![\"DSC01726\"](\"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC01726.jpg\")
<\/a>Both breathtaking and a stark contrast to the cloudy gray skies and equally gray pavement<\/p><\/div>\n
Saint Petersburg began out of one man’s dream, yet I don’t believe Peter the Great imagined this building in front of me. \u00a0Peter’s love of ships, stars and technology developed and grew while spending several years as a teenager in England. \u00a0Dreaming of building his own navy Peter returned to Russia determined to do so. \u00a0He sought to transform Russia into a\u00a0major European power–one reflecting the might and power of a Russian Tsar, replete with ships and sailors. \u00a0Towards that end, on May 1, 1703, Peter the Great conquered the Swedish fortress of Nyenskans (on the\u00a0Neva River) and renamed it after\u00a0his patron Saint and Apostle, Peter. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A new Russian capital slowly arose out\u00a0of the cold, dark swampland along the Baltic Sea. \u00a0 Architects and builders built canals, roadways and immense buildings in a baroque style (similar to France’s Palace of Versailles). \u00a0Forty-thousand serfs suffered conscription into harsh labor each of the next twenty years of construction.<\/span><\/p>\n The view of Neva River from the Tzar’s Palace–200,000 slaves lost their lives to\u00a0build an imperial city, worthy of a Tzar.<\/p><\/div>\n A thriving capital city needs inhabitants, leaders, and commerce. \u00a0Towards that end a wise Peter the Great\u00a0<\/span>required his own noblemen to simultaneously build their own palaces alongside his own. \u00a0So, o<\/span>ut of the mud arose a majestic city. \u00a0Amazed at this quick transformation, from sparse villages to a bustling civilized city, visitors considered Saint Petersburg a “wonder of the world.” \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Though a strong leader and visionary, upon his death in 1725, this great european city nearly died with him. \u00a0His wife followed Peter I as leader, and their son briefly took the throne in 1727. \u00a0But forced to reside in this city half of each year,\u00a0many aristocrats returned to the easier lifestyle offered in Moscow.<\/p>\n Not until 1730, when the duchess Anna (Peter I’s niece) claimed the throne as her own (third succession following Peter’s death), did Saint Petersburg return as Russia’s capital. \u00a0With a different motive this strong, determined woman incorporated other mansions into her own; continued expanding until her personal surroundings contained enough gold and jewels befitting her extravagant lifestyle; and replaced Russian vodka with wines from Europe. \u00a0Upon her death, Peter the Great’s own daughter, Elizabeth, (another strong woman in Russia’s history) snatched the throne back from Anna’s infant son Ivan IV in 1741 and returned Russia’s culture to this city.<\/p>\n The Imperial school of ballet was instituted in St. Petersburg in 1740 to entertain the imperial court. \u00a0The Russian Academy of Arts was created in 1757; the Russian Academy of Sciences began in 1724 through a decree from Peter the Great (changed by his daughter Elizabeth to The Imperial Academy of Sciences and Arts in 1747); and Saint Petersburg State University.<\/p>\n Similar to her father’s construction “ideology”\u00a0<\/em>Elizabeth’s massive scale of construction ceased only briefly during wars or famine. \u00a0Finally in 1759, after spending 2.5 million rubles from levying heavy taxes upon the people (workers earned a mere 1 ruble each month<\/em>) Elizabeth achieved Peter I’s vision of a grand palace within a palatial european styled city.<\/p>\n The Winter Palace (or Hermitage as it’s now known)<\/p><\/div>\n Enjoying this royal lifestyle for only two years, Anna died in 1762 leaving the throne to her nephew, Peter III. \u00a0 His attempt to change the direction of Russia\u00a0met with his own assassination just six months into his reign. \u00a0His wife (former princess Sophia from Germany), known as Catherine the Great, transformed Russia into a progressive and dominant European power during her long (32 years)<\/em> and successful reign–known in Russia as their Golden Age<\/em>.<\/p>\n For a time, women dominated and transformed history for two neighboring countries–Russia and Ukraine. \u00a0With the Christian Orthodox religion integrated into their own personal lives, these female leaders didn’t fear an influx of outside cultural influences, they embraced them. \u00a0Bringing these countries out of an archaic and barbaric lifestyle took fortitude and direction from God.<\/p>\n Catherine the Great expanded Russia into Alaska (Russian America), down into the Crimean area and across the West into Poland–changing the face of Russia. \u00a0Transforming finance, education, science, medicine, literature and the arts was no easy task but, I believe, with God’s blessing she achieved her goal and enjoyed more than thirty years as Empress. Implementing a “buying spree”<\/em>\u00a0 to furnish her enormous palace, it eventually contained one of the most comprehensive art collections in the world.<\/p>\n the Rafael Logias<\/p><\/div>\n Each corridor and room so enormous it’s difficult to gauge the space accurately.