
When tourists arrive in the city on the Neva, they dream of visiting many museums in St. Petersburg. The Hermitage is on this list, as a rule, in the first place. But many associate it only with the Winter Palace. But in fact, in the large museum complex of the Hermitage, in addition to the legendary creation of Rastrelli, there are 5 more beautiful and magnificent buildings lined up along the Nevskaya Embankment in the center of St. Petersburg.
This is the Small Hermitage, built under the guidance of the talented architect Wallen-Delamot; The Grand Hermitage is a creation of the architect Felten; The Hermitage Theater (architect Quarenghi) and the New Hermitage by architect von Klenze. All these beautiful architectural structures were created by different masters and at different times, but now they all form one whole - the Hermitage, the museum and the cultural and historical center.
From the history of creation
Critics say this about the Hermitage Museum: in order to carefully examine all of its exhibits, it takes at least 9 years, and someone believes that even this period will not be enough, the collection of cultural treasures stored in the Winter Palace and other palaces of the complex is so extensive. It all began in 1764. It was then that Catherine II gave the order to purchase at foreign auctions all the most valuable works of art in order to exhibit them in the premises of the Small Hermitage.
Subsequently, when the collection grew rapidly, and space in the Small Palace was running out, precious pieces of art began to be placed in other buildings. So gradually the Hermitage was created - a museum that we all know. Everywhere, around the world, priceless paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, collections of old coins, medals, books, antique values and works of decorative and applied art were bought. After the death of Catherine II, Alexander I continued to collect interesting artifacts.
Until the middle of the XVIII century. the privilege of seeing the Hermitage’s exposition was available only to select nobles. And in subsequent years, the entrance to the halls of the museum was limited for some classes. After the 1917 revolution, the Hermitage and its rich collections of art and historical values became accessible to the common people.
Museum halls and collections
Today the Hermitage is a museum in which there are many halls reserved for certain thematic collections. There is a Western European department, departments of the ancient world and the East, primitive culture and numismatics, a large collection from ancient Egypt, the Golden Pantry, as well as an extensive department of the history of Russian culture.
Each person entering the museum first gets into the lobby, from which you can go to the second floor, climbing the magnificent Jordan stairs. Then the visitor enters the largest hall of the Hermitage (1103 sq. M.). It stretches along Nevskaya Embankment and consists of three rooms. Next are the Concert, Field Marshalsky, Petrovsky halls. The Great Throne Hall, or St. George's Hall, is decorated with the royal throne, 28 crystal chandeliers and 48 marble columns. There are also Alexander, Malachite and White Halls, the Golden Living Room, etc.
Hermitage Art Collection
The art collection of the cultural and historical center of the Northern capital deserves special attention. Today, the former residence of Russian emperors is known throughout the world as the largest art museum in Europe. The Hermitage has an extensive collection of paintings by the most famous artists. Here you can see the canvases of such artists as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rafael, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, Poussin, Watteau, Tiepolo, Roden, Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse and other brilliant creators.
In the hall of Western European painting there are such priceless masterpieces as the “Madonna and Child” (“Madonna Litta”) and “Madonna Benoit” by da Vinci, a lovely small oval painting by Rafael “Madonna Konnestabele”. A whole room is reserved for Rubens’s paintings, in which you can see the paintings Venus and Adonis, Portrait of the Chamberlain Infanta, Union of Earth and Water, Shepherd’s Scene, Bacchus, Descent from the Cross, as well as other works of the ingenious Flemish.
There is also the Rembrandt Hall in the Hermitage. Here, along with his other canvases, is the famous "Danae", which is protected by armored glass to prevent a repeated act of vandalism. This painting was damaged in 1985 by one of the visitors, and many years had to be worked on its restoration and restoration. Visitors are also available to visit the halls of Michelangelo, Dutch painting, majolica and many others.
Tourist info
The brief information presented in this article, of course, cannot tell about all the exhibits. You need to visit the Hermitage yourself. The museum is open to all comers on any day of the week, except Mondays. The main museum complex is located at 2. Palace Square, in summer and on weekends, so as not to stand in the queues for hours, it is best to come half an hour before the opening, which takes place at 10.30.
Getting to the Hermitage is not difficult, because this museum complex is located in the city center. The nearest metro station is Admiralteyskaya. It is worth leaving from there, as you need to immediately turn left and walk literally a few meters to the street. Small Sea. Then turn right and walk to Nevsky Prospekt. Now, right along Nevsky, it remains to walk to Palace Square - the entrance to the Hermitage is there.
In addition, we would definitely recommend visiting the State Russian Museum, the Kunstkamera, the numerous suburban palaces of the city (Pavlovsk, Peterhof, etc.) - all these are famous museums of Russia. The Hermitage among them, of course, remains the most important and beloved, and not only for Russians, but also for foreign guests.