ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

A drive of approximately one-hour will transfer us to Peterhof – the town of palaces, fountains and parks – the most brilliant of all the summer residences of the Russian Tsars, located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Peterhof was conceived by Peter the Great to rival Versailles in splendour.

A drive of approximately one-hour will transfer us to Peterhof – the town of palaces, fountains and parks – the most brilliant of all the summer residences of the Russian Tsars, located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. P

eterhof was conceived by Peter the Great to rival Versailles in splendour. Indeed, several hours could be spent enjoying the extravaganza of the dazzling fountain display. Crowning the hill is Peter’s Grand Palace, commanding a magnificent view over the Lower Park and the Gulf beyond. The palace has changed considerably over the decades: some of the rooms are in Rastrelli’s flamboyant Baroque style, others the later reworking of Velten (Rastrelli’s assistant).

We will ascend the main staircase, adorned with gilded carvings, that leads into a suite of staterooms. The staterooms are sumptuously appointed, especially the opulent Throne Room used in the past for great receptions and official ceremonies. We will see Peter’s Oak Study, one of the few rooms to have survived unaltered.

After leaving the Grand Palace we shall enjoy a truly breathtaking view of the Grand Cascade, the chief delight of the grounds. The Grand Cascade comprises three waterfalls and a stunning avenue of 64 fountains and 37 gilded statues. A true wonder of engineering, the fountains are fed by underground springs of the Ropsha Hills some 21 kilometres (13 miles) away. A great variety of fountains can be found in the Lower Park, including the Chess Board Hill cascade, Adam and Eve Fountains, and the Sun Fountain – all of which are fed naturally by gravity. The largest fountain of Peterhof is Samson Rending the Jaws of a Lion – a symbolic representation of Russia’s victory over Sweden in the Northern War. The complete Peterhof estate was occupied during World War II, and the fountains were destroyed, but since then, nearly all the damage has been repaired. What we see nowadays is a splendid post-war restoration. This can also be said of the palace. Inside, photographs show the extent of the devastation.

Before commencing the second half of this fascinating tour, we shall enjoy lunch in a local restaurant – including a glass of champagne and a shot of vodka.

Back in the city, it is now time for our visit to St Petersburg’s most famous museum, the Hermitage – Russia’s largest collection of art, with over 2.8 million works, and one of the most prestigious museums in the world. Catherine II founded the Hermitage in 1764 as a private museum, to which only Catherine and her courtiers had access. Since then the remarkable collection has evolved and grown. The Hermitage is composed of a number of buildings, the most impressive being the Winter Palace – the former residence of the Tsars.

The Jordan Staircase is the grand entrance to the Winter Palace, with its striking splendour of golden stuccowork and dazzling white marble statues. Reaching the upper landing we walk through the Winter Palace’s superb staterooms. These include the Field Marshall’s Hall, Small Throne Room dedicated to the memory of Peter the Great, Armorial Hall with its vast gilded columns, 1812 Gallery displaying portraits of Russian military heroes of the Napoleonic War and the Hall of St George bedecked with cararra marble and gilt bronze. The parquet floor is made up of 16 varieties of wood and repeats the ceiling motif.

We proceed to the Small Hermitage to find ourselves in the Pavilion Hall. Here, marble columns support an elegant gallery and 28 sparkling cut-glass chandeliers. Exhibits include the unusual Peacock Clock in its glass cage. Turning right takes us to the Old Hermitage, devoted to 13th – 18th century Italian art. On proud display are two paintings by Leonardo da Vinci (Madonna with a Flower and Litta Madonna), an early work by Rafael (Connestabile Madonna) and a later work by him (Holy Family). The Crouching Boy is the only work by Michelangelo in Russia. Other names simply roll off the tongue: Titian, El Greco, Velasquez, Goya, Rubens, the list goes on.

The Hermitage is proud of its vast Rembrandt collection: from the early dramatic Abraham’s Sacrifice to one of his last works was The Return of the Prodigal Son. After the 1917 Revolution some private collections were incorporated into the Hermitage. Through two collectors, Ivan Morozov and Sergey Schukine, the Hermitage acquired its superb array of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Monet’s art can be admired both in his early works (Woman in a Garden) and in later canvases (Waterloo Bridge). See paintings by Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse and Picasso.

After a thoroughly fascinating tour, we return to our ship.

TOUR NOTES: This tour is not suitable for passengers with limited mobility, or wheelchair users. There is a considerable amount of walking and standing required at both venues, and around 200 steps to negotiate. There are no lifts in the Grand Palace of Peterhof and only one small lift in the Hermitage. We cannot guarantee that the room in which the lift deposits passengers will be open during our visit, and if the lift is used, you will have to leave the tour group. It should be noted that slippers/over shoes have to be worn over our outdoor shoes, to protect the flooring, when visiting the Palace of Peterhof – extra care should be taken as this will make the floor surface more slippery. Please note that it cannot be guaranteed that the fountains at Peterhof will be functioning during our visit. Special collections will not be viewed in the Hermitage and some rooms may not always be accessible. Paintings are occasionally loaned to other museums, so those detailed may not be on display. Realistically we appreciate that you will not see as much as you would like – it would take years to view the whole Hermitage collection!

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2009 SCANDINAVIA & BALTIC CRUISES