Winter Palace, Imperial palace and museum in Dvortsovy District, St. Petersburg, Russia.
The green and white facades extend 230 meters along the Neva River, enclosing 1084 rooms, 1476 windows, and 117 staircases within this monumental Baroque structure featuring elaborate ornamentation and gilded details throughout.
Built between 1754 and 1762 under Empress Elizabeth I, the structure served as the main residence for Russian monarchs until 1917 and became part of the State Museum in 1922, now known as the Hermitage.
The building houses major collections of European paintings, ancient sculptures, and decorative arts from various continents, displayed throughout lavish halls and galleries that attract millions of visitors from around the world each year.
Access is through the main entrance at Palace Square, with tickets available for general visits and guided tours. The nearby Admiralteyskaya metro station is about 500 meters away, and visitors should plan several hours to explore the extensive collections.
The 1837 fire required complete interior reconstruction, with architects Stasov, Briullov, and Staubert completing restoration in just 15 months while incorporating more modern heating and ventilation systems into the redesigned spaces.
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