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Museums of St. Petersburg.

TOURS TO THE CITIES OF RUSSIA

TRIP TO ST. PETERSBURG

MUSEUMS OF ST. PETERSBURG

St. Petersburg is often called a museum city. Its museums house multitudinous collections of world art and culture.

The first public museum in Russia, Kunstkammer, is stemming from the first collection of rarities brought together by the Russian emperor, Peter the Great. The academic research expeditions of 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries were replenishing the museum with more and more exhibits. The researchers crossed Siberia, Kamchatka, and several times reached the shore of Antarctica traveling round the world. The museum of Anthropology and Ethnography named after Peter the Great keeps unique articles that illustrate culture of different nations.

Being in St. Petersburg you cannot help visiting the Hermitage, which is the real treasure-house where over 5 million works of arts are kept and exhibited. Catherine the Second was the founder of this collection. The collection of the Emperor Museum was being actively replenished during 18th and 19th centuries. After the coup of 1917, a lot of works of art from socialized tsar palaces and private collections were transferred to the Hermitage. Picture-gallery is the oldest and the most popular collection of the Hermitage. It reflects the main stages of development of fine arts, from the late Middle Ages, till the present time. The works of the greatest masters of Western Europe form a substantial part of the collection. The Russian Museum is the biggest picture gallery dedicated to Russian fine arts from ancient Russia to the present time. The museum was conceived as the Emperor Museum of Alexander the Third. In 1917 it was renamed into the State Russian Museum. Main exhibits are exposed in the halls of the Mikhailovsky Palace, which by itself is a masterpiece of Russia classical architecture. You can find here the vast collection of canvases created by Russian and Soviet artists, together with works of Russian art of the 2oth century from avant-guard till the present days.

Peter and Paul Fortress is historical and architectonic monument of the Peter the Great Epoch. The museum of St.Petersburg history is located in the Superintendent house in its territory. You can see the development of the city from its start till the present days in this museum. Such buildings as Peter and Paul Cathedral, Grand Dukes Burial-vault, Boat house, Engineering House are located in the territory of the Fortress.

The State Museum of Ethnography keeps a great many of exhibits dedicated to traditions, life-style, and culture of all nations, nationalities, and ethnic groups of Russia and the former Soviet Union. The exhibits of the Central Naval Museum as well as the Museum of Artillery, Sappers, and Intercommunication illustrate the history of development of Russian military science.

Literary and theater museums form the special group of institutions. The Memorial apartment of A.S. Pushkin, the Literary Memorial Museum of F.M. Dostoevsky, the Memorial apartment of N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov bring back the memories of the great Russian poets, writers, composers, and artists.

By tradition, a great many of exhibitions are held in St. Petersburg every day, starting from sumptuous opening days in the most prestigious halls, to very informal exhibitions of unconventional art. You can find a lot of modern art galleries, as well as antiquary saloons, and shops.

ART MUSEUMS

STATE HERMITAGE
STATE RUSSIAN MUSEUM.
MARBLE PALACE
MIKHAYLOVSKY (ENGINEERS’) CASTLE
STROGANOV PALACE
MUSEUM OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS
Working since 1757, this is one of the oldest art museums in the city. It is located in the building of the Russian Academy of Arts. Temporary exhibits of modern artists and graduates of the Academy.
University Emb. 17. Metro: Vasileostrovskaya
Open Wed. – Sun. 11 a.m. -- 6 p.m. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
MUSEUM OF CITY SCULPTURE
The museum is located on the territory of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. 18th and 19th century necropolis.
Nevsky Prosp. 179/2. Metro: Alexander Nevsky Square
Open Fri - Wed 10 a.m. -- 7 p.m. Closed on Thursdays

