Golden Beauty: A Visit To The Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia

The Hermitage museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of the largest and oldest museums in the entire world. Officially called the State Hermitage, the collection includes more than 3 million pieces of art. To demonstrate it’s size, people say that if you spent one minute looking at each piece of art in the Hermitage museum it would take you eight years to get through the whole thing. *gulps*I honestly, didn’t have that kind of time.To make sure I saw the highlights of the museum and didn’t get lost in the overwhelming 10 building complex, I signed up for a private tour with Excursiopedia. I spent hours going from room to room discovering the museum’s secrets and learning all about the woman who used to live there, Empress Catherine the Great. A woman after my own heart, Cathy, as I affectionately call her, loved the pretty. Rooms, doors, floors and ceilings throughout the Hermitage museum were made (and eventually restored) of the finest materials, from gold to rare tortoise shell.After purchasing a collection of paintings from a Berlin artist in 1764, Cathy founded the Hermitage museum, transforming rooms in her home to a place to relish in the arts. Years later the collection has grown to include works from Van Gogh, Matisse, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Monet, Picasso and many more.I highly suggest any art lover to make their way to Saint Petersburg to visit the Hermitage. Even if you aren’t too keen on art but love ornate interiors, this is also the place for you. The building's physical structure is just as fascinating as the artwork that it holds. My attention was immediately captured by the ceilings and decorations. Picasso, Monet, … OOOH! look at the shiny thing over there, I squealed. This piece has been cross-posted with Nicole is the New Black, catch up with her on website or her Twitter: NicoleNewBlack.