The State Hermitage Museum is situated in the very center of St. Petersburg. The Museum occupies five buildings along the Neva River. They are the Winter Palace, the small Hermitage, the New Hermitage and the Hermitage theatre. The Winter Palace was the official residence of Russian emperors. It was designed in 1754-1762 by architect B. Rastrelli. This palace became the symbol of the 18-th century.

The Museum has one of the largest collections of woks of art in the whole world. Masterpieces of outstanding artists are included in the collections. It was Catherine II who started the Hermitage collection. Such experts of European painting as Diderot, Voltaire and many others helped Catherine the Great to collect woks of art. Only after the Great Socialist Revolution in Russia the Hermitage as turned into museum.

St Petersburg tours is one of the most desired Russia vacation packages out there. Truly, you can hardly find a more interesting Russia tour.

The new Hermitage contains the work of Antique sculptors. One of the best departments of Hermitage is dedicated to the Italian art, where one can admire the woks by Raphael, Titian and Michelangelo. The Spanish halls include woks by Velazquez, El Greco and Murillo. There is a very big collection of paintings belonging to French painters that are known worldwide.

The State Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg is open from 10.30 to 17.00, every day except Monday.