ST.PETERSBURG DURING THE WINTER

The Admiralty

The center of the grandiose ensemble of the Admiralty Avenue is the Admiralty building. The shining golden spire is topped with a caravel, that has become an original symbol of the city that is situated near the Baltic sea. 

  The foundation of the Admiralty as a shipyard happened in 1704. By 1706 the Admiralty turned into the fortress with five land bastions. In 1806-1823 according to the design of the architect Zakharov was built the third -- recent building. In the aspect of the Admiralty is very important the theme of the glory and the power of the Russian Navy.

  The huge construction (the main façade is 407 metres wide) consists of two buildings in the form of the П—the internal and the external ones. In the centre of the main building there is a high tower with a spire on the top. Its basis is cut through by an arch and its center is surrounded by the colonnade. The height of the tower with the spire is 72 metres. An extremely important role in the appearance of the Admiralty is played by the monumental-decorative sculpture. 

  The construction of the ships in the Admiralty yard continued untill 1844. Afterwards only the institutions managing the fleet remained in the building.

  During the Grate Patriotic War the spire was put under the slip-covers. The significant restauration works took place in 1928 and 1977,

The State Hermitage

The State Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings situated along the embankment of the River Neva, right in the heart of St Petersburg. The leading role in this unique architectural ensemble is played by the Winter Palace, the residence of the Russian tsars that was built to the design of Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1754-62. This ensemble, formed in the 18th and 19th centuries, is extended by the eastern wing of the General Staff building, the Menshikov Palace and the recently constructed Repository.

Put together throughout two centuries and a half, the Hermitage collections of works of art (over 3,000,000 items) present the development of the world culture and art from the Stone Age to the 20th century. Today the Museum is creating its digital self-portrait to be displayed around the world. Computer technologies enable the State Hermitage Museum to provide people from all over the world with wider access to information about the Museum and its treasures.

Below are some pieces from Hermitage that I love.

Grand Coronation Carriage

Crouching Boy - Michelangelo

Statue of Jupiter

Aphrodite (Tauride Venus)

Cupid

"Pensive" bodhisattva Padmapani

The Death of Adonis - Giuseppe Mazzuoli

Boat Trip on Neva River and its Canals

Pictures of buildings on the bank of river Neva taken during the boat trip I took with my friend. Beautiful architecture,interesting details.I enjoyed each moment of this trip. :) Hope you like the pictures too.

The Palace of Beloselskih-Belozerskih

The Big Dramatic Theatre

Mihailovskiy Castle