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Tell me how many of you can afford a Winter Palace??? Not many I guess. But the Russian Monarchs earlier in the 19th century had the privilege though. Yes, that's the Hermitage winter palace which is actually the fourth of its kind located in St. Petersburg. Palace of such grandeur and size cannot be the creation of one so as to say many architects took involvement but Bartolomeo Rastrelli was highly regarded considering his style used in the palace. An exquisite feature we see here is the elongated rectangular shape of he palace almost 250m long with a height of 30m. It was constructed in 1732, was home for royalty until 1917. The Duchess of Courland was the first owner who ordered Rastrelli to rebuild the neighbouring Apraksin Palace into today's masterpiece. It contains 1,786 doors, 1,945 windows, 1,500 rooms and 117 staircases.
The Duchess of Courland was not the only one who guided architects to enlarge and add parts to the palace. Catherine II during 1762–1796, headed architects Starov, Giacomo Quarenghi, Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe and architect Yury Velten to enlarge the palace. She was the reason to call the palatial complex Hermitage. Catherine II made sure she had the best art pieces at her eye so she sent ambassadors in search of such. She however accomplished in gaining six collections which included the works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian, Raphael, Tiepolo, van Dyck and Reni. Catherine II was also responsible for the creation of Hermitage Theatre, French taste in the Russian Court.After Catherine II, Tsar Nicholas I was responsible for the complete restoring of the palace which was damaged by the fire in 1837.
The first flow of the palace is the Piano Nobile which has the tallest windows. The palace also has parts named Great Church, St George's Hall, Military Gallery, Battle Galleries, Palace Square façade, private Imperial apartments, Jasper Room, Malachite Drawing Room, Gold Drawing Room, Imperial staircase, servants' quarters etc.
On 5th February 1852 the first Art Museum of Russia was opened here as Imperial Hermitage Museum. The last royal to reside here was Alexander II whose assassination took place at the palace too. On 22nd January 1905 the Bloody Sunday massacre took place in front of the palace which drove the winter palace into darkness after then. Since 1917, the palace was heir-less but was controlled under the Seat of the Provisional Government. With its failing also the the Bolsheviks who revolted against them took over the palace. At the present the Hermitage Winter Palace is seen as a part of the museums open to public.
Travellers' Guide
If you are planning to visit the palace, you can locate it at 34 Dvortsovaya Naberezhnaya, St. Petersburg 190000 , Russia. T.P. (812)110-90-79. It is open daily except Monday from10:30 am to 5:30 pm and on Sundays till 5 pm. Ticket-office closes 1 hour before closing time.
And make sure you visit these hotels in St. Petersburg.
Admiralteyskaya Hotel
Ulitsa Aleksandra Nevskogo, 8 | Kolomna, St. Petersburg 190121, Russia
Crowne Plaza St. Petersburg-Ligovsky
61 Ligovsky Prospekt, St. Petersburg 191040, Russia
Nevsky Contour Hotel
Nevsky Prospekt 88 - 72, St. Petersburg 191025, Russia
Helvetia Hotel
Marata 11, St. Petersburg 191025, Russia
Crowne Plaza St. Petersburg Airport
Startovaya 6, St. Petersburg 196 210, Russia
Hotel Ibis St. Petersburg Centre
Ligovskiy Pr 54, St. Petersburg 191040, Russia
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