Article by Kenneth Leon Roberts
There are many great museums around the world, but none compares to the eternal splendor of St. Petersburg’s own Hermitage. The Hermitage is the greatest attraction in St. Petersburg, Russia. With over three million items in its vast collections, the Hermitage houses the most impressive display of art and antiquities. Part of the exquisite charm and splendor of the museum is not only the collections, but the buildings themselves that house the collections. The Hermitage is made up of five interconnected buildings. The largest building, being the Winter Palace, did house the Romanov Tsars from 1762 until the revolution in 1917.
The art collection was started by Catherine the Great in 1764 when she officially made her first bulk art purchase. It has been augmented since, and houses great artist’s works like Rembrandt, Reuben, Matisse, Picasso, and Gaugin. With a world-wide collection, you can find an impressive display, from the entire global reach of art.