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Why Visit the Hermitage Museum

Touring marvelous Saint Petersburg will be incomplete without visiting the legendary Hermitage Museum. The second largest museum in the world, the Hermitage consists of 6 historically prominent buildings, with the most famous Winter Palace, General Staff Building and Menshikov Palace, each having the unique fancy appearance.

Regarding the most famous buildings of the Hermitage, the Winter Palace, this amazing palatial complex served as a royal residence for about 200 years.

The design was created by Bartolomeo Rastrelli and other famous architects so just imagine how beautiful this baroque edifice is.

The Hermitage exposition occupies 350 halls with about 3 million works of art which means that you’ll need about 6-7 years of uninterrupted observation to stand by each masterpiece for at least one minute!

However, such art therapy is a great way to dive into the different epochs of Russian art as well as to see some outstanding marvels of such geniuses as Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and a lot more.

The Hermitage collections are so diverse that it’s just impossible not to find the one of your interest. Don't be surprised if you stumble upon a cat or two while exploring the museum. In fact, cats have already resided the Hermitage since when it even didn’t become a museum.

Around 70 cats live in the museum’s basement and help the Hermitage stay free from mice and rats.

For sure, the Hermitage Museum is a must-visit during St. Petersburg city tour. If you don’t believe, ask 3 million visitors who explore this exclusive trove of art every year!