Visiting the Hermitage in St.Petersburg
Truly an amazing and inspiring place, the exaltation of creativity from all over the world.
Today I enjoyed on of the most beautiful museums in the world. I went to the Hermitage in St.Petersburg. It is the second biggest art museum in the world. I was at the Louvre in Paris, the Uffizi in Florence and the Metropolitan in New York before but this museum is located in one of the most impressive locations I have seen.
It is located in the Winter Palace of the Russian Tsars, as it was Catherine The Great who started collecting large art collections in the 18th century.
As with all big museums, one day is not enough to truly appreciate the many artefacts that are on display. I was mainly interested in the French, Dutch, Italian and of course Flemish painters.
But there is so much more. In fact there is so much that it feels a bit unrespectful to pass through rooms and not paying attention to the works that are there on your way to the room where you are really heading to.
I especially enjoyed the room dedicated to Rubens and Van Dijck as they are directly linked to my hometown Antwerp. Also the Leonardo Da Vinci room was impressive.
While you stroll around the ballroom-like rooms looking at the paintings, vases , sculptures and other art objects, you need to appreciate the wonderful decorations on walls, doors and ceilings.
In one room you see an expo on perspective in 14th century painting and then you stumble upon the throne room of Tsar Nicolas II.
Entrance is 700 rubles (9 euro) for foreigners. If you are staying in a hotel, take your room key to the travel agent entrance. You will be able to buy tickets there and not have to queue in the general admission line.
After the visit I went to drink tea out of a traditional samovar. Very fitting for the occasion.
And then had a Texas Brisket at Smoky BBQ in Rubinstein street, as that is also St. Pete, or Piter as the russians say.
Truly a great place to visit!
