Your Key To St Petersburg and the Treasures of the Hermitage 

When asked where are the “must visit” places in St. Petersburg, one of my favorites will always be the Hermitage Museum.  Having once been the imperial residence for the Tzars, and surviving revolutions and severe years of the city siege, the historic Hermitage has become one of the greatest museums in the world today.  The Director of the Museum, Professor Mikhail Piotrovsky, calls it an “encyclopedic museum of the culture of humanity represented in all its variety”.

The beautiful historical interior of the Hermitage houses an unrivalled collection of the old masters as well as works by contemporary artists.  The Museum owns one of the largest portfolios of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art.  The General Staff Building, located across from the Winter Palace, showcases top works by Cezanne, Gauguin, Picasso and Matisse 

The Hermitage also proudly hosts the iconic works of the Russian avant-garde art movement: Malevich’s Black Square and abstract paintings by Kandinsky.  Visitors will discover the impact these Russian names have created in the global art community a century ago.

Other unique treasures include two masterpieces by one of the greatest Renaissance artists, Leonardo da Vinci: The Benois Madonna and The Litta Madonna.  And all of this can be admired within a few minutes’ walk from the Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg.

Displaying a dialogue between epochs, the Hermitage Museum also offers an impressive collection of contemporary art combined with the Old Masters.  The works of Wim Delvoye, Antony Gormley, Ilya Kabakov, Jan Fabre, Anselm Kiefer, Jake and Dinos Chapman, and the late Zaha Hadid have all exhibited in its famous interiors.  Several world-class art events as Manifesta and the European Biennial of Contemporary Art have taken place at the Museum as well. 

Finally, one should be sure to visit the two Treasure Rooms which contain a collection of Russian Tsars’ diamonds and Scythian gold. 

It is true that it is impossible to see everything in one visit.  Therefore, this is a great reason for you to plan a return visit to St. Petersburg and continue to discover the amazing collections of the Hermitage Museum. 

Meet the Author
Olga Kachalova

My first job was working as a server on a cruise ship. Ever since I was a student, I have always dreamt about working in the hospitality industry. Feeling inspired by the excitement and interests of the visitors coming to Russia, I decided to learn more about my city and earned a degree as a St. Petersburg tour guide. Being a tour guide, I came to a deeper understanding of what the international guests’ expectations are when they visit Russia. Often when I meet my guests at beautiful hotels, I always thought how nice it would be to work at a hotel. My opportunity came when I was offered a job interview for a Concierge position at one of the historical hotels of our city. No words could express my happiness. My dream came true and I started my concierge career at the Angleterre Hotel. Later, I joined the beautiful Astoria, where I was promoted to Chief Concierge. In love with this profession, I wanted to learn more, and this desire to move forward brought me to the gorgeous Taleon Hotel where I was able to further my hospitality experience at the Front Office, Guest Relations and even in HR. During this time, I became a Les Clefs d’Or member and was very proud to be a part of the family. The great challenge was still ahead and the time came when I passed an interview and became the Chief Concierge at the Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace – the first Four Seasons hotel in Russia. It goes without saying that opening a hotel is a gigantic feat and an exceptional experience for any hotelier. This year I am celebrating the 5th anniversary of this very happy “marriage” and I am excited being a part of an amazing team at my beloved hotel. I look forward to many more years to come!

Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St Petersburg

Located just two blocks from the Hermitage Museum, Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg was built in 1820 by Auguste de Montferrand, who was also the architect of the famous St. Isaac’s Cathedral. The hotel offers 183 spacious and comfortable guest rooms, including 26 suites, featuring state-of-the art amenities. Led by Executive Chef Matteo Guida, there are several exquisite dining choices for hotel guests: Percorso serving authentic Italian cuisine; Sintoho offering favourite Asian selections; Tea Lounge serving serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea; and Xander Bar which is named after the Russian Tsar Alexander I. The hotel also features the unique four-level Luceo SPA, with 8 treatment rooms, 24-hour fitness centre, and a spectacular triangular pool under a sky-lit glass dome.

www.fourseasons.com/stpetersburg

+7 812 339-80-00

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