The high-speed train to whisk us from Moscow to St Petersburg at 200km/hr.
Palace Square in St Petersburg…
… it is simply enormous – and not so crowded in the early morning!
While waiting for our walking tour, someone kindly took our photo!
The façade of the New Hermitage building has 15 giant statues of Atlas – that’s our tour guide at the front.
St Isaac’s Cathedral.
The Singer Company Bulding is one of the most beautiful buildings on Nevsky Prospekt – an innovative and richly decorated Art Nouveau masterpiece – now a book store.
Looking toward the Church of the Saviour of the Spilled Blood…
Interior of Church of the Saviour of the Spilled Blood.
The interior of the enormous Kazan Cathedral.
It was Russian Naval Day – and, being home to the Russian Navy, a lot of displays of patriotism.
Naval might on display on the Neva River…
Evening over Palace Square.
The crowds gather for a concert for Navy Day held in the Square.
A concert for Navy Day held in the Square.
A lovely sculpture.
Looking across the River Neva to the Peter and Paul Fortress…
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, inside the walls of Peter and Paul Fortress on Zayachy Island.
The steeple gleams in the sunlight…
Looking back to St Petersburg across the river towards Admiralty Building and St Isaac’s Cathedral.
Looking back to St Petersburg across the river to some of the Palaces which make up the Hermitage.
Looking back to St Petersburg across the river to the Hermitage with the domes of the Church of the Saviour of the Spilled Blood in the background.
Another view across the river towards Admiralty Building and St Isaac’s Cathedral.
The Venice of the North – one of St Petersburg’s many canals.
Inside one of the palaces which comprise the Hermitage Museum…
The entrance stairway is very ornate.
The entrance stairway is very ornate.
The sheer size of the buildings is amazing.
The Boudoir, inside the Hermitage Museum…
The gilding is overwhelming.
This gives an indication of the size of some of the rooms.
View of the Square from inside the Palace.
Inside the Hermitage Museum…
The Library Inside the Hermitage Museum…
The famous Portrait Hall…
The Armorial Hall…
Peter the Great’s Memorial Hall…
Kiosk with Malachite columns, inside the Hermitage Museum…
Inside the Hermitage Museum…
One of the courtyards of the Palaces.
Raphael Loggia…
Frescoes on the ceiling.
One of the ceilings…
The crowds around Madonna & Child by Da Vinci…
Reubins was popular, too!
Junction between two of the palaces…
Interior of the Palace Church in the Winter Palace.
This is inside one of the huge circular building on the Square, previously the General Staff Building, now home an annexe of the Museum…
… it houses the French Impressionists…
… and was almost deserted compared to the main Museum.
… it houses the French Impressionists.
… it houses the French Impressionists.
Time to say good evening to the Square.
