Baltic Cruise - June 28, 2016 Day 1 - St. Petersburg, Russia

Today was a greatly anticipated day as we docked at the port of St. Petersburg.  I had wanted to visit this city forever, and now we were going to have two days here!  We met our very knowledgeable Russian guide--she was all business.  We all definitely knew that if we didn't stay up with everyone, we would absolutely be left!

On our bus ride into the town, we started seeing the skyline of St. Petersburg.  Peter the Great designed the city as a monument to himself from images he obtained while traveling throughout Europe.  He brought in workers from all over Europe and they created a spectacular city.

Looking over at the Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral.

 

We stopped at ST. ISAAC'S CATHEDRAL--St. Petersburg's largest church...

..built between 1818 and 1858, it is decorated with 14 kinds of minerals and semi-precious stones as well as mosaic paintings......and the dome is covered with 220 pounds of pure gold!!!

Small rivers and canals dissect St. Petersburg.  The city has a population of over 5 million people and is built on 47 islands (24 quite large ones) with over 500 bridges.

We went aboard a little boat like those up above and then cruised on the River Neva and along pictureque downtown canals--the Fontanka River, The Dryukov Canal, and the Moika River.   

We passed under numerous picturesque bridges and admired the exteriors of the many old beautiful buildings in St. Petersburg.

 

We soon could see the iconic building known as the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood--the colorful building seen on so many brochures that just seems to symbolize St. Petersburg.

We then passed right by it as we cruised down the canal.  We later got to go in it.

At the end of the cruise, we continued our tour on our way to the Hermitage.

THE WINTER PALACE / THE HERMITAGE--

The former residential palace of the Romanov rulers, called the Winter Palace, and four other buildings together house one of the world's most prestigious and large (1,057 halls) museums, called The Hermitage...

The Winter Palace, one of the most luxurious places on the face of the planet, and The Hermitage display rooms contain over 3,000,000 art works!  To see all the art displayed, you 'd have to cover a distance of about 14 miles!!!

There was a marathon going on at the Palace Square, so we had to park quite a way from the entrance. 

It was actually pretty scary getting through the runners in order to get to the entrance of the Hermitage.

Construction of the Winter Palace that houses the Hermitage was begun in 1754 during the reign of Catherine the Great. 
During WWI the Hermitage was used as a hospital, followed by its transition to a state museum in 1917.  At the onset of WWII, Russia moved the Hermitage collections to the Ural Mountains for their protection.

Upon entering the main entrance stairway, one can tell how amazing this place is.  With over 3 million items in its collection, one estimate has it that you would need eleven years to view each exhibit on display for just one minute.

The amazing thing is, not only are the walls decorated extensively, but even the floors and ceilings!

Beautiful candelabra in entry hall

The throne of Peter the Great with a painting of the Czar and Czarina

In addition to all the decorations, there were, also, cases filled with items throughout the years of the Czars.  Here was a cushion with baptismal crosses and enameled icons.

Coat that Tsar Alexander II was wearing when he was assassinated.

Peacock Clock in the Pavilion Hall--is the only large 18th Century automation in the world to still be functioning in its original unaltered condition.

On the Pavilion Hall floor is a mosaic shield depicting Medusa and mythological scenes....

Medusa table top which matches the floor.

Large malachite and gold vase near the Council Staircase

"The Sacrifice of Isaac"--Rembrandt--Circa 1635

Rembrandt's most famous painting in the hermitage--"The Return of the Prodigal Son"--Circa 1668.

The famous Rembrandt painting--"Danae"--Circa 1636

What a special treat to not only be with some of my siblings and their spouses, but, also, our daughter, our son-in-law, and our grandson (plus his friend), and of course, my greatest traveling companion--my husband!

Gobelin tapestry on the right in Leonardo da Vinci Room

"The Little Madonna"--(Madonna Litta) by Leonardo Da Vinci

Doors in Leonardo da Vinci Room

 "Madonna and Child" (Madonna Conestabile)--Raphael

 Four stuffed horses showing how armor was worn by horses and knights!

 The Gallery of Ancient Painting adorned with sculptures by Antonio Canova and his school.

 "Crouching Boy" statue by Michelangelo...

 

 

 The Hall of Graeco-Etruscan Vases--designed in the form of an ancient temple with two rows of grey granite columns.  The walls, frieze and coffered ceiling are covered with painting inspired by the decoration of ancient pottery.

 Jasper Vase-Art of Ancient Rome of the 1st Century BC--4th Century AD

 There was a small collection of Egyptian antiquities, including this wooden coffin with highly decorated cover for the mummy...

 Although we think of the Hermitage as primarily a museum, it was the main home of the imperial Romanov family from Peter II to the last Czar, Nicholas II.  You could never see it all!

 We ate lunch at a little Russian restaurant.

 George with a unique old cash register.

Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood--

The church was built on the exact site of the March 1, 1881, assassination of Tsar Alexander II, while riding in his carriage along the canal embankment. 

 During the Soviet Union the church served as a warehouse and a storage space, and it took more than a decade to restore it to its current condition.

Canopy that marks the exact spot where Tsar Alexander II was martyred.  The canopy is covered with precious and semi-precious stones.  The floor has the original cobblestones on which Alexander fell mortally wounded.

Interior of the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.
 

 

 The recently restored church has a fantastic ornate "Russian-style" exterior with the traditional colorful onion domes.
 

 After visiting the Church, we went back outside and crossed over one of the many canals.
 I had to take a picture of George with this little horse.  He always tells the story of sitting across the aisle from a woman with a seeing-eye horse with her on an AIRPLANE!

We then toured a private owner's Faberge Museum, owned by a Russian entrepreneur Viktor Vekselberg, with over 1500 choice pieces.  A highlight of the museum's collection is the group of nine Imperial Easter eggs created by Faberge for the last two Russian Tsars.  They are worth millions apiece.  Sadly, no pictures could be taken in the museum.  

 
 Peter and Paul Cathedral--St. Petersburg's first monumental building and burial place of all Russian Czars.  In 1924 it became a museum.

 For a period of two centuries all Russian rulers from Peter I to Alexander III (with the exception of Peter II and Ivan VI Antonovich) and members of their families were laid to rest in the cathedral.

 
 Inside, the entire interior is very ornate.  Pink and green-marble-looking Corinthian columns are faux painted!

Maria Feodorovna Romanova was born Princess Dagmar of Denmark, but through her marriage to Alexander III she became Empress Consort of Russia – and mother of the last Russian monarch, Nicholas II. 

 The tradition of burying members of the ruling dynasty in a church was based on the age-old belief in the divinity of royal power.  The Russian Orthodox crosses are solid gold!

 Peter the Great's Tomb......along with his wife, Catherine I, on the left.

 

 Grandpa George and grandson, Parker, taking a little rest.

 Burial Chapel of Romanov Tzar Nicholas II (last imperial ruler) and his family ...

...who were finally laid to rest here in July 1998.  The story of the Romanov Family has always fascinated the world:  how they were tragically executed, and how Anastasia might have lived.  However, in the 1990s it was confirmed by DNA that she died with the rest of her family.

Leaving the Peter and Paul Fortress.  We had certainly been busy today with so many interesting places to visit.  Luckily, we were heading back to our ship, but we would be back in St. Petersburg for another day tomorrow!