THE MUSEUM OF OLD ST. PETERSBURG

Venue: Engineers' House of the Peter and Paul Fortress Metro: Gorkovskaya Open: Thursday to Tuesday, 11 am to 6 pm. Closed on Wednesdays Admission with a museum ticket for the whole of the fortress or buy a separate ticket at the door

This exhibition is devoted to the first local history museum of St. Petersburg, formed in 1907 by a group of architects and art historians, including Pavel Syuzor, Alexander Benois and Ivan Fomin. The creation of the "Museum of St. Petersburg" was part of the effort to study various aspects of St. Petersburg life undertaken by the Society of Architects and Artists.

The present exhibition showcases the "cream of cream" of the original collection which now belongs to the Museum of St. Petersburg History. The most prominent exhibits include:

• a reconstruction of early 20th century "Art collector's study"
• excellent old photographs of late 19th - early 20th century interiors
• details of facade and interior designs (stained glass, majolica, sculpture) <\li>
• banners of craftsmen's associations <\li>
• original drawings and design blueprints of the famous architect Giacomo Quarenghi <\li>
• paintings devoted to St. Petersburg, including those by Pattersen, Aivazovsky and Sadovnikov<\li>
• porcelain plates, cups and sculptures with views of St. Petersburg <\li>
• early 20th century furniture, applied art, dresses and even a children's toy railroad <\li> <\ul>

  Good choice for those who love history and antiques. Come with your own guide or with a Russian-speaker if possible.