Established by Catherine the Great within the walls of her glorious Imperial residence, the Winter Palace, the State Hermitage Museum is one of the largest and oldest in the world. At the time of her death, the collection featured nearly 4000 paintings. Today there are more than three million items making the The State Hermitage Museum a world wonder. From its gilded coronation carriages to the ornate Malachite Room, the museum's sweeping grandeur is captivating. Each room showcases masterpieces from centuries-old porcelain and antiques like Faberge Eggs to paintings and sculptures by renowned artists like Rembrandt, Raphael, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Matisse, Renoir, Degas, and Rodin. Each of the five buildings takes you on a visual journey of European art and culture through the eons.
Trinity Cathedral, Saint Petersburg is the second largest church in the city and was built between 1827-1835 in the form of the Greek Orthodox cross. Closed during the 1930s, its interior was dismantled and the structure became a warehouse. Plans were drawn up to use the former church as a crematorium, but fortunately things never got that far. As for the basics, the facade has been washed in white. A simple frieze runs around it. Its cupolas, once sprinkled with gold stars, are the color of ink blue. The size and color of the Cathedral make it a visible force within this rather dreary area of town.
Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery is situated in the north part of the city. It is a very important place for the people of the city, being the burial place (in mass graves) of those who died during World War II. The cemetery is a harrowing reminder of the horrors of that era. A wide alley runs between the common graves; too many people died for individual burial to be possible. The only identification provided is by granite blocks inscribed with the year of death. At the far end of the cemetery stands a memorial to the Motherland including a statue of Mother Russia.
This is one of the lesser known of the former tsarist resorts. It is situated 41 kilometers (25.48 miles) from St. Petersburg on the Finnish Sea Gulf. Sitting on a hill and overlooking the gulf, the main palace is an impressive sight. Still colloquially called 'Lomonosov', its pre-war title, the vast park is dotted with smaller palaces and pavilions that can be visited. The most beautiful sight in the park is the Kitaiskii Dvorets (Chinese Palace) in the southwest area of the property which remains closed between October through April. Other attractions located within this area include Grand Menshikov Palace, Peter, the Third's Palace and Oranienbaum Park. Entrance to the park is free, but you have to pay for each palace or pavilion separately.
This street is named after its creator, architect Ross, and lies behind the Academic Theater of Drama. It is formed by two identical buildings, both, with facades of 220 meters in length and 22 meters in height. If you are looking for harmony, a wonderful view and solemn array of columns, this street is an incomparable opportunity. In the building on the left-hand side you can find the museum of Theatre and Music Art.