In 1754, the Russian Empress Elizabeth commanded to build a new winter residence on the banks of the Neva river. She ordered an architectural project to Bartolommeo Francesco Rastrelli who built a pompous palace in a style known as “Elizabethan baroque”. The Palace had 1500 chambers and was the highest building of that time. Although more than 4000 people helped build it the construction took over eight years for 4000 workers to build. Sadly, Elizabeth died shortly before the palace was finished. The same year another Empress of Russia – Catherine moved into the new palace where she reigned Russia for 34 years. In 1764 she purchased a considerable collection of West European paintings, laying the foundation for the modern-day Hermitage. Today the State Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings and is one of the oldest and largest art galleries in the world housing a collection of paintings, graphic works, sculptures, works of applied art, archaeological artefacts and numismatic objects. It is estimated that you would need eleven years to view each exhibit on display for just one minute.
Price:
- $90 per person starting from 2 guests
Operating days:
- Daily except Monday
Tour includes:
- 4 hours of guide service including pick up and drop off at the hotel
- Entrance fees to the State Hermitage museum
- Subway tickets
Booking and cancellation policy:
- We recommend to make the booking 7-15 days in advance during the peak season from May to September
- Booking of the tour can be made not less than 3 days prior to the date of the tour
- After the tour is booked the cancellation will incur a 60% cancellation fee of the total amount as the entrance tickets are non-refundable
- There will be no refund for the cancellation of the tour made less than 48 hours prior to the booked tour
- Change of the date of the tour can be done within 48 hours prior to the tour date with 60% penalty
- All cancellations or change of dates can be done by phone or email
Additional info:
- Please indicate preferred pick up time and place
- This tour is a private walking tour with the use of subway
- Please dress in accordance with the weather conditions