📷 Winter Palace

The Winter Palace, a majestic symbol of Russia's imperial past, stands proudly in Saint Petersburg. Constructed as the official residence of the Romanov tsars from 1732 to 1917, this grand edifice now houses the Hermitage Museum, one of the world's largest and most prestigious art collections. The palace's baroque architecture, designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, is a testament to the opulence and power of Imperial Russia, with its 1,500 rooms, 1,945 windows, and 117 staircases. The Winter Palace is not only an architectural marvel but also a witness to pivotal historical events, including the 1917 storming that marked the beginning of the Soviet state.