The largest museum of Russian art was opened in St. Petersburg in 1896 and called «Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III». Today the expositions of the museum are at three places: Mikhailovsky Palace in Arts Square (main building), Engineer Castle, Stroganov Palace and Marble Palace.
The main exposition of Russian Museum is located at the building of Mikhailovsky Palace, which was built by the great Russian architect Charles Rossi in 1819-1825 for Mikhail, the junior brother of Emperor Alexander I. The palace was named after him, as well as nearby Mikhailovsky Garden. Now the place is considered to be one of the most popular among tourists. Apart from Mikhailovsky Palace and Garden, one can visit the Cathedral of the Savior on the Blood, Engineer Castle, Marsovo Polye (the Field of Mars) and go out to the Summer Garden. Near the palace, at the Griboyedov Canal or Moyka, one can get on a pleasure boat and see the Canals of St. Petersburg.
In spite of the world big fame of the Tretyakov Gallery, as the storage of Russian painting, by the value of its collection Russian Museum is equivalent to and even surpass it. There`s kept the significant part of the most famous pictures of Repin, Perov, Aivazovsky, Brulov, Vasnetsov, Serov, Surikov, and Levitan. When going from one hall to another, you catch yourself thinking that you have already seen all the pictures in school textbooks.
One of the sights of Mikhailovsky Park is its wrought-iron fence facing the Church of the Savior on Blood. It consists of scrolls and flowers, and was made at Winkler factory near Petersburg in 1903-1907. The fence is rightly considered to be the most beautiful in St. Petersburg.
On the bank of the Moyka River at the heart of Mikhailovsky Park a small but very beautiful Rossi Pavilion is hidden. It is approached by several walkways, protected from the noise of the city by strong trees and bushes.
