You’ve probably heard about the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg. But what exactly is it? What’s its significance? The Baroque style architecture? How much money did it cost to build? The rooms’ names and other details may surprise you! Read on to discover more about this iconic building. And don’t forget to save some money for a tour of its rooms. There’s a special price for this incredible experience.
St. Petersburg’s most famous building
If you love art and architecture, you must visit the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg. The palace was once the home of the Russian emperors. Its southern facade incorporates gates, while its northern façade faces the Neva River embankment. The Winter Palace is one of Saint Petersburg’s most famous buildings. Its magnificent interior has so many exhibits that you would need 11 years to see everything.
Baroque style architecture
The Winter Palace is one of the most outstanding examples of Baroque style architecture in Russia. This palatial complex was designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, a highly renowned architect of the time. The building stands on the Neva River in the center of St. Petersburg and is home to the State Hermitage Museum. Inside, visitors can experience the magnificent fusion of baroque and decorative plastics. The building is comprised of three main facades: one faces the Neva River, the other faces the Admiralty building. The impressive facade decoration on the building adds to the grandeur and beauty of the palace.
Expenses of construction
The cost of construction of the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg was 2,500,000 rubles, a sum that the construction of the opulent palace would require. Queen Elizabeth had allocated 859,555 rubles for the project, and most of the laborers were paid one ruble a month. There were chronic cost overruns, and work was stopped for lack of materials and money. The project only cost a fraction of the allocated amount, as the opulence of the Winter Palace proved to be expensive.
Rooms
The Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg was a major state building from the early seventeenth century. The Winter House, which was built in 1711 for Peter I, was converted into a palace when the capital moved to St. Petersburg from Moscow. The next Winter Palace was constructed along the Neva River embankment in 1716-1719. Then, in the 1720s, Domenico Trezzini enlarged it. In 1732, Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli began work on a third version of the palace. This version lasted most of the 1730s.
Balls held there
The 1903 ball in the Winter Palace was a lavish event held in the winter palace in Saint Petersburg during the reign of Nicholas II of Russia. The event was held in two stages on February 11 and 13, attracting over three thousand people. The event was the most extravagant in its time, with guests from all over the world. The infamous ice queen and other royal guests were invited to attend. It is now a museum, a beautiful example of the splendor of the period.
Restoration
In 2001, the Russian state funded the restoration of the floors of the Winter Palace. The floors of the Winter Palace have a complex geometric pattern, are made of exotic wood species, and feature engraving and other ornamentation. The restoration of the parquet floors was a complex task, requiring hand-made decorative carving. The restoration process was completed by the end of 2004. In addition to the floors of the Winter Palace, other parts of the museum were also restored.
Destruction by Bolsheviks
During the Russian Revolution, the winter palace was the center of political activity. The palace served as the seat of government in the city. However, after the 1917 Russian Revolution, it became the center of political opposition. The Bolsheviks took over the city in 1917, and it was the winter palace that fell to the revolutionaries. The winter palace was once the residence of royalty. However, it was soon used for various purposes, including the government’s headquarters and hospital. In fact, many of the soldiers who had been captured during WWI were taken to the Winter Palace. The defenders were reportedly threatened with death.
