The Hermitage: A Journey in Time and Space

The unique collections held in the Hermitage will take you on this absorbing journey in time and space. The introduction to the Winter Palace skillfully weaves in the history of the museum collection that now dates back more than three centuries. Originally established as the private collection of the Russian Empress Catherine the Great, the collection continued to grow with works of art regularly added, and in the mid 19th century it was opened to the wider public. As you encounter the masterpieces of one period after another you will understand how prehistoric cultures arose, developed and died out, then the culture of the antique world, the Renaissance period and classicism; each time to die and be reborn in the works of masters of a later age. Music performed by the State Hermitage Orchestra, the Millennium Chamber Choir and the St Petersburg Neva-Klassika string quartet will enhance your enjoyment as you travel through the museum and visit the different epochs of the various cultures on display.

Director: Vladimir Ptashchenko