THE STATE HERMITAGE MUSEUM
The State Hermitage is one of greatest museums in the world. Five historical buildings, including Winter Palace - the residence of Russian tsars, make the basis of the museum complex. The Hermitage keeps about 3 million monuments of culture and art of the European and Oriental peoples, from high antiquity till nowadays: pictures, graphic sheets, sculptures, a richest collections of applied art items, over a million coins and medals, archaeologic materials. Among the Hermitage's treasures, there are artworks by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, fine things by Rembrandt and Rubens, famous collection of impressionists and post-impressionists, Matisse and Picasso. World-renowned are the collections of Scythian gold and the antiquities from Black Sea North Littoral.
Open: 10.30 - 17.00, SUN till 16.00. Closed on MON.
34 Dvortsovaya nab., tel. 110-9625.
Metro Nevskiy Prospekt
THE STATE RUSSIAN MUSEUM
Opened in 1898 in the Mikhaytovsky Palace (architect C.Rossi). The museum numbers nearly 400,000 exhibits. It is the largest in the country collection of Russian art, from ancient icons to the Avant-garde painting of the XX century. In May 2003, works by M.Vrubel, V.Serov, K.Petrov-Vodkin, M.Chagall, K.Malevich, P.Filonov, and less known painters, representing the largest artistic unions of the century gone, will be shown in the renovated exposition "The Art of the XX Century".
Open: 10.00 - 17.00, MON till 16.00. Closed on TUE
2 Inzhenernaya ul., tel. 595-4248.
Metro Gostinyy Dvor, Nevstiy Prospekt
ST.ISAAC'S CATHEDRAL, MUSEUM-MONUMENT
One of the finest architectural monuments of the XIX century (architect A.Montferrand), the former principal cathedral of the Russian capital, the largest cathedral in town able to accommodate about 10,000 audience. The cathedral is graced with 112 solid granite columns weighing up to 114 tons each, and about 400 relieves and bronze sculptures. The observation platform on the colonnade provides a magnificent view of the city.
Open: 11.00 - 18.00. Closed on WED.
Isaakievskaya pl., tel. 315-9732.
Metro Gostinyy Dvor, Nevskiy Prospekt
MUSEUM-MONUMENT "OUR SAVIOR ON THE BLOOD"
Built in 1907 as memorial church to honour Russian emperor Alexander II, just on the spot of crucial terroristic attempt upon him. A sample of "Russian style" architecture and decorative art at the edge of the ÕÃÕ-ÕÕ centuries. Mosaic attire of the church (over 7,000 sq.m) was created to the design of 30 artists, among them V.Vasnetsov, M.Nesterov, A.Ryabushkin, V.Belyaev, N.Kharlamov.
Open: 11.00 - 18.00. Closed on WED.
26 Griboedova Kanala nab., tel. 315-1636.
Metro Nevskiy Prospekt, Gostinyy Dvor
THE PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS (THE MUSEUM OF ST. PETERSBURG HISTORY)
Peter and Paul Fortress was founded by Peter I in 1703. Besides the ancient fortifications, on the grounds of the fortress one can visit the Sts Peter and Paul Cathedral of the early XVIII century (architect D.Trezzini) with the burial vault of Peter the Great and other Russian tsars, the museum in Trubetskoy bastion prison, expositions: "The History of St.Petersburg", "The History of the Imperial Mint", "Pechatnya (Printing Workshop)", museum on space exploration and missilery; excursion route "Panorama of the Neva" - over the roofs of the fortress' bastions and curtains. By booking beforehand, the collection of open furniture storage is available.
Open: 11.00- 17.00, TUE till 16.00.
Closed on WED and on the last TUE of every month.
3 Petropavlovskaya Krepost, tel. 238-0605.
Metro Gorkovskaya
THE CENTRAL NAVAL MUSEUM
Located in the historical building of the Stock Exchange, designed by the architect T. de Thomon, constructed in the beginning of the XIX century. The world's largest naval museum, the oldest Russian museum, founded in 1709. The museum numbers over 800,000 items, including "the Grandfather of the Russian Navy" - the old boat of Peter the Great, models of vessels, examples of armaments and military machinery, marine paintings.
