Judy's Sabbatical Trip 2009: St Petersburg

On Sunday the sightseeing continued in St Petersburg. The focus of the day was a visit to the Hermitage Museum - an amazing experience. It is worth a visit just to see the interior - but there is also a wonderful display of art. The collection is huge with only 5% on display at any time.

Hotel Dostoyevsky where I stayed. A good position - near the road Nevsky Prospekt and walking distance to many sights and museums.

The courtyard of the Hermitage Museum. We joined a short queue about half an hour before opening time and went straight in when the doors opened. The Jordan Staircase
The Peackock Clock - built at the end of the 18th century. At the end of each hour the animals give little performances. The peacock spreads its tail and rotates and the owl bobs up and down and opens and closes its eyes.

A mosaic in the floor of the Pavilion room. The Pavilion room - with a crowd around the Peacock Clock. One of the rooms with some of the European art collection. One of the rooms displaying some of the Italian art. Another room in the Italian art section The Raphael Loggias Detail of the Raphael Loggias

The Michaelangelo "Crouching Boy"

Some of the collection of plates dating from the 16th and 17th century

The view of the Winter Canal from the museum

One of the rooms leading to the Hermitage Theatre

Leonardo Da Vinci - a Madonna Litta

Yvette and Stella in front of the Madonna Litta

The Small Throne Room - in the niche is a painting of Peter the Great with Minerva.

The Amorial Room

The queue in the courtyard of the Hermitage in the middle of the day - a couple of hours after opening.

The Armorial room - gold columns

The Armorial room - mirrors

The Large Throne Room - around the edge were huge vases made from semi-precious stones and marble.

Lapis lazuli and malachite vases in the Large Throne Room

The 1812 War Gallery - created in 1826 to commemorate Russian victories in the Napoleonic wars.

The Jordan Staircase again

Outside the Hermitage now. The Bronze Horseman - statue of Peter the Great in the Decembrists' square - the place of the abortive Decembrists' Revolution in 1825.