<\/p>\n Catherine’s agents purchased vast private collections; contracted directly with famous artists; procured statues, furnishings or treasures wherever found (including\u00a0plundered<\/em>\u00a0valuables). \u00a0She finally achieved her desired goal–not for personal gain, but for an entire country, Russia. \u00a0 The palatial residence rivaled any in Europe; and Russia’s first public museum, contained 3 million works of art (representing every famous artist and sculptor). \u00a0 Numerous works of art (including Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Rubens, Leonardo Da Vinci) lined the walls, often two and three paintings high.<\/p>\n Though christening her own private rooms as “The Hermitage,” the entire palace is known as such.<\/p>\n Built and altered continuously from 1732 until 1917 the Winter Palace eventually included over 1,500 rooms and 117 stairways becoming the largest private, “Royal” residence in the world.<\/p><\/div>\n The final Tzar in Russian history–Nicholas–ruled over 100 million people encompassing one-sixth of the earth’s land mass before the losing his reign (and his life) during the country’s long and tumultuous revolution. \u00a0 Beginning with the “Bloody Sunday Massacre”\u00a0of 1905 (in front of the Winter Palace) and ending as revolutionaries took over the Palace in 1917. \u00a0Russia now belonged to the “state” as an entity. \u00a0Bombings, fires and looting by angry mobs (led by the Bolsheviks) caused the disappearance of many treasures.<\/p>\n The site of Bloody Sunday in 1905 where ordinary citizens and orthodox priests were slaughtered in front of the Palace steps.<\/p><\/div>\n The excessive riches and lifestyle of the Tzars didn’t “fit” with socialism or Lenin’s ideal for Russia. \u00a0Much of the personal treasures and art used in the private rooms of the Palace disappeared. \u00a0 Some paintings moved to Moscow museums; masterpieces were sold to private international buyers; some disappeared during German occupation. \u00a0Nevertheless, the Hermitage is now one museum–some say, the world’s largest–showcasing vast collections of art, antiquities and treasures.<\/p>\n Today, the museum takes considerable precautions lest a visitor steal even one small item. \u00a0Someone cut a painting out of the frame a few years previous. \u00a0Russia found the stolen painting, returned it, but extensive repairs changed it. \u00a0No coats, backpacks, large purses or bags are allowed in the museum area. \u00a0So, handing my leather and fur coat and purse to a very Russian woman (speaking no English) exchange for a small token, I began exploring.<\/p>\n Truly the most grand stairway entrance, “Jordan Staircase”–every Czar, King, Queen, nobles and every guest surely knew this palace was one of a kind.<\/p><\/div>\n Looking up while ascending; halfway up this massive stairway to the balcony above<\/p><\/div>\n If the intention of the Tzar and the Empress was to impress and overwhelm visitors upon entering their throne room, they succeeded. \u00a0I’m speechless. \u00a0I’ve walked through quite a few throne rooms, but none with the details of this one–parquet floors, gold ceilings and walls, pillars that go on and on.<\/p>\n Saint George’s Hall, the main throne room<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Peter the Great’s memorial throne room<\/p><\/div>\n Tzar Peter sat upon this throne to rule his land; His photo behind the throne.<\/p><\/div>\n A magnificent creation in opulence–a peacock, cockerel and owl fitted with an automaton mechanism unlike anything else in the world…all in gold.<\/p><\/div>\n Choosing a tour to learn a little about the history and art in this museum was a wise choice. \u00a0A very proud English speaking museum guide boasted of the exterior architecture and interior designs of this “one of a kind” palace\/museum. \u00a0Moving from one majestic room into another even greater–all filled with artistic treasures, I knew she must be right. \u00a0 It would take days to see everything inside–larger than the Louvre and more opulent than Versailles. \u00a0Walking up and down stairways; through large corridors; in and out of these enormous rooms; my mind couldn’t grasp each feature individually. \u00a0There were so much to see–even ceilings, walls and floors were exquisitely, and artistically, constructed.<\/p>\n Stolen or given freely by a church? \u00a0Knowing the struggles of the Ukraine and the loss of their church Icons, crucifixes or altars, I highly doubt these churches gave Russia anything,<\/em> let alone precious items used within the sanctuaries.<\/p>\n Solid Lapis vase–numerous in this room–along with gemstone tables and inlaid into the floor beneath us.<\/p><\/div>\n Only in Russia might one see such sleighs as these<\/p><\/div>\n War is well represented<\/p><\/div>\n Room after room–each more beautiful than the previous<\/p><\/div>\n After two days of touring, I still didn’t see all of it or experience it fully. \u00a0Knowing Russians were not exposed to art until Catherine the Great brought this vast collection of\u00a0art<\/em>\u00a0to the “Hermitage” I understand her love of all art. \u00a0She included a theatre for performers (i.e., opera, Shakespeare, orchestras) to entertain. \u00a0Russian ballet is now world renown because of Empress Catherine’s love of all art and theatre. \u00a0Science exploded (Sputnik first in space) as did many other western ideas brought to Russia. \u00a0Much changed.<\/p>\n Yet this Palace, in all its glory, is nearly 400 years old. \u00a0The plumbing is apparently very inadequate compared to what I’m accustomed. \u00a0A sign in the ladies bathroom made me laugh:<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>