The Winter Palace, conceived by Peter the Great is perhaps best approached via the River Neva. It is from the water that you can appreciate the size and majesty of the Palace…..
But these walls house a secret, the biggest collection of art in Russia and one of the largest in the world. Now known as the Hermitage it contains over 2.8 million works of art. The Palace was started by Peter but it was Catherine II who created what was then a private art collection. As the collection grew other buildings were added.
Whilst the art works it contains are the attraction for the thousands of visitors, the Palace itself is also a wonder of the art world. Rooms of opulence and varied in styles from around the world, the work of craftsmen…..
The Small Throne Room with its dramatic Red and Gold Throne is dedicated to Peter The Great
You are reminded that this Art Gallery and Museum is housed in many buildings by glimpses of the complex through the Palace windows…..
But be warned…you will have to share your visit with a great many other visitors. Now that the Cruise Industry have discovered St. Petersburg these numbers have dramatically increased as the Winter Palace Coach Park shows…..
WE found that a guided tour helped fight our way through the crowds……..
But nothing prepares you for the crowds all craning their necks to get the best views….
And strain your necks you must as the collection of masterpieces is endless. Let me just say that here you will see work by Leonardo de Vinci to Picasso, Goya, Rembrandt, Monet and Renoir to Matisse and Gauguin..see which you can spot….
But St. Petersburg may well have a long ‘back history’ but it is also looking forward as this skyline of contrasts illustrates. On the left you have the silhouette of the ship Aurora that fired the first shot in the Revolution and to the right new high rise offices of International Multi National Companies……
As storm clouds gathered above the Spires of Peter and Paul Fortress the sun did made a last brave effort to shine…..
……No sunset tonight – the storm clouds won and soon it rained as hard as it only can in St. Petersburg…..
Tomorrow something very different.
25th July
© David Oakes 2013
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 