City Walk: Palace Square

City Walk: Palace Square

Begin at Dvortsovaya Ploshchad (Palace Square). Extending the length of the western side of the square, with its back to the river, is the Winter Palace,which houses the legendary State Hermitage Museum. In the center of the square is the Alexander Column,commemorating the Russian victory over Napoléon in 1812. Dominating the eastern side of the square is the General Staff Building,formerly the army's general staff headquarters and now part of the Hermitage. Next to it is the Headquarters of the Guard Corps; leave by its right-hand side and cross the Pevchesky most, or Singing Bridge, to enter one of the most charming nooks of the city, enchantingly threaded by the Zimnaya Kanavka, or the Little Winter Canal. On the opposite side of the Moika River, head for the moving museum honoring the great Pushkin, the Alexander Pushkin Apartment Museum,a short walk from the corner of Nevsky prospekt and naberezhnaya Moiki.

Timing

With more than 400 exhibit halls and gilded salons, the Hermitage cannot possibly be seen in a single day. It has been estimated that in order to spend one minute on each object on display, you'd have to devote several years to the museum. Official guided tours tend to be rushed, and you will probably want to return on your own. Also consider hiring a private guide from outside the museum: their licensing requires a year of study and training that will benefit your visit. If you have limited time, concentrate on the rooms dedicated to antiquities and Italian art, which will take at least a couple of hours to view properly. Devote another couple of hours to the extraordinary collection of impressionist and postimpressionist art on the third floor. It's best to begin your tour around 11:30, when the early-morning crowds have dispersed. During peak tourist season, or when there's a special exhibition, you may encounter long lines at the museum entrance. Note that the Hermitage is closed on Monday.