Open: 10.30- 17.00
Closed on MOM, TUE, and on the last THU of every month.
4 Birzhevaya pl., tel. 328-2501.
Metro Vasileostrovskaya
MUSEUM ON BOARD THE CRUISER AURORA
A battleship of the Russian Navy put on eternal mooring. The museum exhibition illustrates the Aurora's participation in the Tsushima battle of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, as well as its revolutionary activities in the beginning of the XX century and its participation in the World War II, 1941-45.
Open: 10.30- 16.00. Closed on MON, FRI.
Petrogradskaya nab., tel. 230-8440.
Metro Gorkovskaya
THE PALACE-AND-PARK ENSEMBLE GATCHINA
The palace-and-park ensemble consists of the Gatchina Palace (architect A.Rinaldi, 2nd half of the XVIII century), and the park - the first landscaped park in Russia. The palace throughout its history was the residence of the Russian emperors Paul I nicknamed "the most [romantic Russian Emperor", and Alexander III. On display: gala halls of the IXVIII century, exhibition of Western-I European and Russian paintings and I arms of the XVII-XIX centuries. The romantic feature of Gatchinsky Palace is an underground tunnel to the lake. The pride of the park are the unique pavilions "Beriozovy Dom" ("Birch House") and "Pavilion Venery" ("Pavilion of Venus").
Open: 10.00 - 17.00. Closed on MON and on the firs TUE of every month.
Tel. (271)134-92
Suburban trains from Baltiyski railway terminal to the Gatchina-Baltlyskaya station (45 km from St.Petersburg; travel time - about one hour); 431 bus or charter taxi from Pobedy pl. Metro Moskouskaya)
THE PALACE-AND-PARK ENSEMBLE ORANIENBAUM
The palace-and-park' ensemble on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland opposite the town-fortress Kronshtadt (architects D.Fontana and J.Schedel). In 1743, Oranienbaum became the summer residence of the future emperor Peter III. A fortress ensemble with a petite palace was constructed for him to the design of architect A.Rinaldi. Later, A.Rinaldi was commissioned by the Empress Catherine the Great to erect the Chinese Palace and the Katalnaya Gorka (Sliding Hill) with a pavilion. The architectural style of these monuments is distinguished by the subtle blend of elegant rococo style with traces of classicism. Oranienbaum is famous for its landscape parks dating back to the middle of the XIX century. The following palace-museums are available to visit: the Chinese Palace, the palace of Peter III, the Japanese Pavilion of the Bolshoy (Menshikovsky) Palace.
Open: 11.00- 17.00, MON till 16.00 Closed on TUE and on the last MON of every month.
Tel. 422-3753.
Suburban trains from Baltic Station terminal to the Oranienbaum station (40 km from St.Petersburg; travel time - about one hour); 431 bus or charter taxi (from Pobedy pl. Metro Moskovskaya).
THE PALACE-AND-PARK ENSEMBLE PAVLOVSK
This is a superb palace-and-I park ensemble of the late XVIII - early XIX centuries which I was used as a summer residence of the Russian emperor Paul I and his family. The landscape park, one of the largest in Europe, covers the area of 600 ha. The works on the palace-and-park ensemble on the winding banks of the Slavyanka river lasted for 50 years. Architects Ch.Cameron, V.Brenna, G.Guarenghi, A.Voronikhin, C.Rossi, sculptors M.Kozlovsky, I.Martos, I.Prokofiev, F.Gordeyev, G.Demut-Malinovsky. The formation of the collections of the Pavlovsky Palace was closely connected with the trip of its owners over Europe in 1781-1782. They visited workshops of well-known artists, ordering and acquiring paintings, furniture, bronze articles, silk fabrics, china sets, etc. They brought to Russia a large number of antique sculptures from Italy, as well as gifts from European royal courts. The museum also displays an excellent collection of portraits by Russian artists and a number of Pavlovsk landscape paintings and drawings. Residential Rooms of Empress Maria Fedorovna decorated by architects Guarenghi and Voronikhin at the beginning of the XIX century and enrapturing with their harmonious beauty, are open to the public. After essential restoration, the library by Rossi is open. The library was built in 1824 for the Empress Maria Fedorovna to host abundant collection of books and rarities.
