The Hermitage is a museum in St. Petersburg, which everyone should visit at least once in their life. His fame goes all over the world. At any time of the year, the halls of the Hermitage are full of guests who have come to Northern Palmyra from all over the world. The museum's collections contain almost 3 million of the most interesting exhibits, and in order to see them all, the sightseer will have to walk through the numerous halls, corridors and stairs of the museum complex for a long 20 kilometers.
Which buildings are included in the Hermitage museum complex
When tourists arrive in the city on the Neva, they dream of visiting the many museums of St. Petersburg. The Hermitage is on this list, as a rule, in the first place. But for many, it is associated only with the Winter Palace. But in fact, in addition to the legendary creation of Rastrelli, the large museum complex of the Hermitage includes 5 more beautiful and majestic buildings lined up alongNevsky embankment in the center of St. Petersburg.
This is the Small Hermitage, built under the guidance of the talented architect Vallin-Delamote; The Great Hermitage is the creation of the architect Felten; the Hermitage Theater (architect Quarenghi) and the New Hermitage by architect von Klenze. All these wonderful architectural structures were created by different masters and at different times, but now they all form one whole - the Hermitage, a museum and a cultural and historical center.
From the history of creation
Art historians say this about the Hermitage Museum: in order to carefully examine all its exhibits, it takes at least 9 years, and someone thinks that even this period will not be enough, the collection of cultural treasures stored in the Winter Museum is so extensive and other palaces of the complex. And it all started in 1764. It was then that Catherine II ordered the purchase of all the most valuable works of art at foreign auctions in order to exhibit them in the premises of the Small Hermitage.
Subsequently, when the collection grew strongly, and there was not enough space in the Small Palace, precious art objects began to be placed in other buildings. This is how the Hermitage was gradually created - the museum that we all know. Priceless paintings, sculptures, engravings, drawings, collections of ancient coins, medals, books, ancient valuables and works of arts and crafts were bought everywhere, all over the world. After the death of Catherine II, Alexander I continued to collect interesting artifacts.
Beforemiddle of the 18th century the privilege to see the exposition of the Hermitage was available only to selected nobles. And in subsequent years, the entrance to the halls of the museum was limited for some classes. After the revolution of 1917, the Hermitage and its rich collections of art and historical treasures became available to the common people.
Halls of the museum 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.
Everyone entering the museum first enters 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 the Neva embankment and consists of three rooms. This is followed by the Concert, Field Marshal, Petrovsky halls. The large throne room, 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 famousartists. Here you can see the canvases of such masters of painting as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, Poussin, Watteau, Tiepolo, Rodin, Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse and other brilliant creators.
In the hall of Western European painting there are such priceless masterpieces as "Madonna and Child" ("Madonna Litta") and "Madonna Benois" by da Vinci, Raphael's lovely small oval painting "Madonna Connestabele". A whole hall is dedicated to the picturesque canvases of Rubens, where you can look at the paintings "Venus and Adonis", "Portrait of the Infanta's maid", "Union of earth and water", Shepherd scene", "Bacchus", "Descent from the Cross", as well as on other works of the brilliant Fleming.
There is also a Rembrandt Hall in the Hermitage. Here, along with his other canvases, is the famous "Danae", which is protected by armored glass to prevent a second act of vandalism. This painting was damaged in 1985 by one of the visitors, and it took many years to restore and restore it. Visitors can also visit the Michelangelo rooms, Dutch painting, majolica and many others.
Tourist information
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 everyone on any day of the week except Monday. The main museum complex is located at:Palace Square, 2. In summer, as well as on weekends, in order not to stand in long queues, it is best to arrive 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 "Admir alteyskaya". It is worth getting out of there, as you need to immediately turn left and walk just a few meters to the street. Small Marine. Then turn right and walk to Nevsky Prospekt. Now, straight along Nevsky, it remains to reach Palace Square - the entrance to the Hermitage is located there.
Besides, we would definitely recommend visiting the State Russian Museum, the Kunstkamera, numerous suburban palaces of the city (Pavlovsk, Peterhof, etc.) - all these are famous museums in Russia. The Hermitage among them, of course, remains the most important and beloved, and not only for Russians, but also for foreign guests.
