St Petersburg: The Museum of Russia and Summer Palace
Story by Paul Hughes, 2019
Not to be confused with the famous Summer Palace of Catherine the Great, the Summer Palace of Peter the Great is a relative humble palace, his first palace in St Petersburg and the oldest in the city.
The drone photograph (above) by Amos Chapple shows that as well as the Mikhailovsky Palace in the foreground, St Petersburg is dotted with banks of amazing churches, palaces and other spectactular buildings constructed by the aristocracy over several centuries. It is easy to understand why many of them have been strategically incorporated as part of the Museum of Russia.
If not arguably the wealthiest person in the world EVER, as well as being ruler of more than 15% of the world’s total land mass, it seems the first Russian Emperor Peter the Great was a consumate egotistical scholar who wanted to reflect Russia as the mightiest country in the world.
He traveled extensively and, as legends go, was not afraid to pick the eyes out of the world’s best of everything, then better it!
The first “palace” he had built in St Petersburg was really only a regular wooden "cabin" constructed in 1703 on the banks of the Neva and Fontanka Rivers, where he spent the summer months. However it was the beginning of a magnificent history of St Petersburg palaces, which would soon match and even surpass the grandeur of Versailles, Buckingham Palace and other great palaces of the world.
Not to be confused with the famous Summer Palace of Catherine the Great, the Summer Palace of Peter the Great is a relative humble palace, his first palace in St Petersburg and the oldest in the city.
The drone photograph (above) by Amos Chapple shows that as well as the Mikhailovsky Palace in the foreground, St Petersburg is dotted with banks of amazing churches, palaces and other spectactular buildings constructed by the aristocracy over several centuries. It is easy to understand why many of them have been strategically incorporated as part of the Museum of Russia.
If not arguably the wealthiest person in the world EVER, as well as being ruler of more than 15% of the world’s total land mass, it seems the first Russian Emperor Peter the Great was a consumate egotistical scholar who wanted to reflect Russia as the mightiest country in the world.
He traveled extensively and, as legends go, was not afraid to pick the eyes out of the world’s best of everything, then better it!
The first “palace” he had built in St Petersburg was really only a regular wooden "cabin" constructed in 1703 on the banks of the Neva and Fontanka Rivers, where he spent the summer months. However it was the beginning of a magnificent history of St Petersburg palaces, which would soon match and even surpass the grandeur of Versailles, Buckingham Palace and other great palaces of the world.
After he founded St Petersburg, the Tsar built a wooden house on the estate of a Swedish officer Conan. A few years later this was replaced by stone building (above left), that was regarded as the "initial palace" and is the oldest building in St Petersburg.
It is also known as the "red mansion", with a wooden mortar and flaming cannonballs placed on the roof symbolising Peter's army rank as an artillery captain. The Summer Gardens (above right) form part of the Palace complex.
In 1710 it was decided that a stone palace would be more fitting for the Russian Tsar and Peter charged Swiss-Italian architect Domenico Trezzini with the task. German architect and sculptor Andreas Schluter was commissioned to complete the sculptural and interior decorations, including the red bas reliefs that run between the windows all around the building.
While it was built of stone, it was a relatively humble structure that does not reflect the grandeur of the many new palaces and residences that continued to the built, but fortunately survives to form a vital part of the spectacular history of both St Petersburg and Russian life in the 18th Century.
Unlike the Winter Palace, the Summer Palace (below) has hardly changed since it was first built and today it gives a rare insight into life as it was three centuries ago.
It is also known as the "red mansion", with a wooden mortar and flaming cannonballs placed on the roof symbolising Peter's army rank as an artillery captain. The Summer Gardens (above right) form part of the Palace complex.
In 1710 it was decided that a stone palace would be more fitting for the Russian Tsar and Peter charged Swiss-Italian architect Domenico Trezzini with the task. German architect and sculptor Andreas Schluter was commissioned to complete the sculptural and interior decorations, including the red bas reliefs that run between the windows all around the building.
While it was built of stone, it was a relatively humble structure that does not reflect the grandeur of the many new palaces and residences that continued to the built, but fortunately survives to form a vital part of the spectacular history of both St Petersburg and Russian life in the 18th Century.
Unlike the Winter Palace, the Summer Palace (below) has hardly changed since it was first built and today it gives a rare insight into life as it was three centuries ago.
The Summer Palace is definitely worth a visit, if only to see the way the world’s most powerful person once lived.
