St. Petersburg witnessed the rise of Russia. Created by Peter the Great in 1703, it became a palatial place to showcase imperial strength and luxury. Centuries later, St. Petersburg condenses the region’s heritage with its magnificent palaces and vast museums. This is the place where the Russian Empire rose and fell.
After the victory in the Great Northern War, Peter the Great sought to create a “window to the West” and build port cities connecting Russia and Europe. This metropolis consists of 42 islands, connected by hundreds of bridges across canals and rivers. The Peter and Paul Fortress was built on the swampy island of Zayachi and was the city’s first major building. It was originally a fortress in the city, but it was later converted into a prison for political prisoners. Today, you can learn about its history of construction as one of more than 200 museums in St. Petersburg.
The State Hermitage Museum is arguably the city’s biggest attraction. In 1764, Catherine the Great purchased 225 paintings from Berlin and began to keep them in a private collection. She described herself as an “art glutton” and single-handedly founded what would become one of the world’s largest fine art exhibitions. Today, the collection has more than 300 million works, and it would take more than a decade to browse each piece for more than a minute. These priceless treasures have previously been guarded by local cats. Since the 18th century, a herd of cats has been employed inside the museum as pest control officers. Although their offspring have retired, the cats retain a special place in the basement of the museum, cared for by dedicated volunteers. The National Hermitage Museum is part of a wider complex consisting of five interconnected buildings, the Hermitage.
Located in Hermitage Square, the Hermitage overlooks the Neva River. Peter the Great built this official residence to symbolize the high social class owned by the royal family. Upon entering, visitors are first greeted by impressive white marble statues, followed by magnificent staircases and golden decorations on the walls and ceiling. The palace has been the residence of the Tsars since the beginning of the 18th century, and it was common for them to hold lavish parties here. But in 1917, the Bolshevik Revolution overthrew the Russian monarchy and ended the Romanov dynasty. Since extravagant events were no longer held, the Hermitage was turned into a gallery. This art archive has expanded over the past two and a half centuries to include paintings, sculptures and archaeological artifacts, as well as a numismatic collection of more than one million pieces.
St. Petersburg is a treasure trove of history. In every corner of the city you can discover monuments of grandeur and art. The splendor of Russia will surely amaze you.