Russia Saint Petersburg - State Hermitage Museum

Founded in 1764 when Empress Catherine the Great purchased a collection of Flemish and Dutch paintings from Berlin. Museum's storerooms, exhibitions and departments are in 10 buildings, 7 of them are monuments of 18th and 19th century. Architectural ensemble consists of  Winter Palace,  former state residence of  Russian emperors,  buildings of  Small, Old (Great) and New Hermitages,  Hermitage Theatre and  Auxiliary House. Museum  includes  Menshikov Palace,  Eastern Wing of  General Staff building,  Staraya Derevnya Restoration,   Storage Centre and Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory.

Winter Palace - biggest building in complex, commissioned by daughter of Peter the Great, Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, in 1754 as official royal residence. Palace was official residence of  Russian monarchs till February 1917. Egyptian collection is on the ground floor in eastern part of Palace as well as collection of culture of Ancient Mesopotamia, including Assyrian reliefs from Babylon. On the ground floor in western wing are collections of prehistoric artifacts, the culture of Caucasus and the second treasure gallery.

Small Hermitage -Southern Pavilion combine late baroque with early classicism. Northern Pavilion was constructed on the bank of the Neva in early classicism style. Two structures are joined at the level of the first floor by the Hanging Garden. This architectural ensemble was called "Small Hermitage," because in Northern Pavilion Catherine II had parties with games which were known as "small hermitages." Two galleries at western side of the Small Hermitage from the Northern to Southern Pavilion house an exhibition of Western European decorative and applied art of the 12th to 15th century.

Great Hermitage - was built in 1771-87 to the order of Catherine II and was intended to house the palace art collections and library. Works of Italian Renaissance artists, including Giorgione, Titian, Veronese, as well as Benois Madonna and Madonna Litta attributed to Leonardo da Vinci or his school, are on the rooms on the first floor of the Old Hermitage

New Hermitage -was the first building in Russia specially constructed to house the art collections of the Museum. Italian Renaissance exposition continues in the eastern wing. Gallery known as the Raphael Loggias runs along the eastern facade. In the enfilade of smaller rooms alongside the skylight rooms Italian and Spanish fine art of the 15th-17th centuries, including Michelangelo's Crouching Boy and paintings by El Greco. The Knights' Hall, room in the eastern part hosts a collection of  Western European arms and armour of the 15th-17th centuries, part of  Arsenal collection.

Hermitage Theatre - commissioned by Catherine II, was built in 1783-87. Building is noted for the harmony of its architectural forms and is example of late 18th-century Russian classicism. Windows of the rusticated ground floor have key-stones decorated with lion masks. Columns at the level of the first floor are flanked by projections with statues of playwrights and poets of Ancient Greece in the niches.

  

  

Menshikov Palace - situated on the University Embankment of Vasilyevsky Island, was built to the order of the first governor of St Petersburg and close associate of Peter I, Alexander Menshikov. Construction of this first monumental stone structure in the city began in 1710. The architectural decoration of the palace is characteristic of the early 18th century. The palace was the most luxurious building in St Petersburg of Peter's time and was often used for official diplomatic receptions and assemblies.

General Staff building - designed by Carlo Rossi, architect of the Russian Classicism style. It was built in 1820-30 and reveals an architectural strictness that was characteristically Classical. Building occupies a vast space from Nevsky Prospekt to the bend of the Moika River. Main accent in the composition of the facade looking on to Palace Square is placed on the magnificent arch - the symbol of the triumph of Russia.