St. Petersburg is a beautiful city! Its beauty and charm are inextricably linked with the historical and cultural heritage. The northern capital of Russia is famous for its museums, delightful palaces and amazing architectural structures. And Peter himself is a kind of open-air art center, which contains hundreds of stunning cultural and historical objects that tell about its history and achievements.
The list of St. Petersburg museums includes more than 200 items. Among them are architectural, artistic, scientific, historical and memorial, as well as a large number of cultural objects for children. In addition, the city on the Neva is famous for its unusual establishments that surprise visitors with their extraordinary expositions.
A bit about the history of St. Petersburg museums
Officially, the first such institution was founded in 1709. The honorary right to head the list of St. Petersburg museums went toNaval Museum, created at the Admir alty. Models of ships with drawings were presented to the attention of visitors. According to historical data, in 1703, by decree of Peter I, the foundation was laid for the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineering Troops and Signal Corps. But the Kunstkamera became the first object that ordinary people were allowed to visit. In 1764, Catherine II acquired the first collections of paintings, which formed the basis of the future Hermitage. During the reign of Nicholas I, a building was built where the New Hermitage was located. In 1985, by order of Nicholas II, the Russian Museum was founded, where collections of paintings by Russian artists were presented. If today we count all the museums of St. Petersburg, the list will include more than 200 titles, and it is constantly updated.
To get acquainted with the history and culture of St. Petersburg, as well as "look" what is happening in its luxurious palaces and cathedrals, you need to go on a journey through the city streets. The city on the Neva gladly opens its doors to tourists…
Museums of St. Petersburg (list with photos)
After making a fascinating journey, you will get acquainted with the largest museums that are world famous.
Travel plan:
- The Hermitage.
- Kunstkammer.
- Cruiser Aurora.
- Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
- Peter and Paul Fortress.
- Academy of Arts.
- The State Russian Museum.
- Naval Museum.
- Ethnographic.
- Children's museums.
- Unusual museums.
The Hermitage is a pearl of Russian culture
The city on the Neva is famous for its large number of museums, which are a reflection of the culture and history of this beautiful city. They keep its secrets and riches, revealing their secrets only to true connoisseurs of art. Among them are the main museums of St. Petersburg, the list of which is opened by the Hermitage. It is the largest center of art and spirituality in our country.
When you go on a tour, you will be able to trace the entire development of the rich Russian culture and see with your own eyes the amazing works of Russian and foreign masters. Undoubtedly, the main asset of the Hermitage is the beautiful Winter Palace. The first exhibits for the institution were collected by Catherine II herself. Today, the expositions present collections of primitive art and archaeological cultures from the territory of the former Soviet Union, collections of ancient antiquities, works of art from Western Europe, the East, Russia, as well as coins and gold items. You can visit the Hermitage at: Palace Square, 2.
Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences named after Peter the Great
At all times, the feeling of fear attracted and attracted people. So the Kunstkamera, where human deformities are collected, has become one of the popular urban centers. Here you can see the rarest and most unusual anomalies of the human body. There is also a collection of human embryos and fetuses at different stages of development. The collection of the Kunstkamera includes exhibits,telling about the life and traditions of local indigenous peoples. Travel lovers will be able to get acquainted with the history of India and Japan. The Kunstkamera is located at: Universitetskaya Embankment, 3.
Museum on the Water
We are looking at other interesting museums in St. Petersburg. The list continues with the unique museum-ship, which is a symbol of the city.
On the cruiser "Aurora" you can go on an exciting journey through the waters of the Neva, as well as see many beautiful exhibits that tell about the history of this amazing ship. Here are photographs and documents covering the entire life of the vessel from the beginning of its construction. The cruiser "Aurora" is located on Petrovskaya Embankment, 2, opposite the Nakhimov School.
Alexander Nevsky Lavra
It is impossible to imagine a list of St. Petersburg museums without the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. It is the largest sculpture museum in Europe, located right under the blue sky.
On the territory of the institution there is a delightful Trinity Cathedral, a monastery and an old cemetery where famous personalities are buried (for example, the wife of A. S. Pushkin and the Decembrists). Also here you can see the graves of cultural figures of our country, including M. I. Glinka, A. P. Borodin, B. M. Kustodiev, P. I. Tchaikovsky, M. P. Mussorgsky and many others. In addition, there is a large collection of paintings, sculptures and wonderful architectural monuments that captivate with their beauty andcharm. Address: Monastyrka river embankment, 1.
Amazing museum complex on the banks of the Neva
When compiling a list of St. Petersburg museums with addresses you would like to visit, do not forget to include the Peter and Paul Fortress.
This is a complex of buildings, among which the Peter and Paul Cathedral stands out, which in past centuries was the burial place of the imperial family. The Cosmonautics Museum is located here, where you can learn the history of space exploration, see a huge collection of monetary units from different times at the Mint, and also visit the Naryshkin Bastion, from where a cannon shot is fired every day at 12 o'clock. Every summer, thousands of people gather at the walls of the fortress to admire the amazing sand sculptures. Address: Peter and Paul Fortress, 3.
