Russia (St Petersburg) May 2009 D23-D29

The State Hermitage Museum, Winter Palace , St Petersburg - A world class museum ! The interiors, the columns, the pillars, the collections and artefacts, the art on display are stunning, awesome and magnificent to look at. After the first visit, you will probably yearn to come back and devote more time to see the various priceless treasures once more !

Facts & figures:

- commissioned in 1754 and remodeled in a classical style in 1754
- remained an imperial home until 1917
- 1057 rooms & 117 staircases
- 5 linked buildings covering 3 floors ie Winter Palace, the Little Hermitage, the Old and New Hermitage, the Hermitage Theatre (1780)
- Royal rulers ie Empress Elizabeth, Catherine the Great, Nicholas II - over 3 million collection items, 20 times more in the vaults, part of which are now on display.

1) The front entrance

2) The interiors & pillars

3) The well painted ceilings

4) The artistic floors

5) The Magnificent Vases - very elegant looking

6) Art & paintings

7) The unique ancient clocks

8) The royal cozy family rooms

" Something to ponder in the Hermitage Museum: The Hermitage Museum is probably the greatest World Heritage civilized wonder presented to mankind by the mighty Russian Tsars royalties in the 17th century ! Seeing is believing as soon as you step into the Hermitage Museum's front entrance ! What a master piece of building, its interiors, the stunning mint green, white and gold columns; the premiere collections and art - is there any other museums in the world which could rival the Hermitage ? Let me know if you have the answer "

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