HISTORY MUSEUMS AND PLACES

CABIN OF PETER THE GREAT
The first dwelling house in St. Petersburg. The exhibition includes the Tsar’s personal things and a boat that he built.
Petrovskaya Emb. 6 Metro: Gorkovskaya
Open Wed-Mon 10 a. m. – 4 p. m. Closed on Tuesdays and on the last Monday of each month
PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS THE MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF ST. PETERSBURG
PETER THE GREAT'S PALACE IN THE SUMMER GARDENS
The palace was built to the design of D.Trezzini in 1710-1714. Its well-preserved interiors house 18th-century furniture, Peter I's clothes his workshop with the period lathes.
The summer Gardens. Metro Gostinny Dvor/ Nevsky Prospekt.
PETER THE GREAT'S COTTAGE
It was the ferst home of Peter the Great in St. Petersburg. This small wooden building has been preserved from the early days of the city thanks to special stone structure put up tp protect it in 1844. In 1930 it was openedas museum displaying Peter I's personal belongings and authentic items from his epoch.
Petrovskaya nab.6. Metro Gorkovskaya
ST ISAAC'S CATHEDRAL (MUSEUM)
RUSSIAN MUSEUM OF ETHNOGRAPHY
MENSHIKOV PALACE (branch of the State Hermitage)
YUSUPOV PALACE
MUSEUM OF ARTILLERY, ENGINEERING FORCES, AND SIGNAL TROOPS
CENTRAL NAVAL MUSEUM
MILITARY MEDICAL MUSEUM OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION DEFENCE MINISTRY
The museum exhibition cover the history of military medical services from the 18th century till the present time.
Lazaretny per.,2 . Metro: Pushkinskaya
CRUISER AURORA
SMOLNY
ALEXANDER SUVOROV MUSEUM
The museum exhibition surveys the main stages of the life and activity of the glorious Russian military commander. Money for the museum was donated by common people from all parts of the country and the exposition was opened in 1904.
Kirochnaya ul., 43
MONUMENT OF THE HEROIC DEFENDERS OF LENINGRAD
The largest martial museum in the world. It's located in the building of the old Arsenal. The collection of the museum numbers about 500,000 items: examples of armaments, military uniforms, banners, orders, battle relics of the Russian Army. The monument unveiled in 1975 was created by the architest S.Speransky and the sculptor M.Anikushin.
Ploshchad pobedy. Metro - Moscovskaya.
Open Wednesday - Sunday, from 11.00 am to 05.00 pm. Closed Monday, Tuesday and last Thursday.
PISKARYOVKA CEMETRY
MUSEUM OF THE RAILWAYS
The museum exhibition gives an overview of the history of the Russian railways. Work gear, and a collection of bridge models, including those of St. Petersburg are on display.
Sadovaya St. 50. Metro: Sadovaya
Open Sun–Thurs. 11 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. Closed on Fridays, Saturdays and on the last Tuesday of each month
CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
MUSEUM OF RUSSIA POLITICAL HISTORY
The museum occupies the former residence of the ballet dancer Matilda Kshesinskaya. Some of the revolutionary events of 1917 took place in this house built by A.Gogen in 1904 - 1906.
Kuibysheva ul., 2-4 Metro: Gorkovskaya
HISTORY MUSEUM OF WAX FIGURES
"THE CROSSES" ("KRESTY") MUSEUM
The museum exhibition focuses on the history of the most notorious St Petersburg prison and conditions in which its prisoners held.
Arsenalnaya nab., 7. Metro Ploshchad Lenina

SCIENCE MUSEUMS

PETER THE GREAT MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND ETHNOGRAPHY – THE KUNSTKAMMER
ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM
The exhibitions show the origin and development of the Earth’s animal life. The collection includes over 17 million animal species, 500,000 of which are on display.
University Emb. 1/3. Metro: Vasileostrovskaya
Open Sat-Thurs. 11 a.m. -- 5 p.m. Closed Fri
ALEXANDER PUSHKIN'S MEMORIAL FLAT
ANNA AKHMATOVA MUSEUM (FONTANNY DOM)
The flat is located in the wing of the former Sheremetyev Palace ("Fontanny House") built in 1746-1750 to the design of S.Chevakinsky and F.Argunov. The original look of the flat where Anna Akhmatova lived in 1933-1941 and 1944-1954. An exhibition on her life and work.
Fontanka Embankment, 34 (entrance from Liteiny Prospect, 53). Metro: Gostiny Dvor / Nevsky Prospect
Open Sat-Thurs. 10.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. Closed Mon. and the last Wed. of each month.
MUSEUM OF F. M. DOSTOYEVSKY (DOSTOEVSKY MEMORIAL FLAT)
This is flat where the eminent writer spent his last years (from 1878 till 1881). The interior of the writer’s flat has been reconstructed. The exhibition points out the different stages of the writer’s works.
Kuznechnyj per., 5/2. Metro: Dostoevskaya
Open Tu-Sun 11 a.m. -- 5.30 p.m. Closed Mon and the last Wed of each month.
MUSEUM OF THE PLEKHANOV MINING INSTITUTE
The museum boasts one of the finest collections in the world demonstrating the composition of the earth's crust. It has dozens of thousands of minerals from all parts of the world and hundreds of models showing the history of mining and metallurgical technology in Russia.
EXHIBITION HALLS HORSE GUARDS MANEGE CENTRAL EXHIBITION HALL
Isakievskaya Square, 1 Metro: Nevsky Prospect
MIKHAYLOVSKY MANEGE
Manezhnaya Square, 2. Metro: Gostiny Dvor / Nevsky Prospect
LENEXPO EXHIBITION CENTER
Bolshoy Prosp. Vassilievsky Island, 103. Metro: Vasileostrovskaya / Primorskaya
"LITERATORSKYE MOSTKY" MEMORIAL NECROPOLIS OF RUSSIAN WRITERS
Rasstannaya ul.,30. Metro: Ligovsky prospekt
MEMORIAL FLAT OF THE SATIRIST MIKHAIL ZOSHCHENKO
Malaya Koniushennaya ul., 42. Metro: Gostiny Dvor / Nevsky Prospect
MUSEUM OF ALEXANDER POPOV, THE INVENTOR OF RADIO
Professora Popova ul., 5. Metro Petrogradskaya.
MENDELEYEV METEOROLOGY MUSEUM
Moscovsky prosp., 19.
MUSEUM OF THE ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC
The most important sections of the museum deal with the history of theexploration and study of the Arctick and Antarctic by Russian scientists.
Marata ul., 24A. Metro Vladimirovskaya, Dostoyevskaya
VLADIMIR NABOKOV MEMORIAL HOUSE
The outstanding Russian-born American novelist his young years in this house. He left Russian in 1919.
Bolshaya Morscaya ul., 47