The Tsar’s quarters were on the first floor while the second floor was for his wife Ekaterina and their children. Each floor had seven rooms and the first floor included a reception area; the grand hall; a jail where Peter personally prosecuted, locked up, and released prisoners; and his workshop, which was reputed to be his favorite room.
The palace interiors are well preserved with carved oak panels in the lower lobby containing images of Minerva; unique Dutch tiles; fireplaces with stucco decorations; and beautiful lampshades.
The palace was originally surrounded by water on three sides: The Neva to the north, the Fontanka to the east, and the diminutive Gavanets Creek (now drained) to the south.
After the death of Peter I and Catherine I, the Summer Palace remained untenanted for many years, though once a Supreme Privy Council meeting was held here. Soon after, the palace was turned into a summer resort for the Imperial court. In 1826, the architect Carlo Rossi turned it into the Coffee House. Today the palace has become a branch of the Russian Museum. It showcases the original interiors, many personal belongings of Peter and Catherine, unique devices of the 18th century, rare paintings, and much more.
The Russian Museum
The Summer Palace now forms part of Russia's State Museum, a massive architectural complex of historic buildings in the heart of St Petersburg which houses the world's largest collection of Russian art.
As well as the Summer Palace, the Museum occupies such buildings as the Mikhailovsky Palace, the Stroganov Palace, St Michael's Castle, The Marble Palace (below right), the Benois Wing as well as multiple historic gardens and other buildings, some of which have been purpose-built as recently as the early 1900s.
The Tsar’s quarters were on the first floor while the second floor was for his wife Ekaterina and their children. Each floor had seven rooms and the first floor included a reception area; the grand hall; a jail where Peter personally prosecuted, locked up, and released prisoners; and his workshop, which was reputed to be his favorite room.
The palace interiors are well preserved with carved oak panels in the lower lobby containing images of Minerva; unique Dutch tiles; fireplaces with stucco decorations; and beautiful lampshades.
The palace was originally surrounded by water on three sides: The Neva to the north, the Fontanka to the east, and the diminutive Gavanets Creek (now drained) to the south.
After the death of Peter I and Catherine I, the Summer Palace remained untenanted for many years, though once a Supreme Privy Council meeting was held here. Soon after, the palace was turned into a summer resort for the Imperial court. In 1826, the architect Carlo Rossi turned it into the Coffee House. Today the palace has become a branch of the Russian Museum. It showcases the original interiors, many personal belongings of Peter and Catherine, unique devices of the 18th century, rare paintings, and much more.
The Russian Museum
The Summer Palace now forms part of Russia's State Museum, a massive architectural complex of historic buildings in the heart of St Petersburg which houses the world's largest collection of Russian art.
As well as the Summer Palace, the Museum occupies such buildings as the Mikhailovsky Palace, the Stroganov Palace, St Michael's Castle, The Marble Palace (below right), the Benois Wing as well as multiple historic gardens and other buildings, some of which have been purpose-built as recently as the early 1900s.
Mikhailovsky Palace (above left) was initiated by Emperor Alexander III in the late 1800s as the first museum of Russian art. In 1895 his successor Emperor Nicholas II named the Mikhailovsky Palace and all of its land and outbuildings the "Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III" and work began to refurbish the palace to take future art collections. Works of art and other objects were colleced from multiple other palaces as well as the Hermitage, and many private collections were also donated.
Today the museum contains over 400,000 works that covers Russian Art for more than 1,000 years.
The museum complex covers some 73 acres (30 hectares) including St Michael's Palace (below left) and Stroganov Palace (below right).
If you are an art lover then it would be wise to allot plenty of time and make bookings well in advance to catch sight of the many treasures in the dozens of palaces, galleries and museums in St Petersburg.
Today the museum contains over 400,000 works that covers Russian Art for more than 1,000 years.
The museum complex covers some 73 acres (30 hectares) including St Michael's Palace (below left) and Stroganov Palace (below right).
If you are an art lover then it would be wise to allot plenty of time and make bookings well in advance to catch sight of the many treasures in the dozens of palaces, galleries and museums in St Petersburg.
See more stories on St Petersburg on other pages.
St Petersburg: Home of the Tsars
St Petersburg: The Winter Palace
St Petersburg: The Peterhof Gardens,
St Petersburg: Homes of the Tsars
The Spectacular Neva River, St Petersburg
St Petersburg: The Winter Palace (or Palaces)
St Petersburg: Home of the Tsars
St Petersburg: The Winter Palace
St Petersburg: The Peterhof Gardens,
St Petersburg: Homes of the Tsars
The Spectacular Neva River, St Petersburg
St Petersburg: The Winter Palace (or Palaces)