Winter Palace is considered to be the most significantlandmark of St. Petersburg. The building that we see today is far from being the first building on this site. The Winter Palace itself was built for 8 years (1754-1762). Currently, the landmark is an example of the famous Elizabethan Baroque and attracts guests from all over the world with its pomp.
As mentioned above, this Winter Palace inSt. Petersburg was not the first. The first palace appeared in 1708. It was built by Peter the Great for his family. The building was a small house in the Dutch style. Three years later, the building was rebuilt in stone for the wedding of Catherine and Peter 1. Winter Palace of Peter 1 was settled in 1720, when the emperor moved here with his family from a summer residence. In 1725, the emperor died here.
Анна Иоанновна, новая императрица, сочла здание too small and insisted on restructuring. Renowned architect Rastrelli designed the new building, which was completed in 1735. In 1739, the third in a row Winter Palace in St. Petersburg hosted the solemn ceremony of the engagement of Princess Anna Leopoldovna and Anton-Ulrich. In 1752, the power was transferred to the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, who also did not like the appearance of the palace. Initially, in 1752, she bought several more houses near the building, and Rastrelli took up the extension of the new buildings. After some time, the empress decided to increase the height of the palace, as a result of which it was dismantled with the aim to build a new Winter Palace.
The fourth Winter Palace in St. Petersburg wastemporary. It was built during the construction of the fifth. It was demolished in 1762, when the construction of a new residence, the one we see today, was fully completed. The building became the tallest in the whole city, however, the empress did not live to see her complete readiness. Peter 3 replaced her on the throne, but he did not live to see the end of the interior decoration, since in 1762 he was killed. The construction of the palace was completed under Catherine II, but the finishing work was done by another architect. It was during the time of the Empress that the Throne Hall, the White Hall, the Light Room, the Parade bedroom, the library, the imperial office, the boudoir, the famous Winter Garden, the St George Hall and the Romanov Gallery appeared in the Winter Palace.
In 1837, the Winter Palace in St. Petersburgsurvived a fire that was extinguished for more than three days. In 1880 a bomb was exploded in the palace, the purpose of which was the murder of Alexander II. As a result, only the sentries suffered.
In 1905, before the Winter Palace was shota working demonstration that resulted in the 1905-1907 Revolution. Since then, the walls of the palace were not of imperial blood. During the First World War, there was a hospital in it, during the February Revolution the palace was occupied by troops, and in 1917 the Provisional Government was located here. In October 1917, the Provisional Government was arrested, and only in 1922 the palace was transferred to the State Hermitage Museum. Today the Winter Palace, the Alexander Column and the General Staff building form the most amazing ensemble in all of Russia.
Winter Palace (St. Petersburg) has the formsquare. Its facades overlook the Neva and Palace Square. In the very center of the main facade is the main arch. In the Winter Palace - more than a thousand rooms, each of which is more solemn and more magnificent than the other. At present, the Small Hermitage is located in the palace building.