Open: 10.00 - 17.00. Closed on FRI and on the first MON of every month.
Tel. 470-2156.
Suburban trains from Vitebsk Station terminal to the Pavlovsk station (27 km from St.Petersburg; travel time - about 30 minutes; or charter taxis from Metro Moskovskaya
THE PALACE-AND-PARK ENSEMBLE TSARSKOYE SELO
The Palace-and-Park ensemble of Tsarskoye Selo - a former country residence of Russian emperors - is a fascinating monument of the world's architectural and gardening arts of the XVIII-XIX centuries. Its three parks occupy the area of 600 ha, on which over 100 architectural constructions rise: from magnificent palaces and grand monuments to intimate pavilions and park sculptures. The compositional centre of the Tsarskoselsky ensemble is Catherine's Palace, containing exquisite decorative objects, furniture, Russian and Western-European paintings, unique collections of porcelain, amber, arms, decorative bronze, sculptures etc. Nowadays, the collection of the museum Tsarskoye Selo numbers about 20,000 items. The Tsarskoselsky Lyceum, an elite school established in Russia in the beginning of the XIX century for noble families offsprings which the great Russian poet A.S.Pushkin attended, is situated next to the palace. In the Catherine's Park, the exhibition "Passions, Weaknesses, Delights... (Man and Woman in the Ancient Days)" is open.
The exposition "Recollections in the Alexander's Palace" is open in the last residence of Russian emperors, architectural chef d'oeuvre of the XVIII century (architect G.Guarenghi). In its 12 halls, with authentic or partially reconstructed attire, artworks like paintings, graphics, decorative and applied art, costumes, personal belongings etc. are represented, related to the life of its crowned owners.
Catherine's Palace open: 10.00 - 17.00. Closed on TUE and on the last MON of every month.
Tel. 466-6669.
The exhibition in Alexander's Palace open: 10.00 - 16.30. Closed on TUE.
Tel. 466-6669.
Suburban trains from Vitebsk Station terminal to the Detskoye Selo station (25 km from St.Petersburg; travel time - about 30 minutes); followed by 371, 382 bus-routes to the parks; alternatively 287 bus or charter taxis from Pobedy pl. (Metro Moskovskaya)
THE PALACE-AND-PARK ENSEMBLE PETERHOF
Peterhof is a jewel ' of the Russian art, j a town of parks, palaces, and fountains. In the past it used to be an exquisite summer residence of I Russian tsars. Verkhniy (Upper) Garden and Nizhniy (Lower) Park, genuine masterpieces of landscape design, number over 150 fountains, 4 monumental cascades. On the territory of the reserve, there are 10 working museums: the Grand Palace, Monplaisir, Catherine's Block, Marli, Hermitage, the church of St.Alexander Nevsky (Gothic Capella), the Benois family museum, Cottage, the Bath Block including Tafeldecker and Kaffeeschenk Rooms and The Kitchen, and the Museum of Collectors. In summer 2003, the exposition of the Special Treasury and the private room of Catherine the Great in the Block-under-the-Armcoat of the Grand Palace will be opened for public.
The Grand Palace museum is open: 10.30 - 17.00. Closed on MON and on the last TUE of every month.
Tel. 420-0073.
Other museums are open: 10.30 - 17.00.
The Nizhniy Park museum is open: 9.00 - 20.00, weekends till 21.00.
Fountains are playing: 11.00 - 17.00, on SAT and SUN till 18.00.
Suburban trains from Baltic Station terminal till the Novy Peterhof station (40 km from StPetersburg; trip time - about 40 minutes), followed by 348, 350,351, 352, 356 bus-routes or charter taxi to Verkhny Park; or charter taxis from Metro Baltiyskaya.
During summer time - hydrofoil "Meteor" from pier at the Hermitage museum (trip time - about 40 minutes).
