Monument to Nicholas I
The
monument to the iron-willed and notoriously despotic Russian ruler Nicholas
I on St. Isaac's Square was built by renowned Russian architect August
Monferrane between 1856 and 1859. Monferrane also built the neighboring
St. Isaac's Cathedral.
The monument to Nicholas I accurately and powerfully depicts the determined
absolutist Russian ruler as a powerful military figure.
Statues of Mikhail Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolley
Both Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolley are depicted in their statues in the cannon of Roman Classicism which was fashionable at the time. The sculptor, Boris Orlovsky, dressed both men in togas on top of their military uniforms.
The Hermitage Museum
The Hermitage Museum is Russia's best gallery of world art, one of the most prominent art museums in the world and definitely the main tourist attraction of St. Petersburg. The museum was founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great purchased a collection of 255 paintings from the German city of Berlin. Today, the Hermitage boasts over 2.7 million exhibits and displays a diverse range of art and artifacts from all over the world and from throughout history (from Ancient Egypt to the early 20th century Europe). The Hermitage's collections include works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian, a unique collection of Rembrandts and Rubens, many French Impressionist works by Renoir, Cezanne, Manet, Monet and Pissarro, numerous canvasses by Van Gogh, Matisse, Gaugin and several sculptures by Rodin. The collection is both enormous and diverse and is an essential stop for all those interested in art and history.
ST. PETERSBURG
Holiday type:
