Why Is the Hermitage Important?

The Hermitage holdings include nearly three million items dating from the Stone Age to the present. Among them is one of the world's richest collections of western European painting since the Middle Ages, including many masterpieces by Renaissance Italian and Baroque Dutch, Flemish, and French painters.

What was unique about the Hermitage?

First, the project itself was unique, and until now it is an excellent example of Baroque architecture in Russia. Second, the Hermitage was an official residence of Russian Tsars, and for almost 100 years it was not open to the public. Very few people would be allowed to step into the building.

What should you not miss at the Hermitage?