Chamber of Art (Kunstkammer)

Chamber of Art (Kunstkammer) Review

The Chamber of Art, also called the Chamber of Curiosities, is a fine example of the Russian baroque. Painted bright azure with white trim, the building stands out from the surrounding classically designed architecture. It was originally commissioned in 1718 to house Peter the Great's collection of oddities, gathered during his travels. Completed by 1734, the Kunstkammer (from the German Kunst, "art," and Kammer, "chamber") was destroyed by fire in 1747 and almost entirely rebuilt. Today it houses the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography but still includes a room with Peter's original collection, a truly bizarre assortment ranging from rare precious stones to preserved human organs and fetuses. The museum is enormously popular, so buy your entrance tickets early in the day.