Laninga's Travel Blog

Our second day in St. Petersburg was highlighted by a visit to the Hermitage.  Russia’s largest museum, and one of the oldest in the world, it has over 400,000 works of art.  And that includes such famous artists as Rembrand, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Commissioned by Catherine the Great in 1714, it has been open to the public since 1852. Our 2 hour visit was just enough to get an idea of the depth of works that are on display here.

The Church of the Savior of Spilled Blood was a memorial erected on the site where Tsar Alex II was murdered in 1881.  However, the actual burial place is in the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral.  The latter is the oldest landmark in St. Petersburg, it was started in 1717.  The gilded spire is the tallest in the world.  The cathedral now contains the remain of most all the Russion emperors and Czars.

We also had a canal crcuise, notable that when Peter laid our the plans for the city the intent was to make all transportation via boat.  Hence the multiple rivers and canals, and the title of “Venice of the North”.  Finally, a ride in the subway was most interesting. the tracks are the deepest and the escalator down was almost scary.