ZIMNIY DVORETS
Zimniy Dvorets is one of the best and richest museums in the world.
The construction of the palace, which was designed by the architect B. Rastrelli, began under the reign of Anna Ioanovna, continued during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, and was completed under Peter III. The construction of the palace was a truly gigantic task, which necessitated 4,000 workers on site at any one time.
The palace area amounts to 22,000 m2. The main facade opens onto Dvortsovaya Ploshchad’. Statues, vases , atlantes and caryatides embellish the facade of the palace.
Zimniy Dvorets includes Stary Ermitazh and Novy Ermitazh which are connected by passages. ; The construction of Novy Ermitazh was completed in 1851.
In 1917 both buildings became the Hermitage, the largest museum in Russia. Today, the museum presents the richest collections of art works.
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