Art Museums of St. Petersburg
If you are interested in the art museums of St. Petersburg, the list of visits must begin, of course, with the Hermitage. But besides him, the Academy of Arts is also very popular. It was designed by Peter the Great in 1718. In 1757, during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, the idea of creating such an institution finally came to life. In 1764, according to the decree of Catherine I, the Academy received the Imperial status.
Today her collection is famous for the works of Rokotov, Bryullov, Borovikovsky, Polenov and manyothers. In addition, there is a large exposition of sculptures of biblical and mythological heroes. In the works of famous sculptors - Kozlovsky, Pimenov, Anikushin - one can trace the entire history of our great country. Since 2007, the Academy of Arts has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can visit it at: Vasilievsky Island, Universitetskaya embankment, 17.
Everyone knows that the most popular among tourists are the art museums of St. Petersburg. The list of names of these luxurious objects cannot be imagined without the Russian Museum. It was founded in 1895 by decree of Nicholas II and was located in the Mikhailovsky Palace, which was purchased especially for him.
By the time of the opening, the collection of the Russian State Museum included about 450 art paintings, more than 100 sculptural compositions, about 1000 drawings, as well as more than 5,000 thousand items telling about the history of Ancient Russia. Today, the collections of funds include more than 400 thousand exhibits (X-XXI centuries), while the expositions are constantly replenished. The museum is famous for the works of Andrei Rublev, Karl Bryullov, Ivan Shishkin, Dmitry Levitsky, Kazimir Malevich. In addition, exhibitions telling about the Stroganov family and the Rzhevsky brothers are very popular. The exhibition "Faces of Russia" allows you to trace the history of portraits in the works of artists of different centuries. Detailed information can be found at: Inzhenernaya street, 4.
Historical museums of St. Petersburg
Historical museums are very interestingSPb. The list of excursions should begin with the Aurora cruiser mentioned above and the Peter and Paul Fortress, on the territory of which the State Museum of History is located. He talks about the daily life of the city and the life of the townspeople. Here you can see photos of old St. Petersburg and models of all buildings.
The Naval Museum will tell the story of the development of the Russian fleet. It contains rich collections of paintings, ship boards, ship models, weapons and navigational instruments. The institution is located at the address: Bolshaya Morskaya street, 69a.
Ethnographic Museum
Numerous museums of St. Petersburg (the list and photos are presented in the text) are very popular with residents and guests of the city. The Ethnographic Museum is no exception. Below we will briefly dwell on its features.
It was created in 1902 as one of the departments of the Russian Museum, and since 1934 it has become an independent unit. The institution acquaints visitors with the life of the Russian people, as well as neighboring countries - Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, the B altic States, Transcaucasia and Central Asia. In expositions and exhibitions, you can see what people did in past centuries, how they arranged their life, what clothes they wore, how they celebrated traditional holidays. Visiting the "Special Storeroom" you can see ancient jewelry, a collection of ancient weapons and exclusive cult items. Address: Engineering street, 4/1.
Museums of St. Petersburg: a list for children
For little fidgets, the city has prepared a special excursionprogram. Toddlers are in for a lot of exciting journeys through the city's children's art centers, which have in store for them pleasant surprises.
Start with the Zoological Museum - here is the largest collection of animals from different parts of our country. Rare species of fish, birds and animals listed in the Red Book are presented. An appropriate habitat has been created for each animal, allowing you to imagine its life in real conditions. Address: University Embankment, 1.
The Doll Museum will take you to a fairy tale where you will be met by thousands of toys. They are all dressed in a variety of outfits and represent different cultures. Visitors will be able to get acquainted with the history of the development of dolls from ancient times to the present day. Bright fairy-tale characters come to life here. Each doll is an author's masterpiece of art, filled with its own soul and inner charm. Amazing collections of dolls can be seen at: st. Kamskaya, 8.
The list of St. Petersburg museums for children can be supplemented with the World of Water, the Museum of Railway Transport and the Planetarium, where exciting adventures and pleasant gifts await kids. Believe me, in none of the listed establishments will children be bored!
Unusual city museums
Among the city's centers of art, one cannot fail to note unusual museums that arouse not only interest, but also surprise among visitors. They amaze with their collections and exhibits. Below is a list of St. Petersburg museums that are considered the most extraordinary in the city:
- Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art. It features the largest collection of contemporary art paintings.
- Museum of Soviet Slot Machines. Each visitor will be able to return to the world of childhood and play vintage slot machines.
- Museum of Russian vodka. A huge collection of items related to vodka is presented: bottles, corks, labels. You can also learn more about the history of this popular drink here.
- Bread Museum. Here you can see various types of bread, visit a real bakery, and also see “bread” expositions dedicated to various events in the country.
- Museum of Artistic Glass. The institution presents glass masterpieces created at the Leningrad Glass Factory.
- Freud's Dream Museum - talks about the life of a psychoanalyst and his work.
St. Petersburg is rightfully the cultural capital of our country. More than 200 museums introduce visitors to the history of the city, its achievements, victories, heroes, as well as many fascinating things. Going on a tour, you can lift the veil over the secrets of the city of Petra and enjoy its beauty.
