The Hermitage Museum
Founded in 1764, the Hermitage is a Russian national treasure and one of the largest museums in the world, a definite must-see for any lover of museums. This great collection of over 3 million exhibits of art spanning across several centuries is breathtaking. The Hermitage is made up of five buildings located in the historical center of St. Petersburg, with 17,000 paintings, 12,000 sculptures, 700,000 archeological findings, 600,000 graphic works, and 300,000 works of craft. With masterpieces from Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Matisse, and many more. This artistic heaven represents Russia, Western Europe, Ancient Greek, Middle East, and as far back as Antiquity.
The Hermitage also has an exquisite Winter Palace and a theatre built by the biggest names in European architecture. Most of the works of art at the Hermitage were collected by Empress Catherine II of Russia. This Emperor-residence-turned-museum is a cultural paradise for art enthusiasts, there will never be a better opportunity to explore the work of this many iconic artists in one place. Imagine seeing a collection of paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and a sculpture by Michelangelo in one day.
