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The Best Contemporary Art Museums in Russia

When you think of Russian cultural institutions, what springs to mind? The Hermitage, the Russian Museum, and the Bolshoi Ballet; the opulent palaces and churches of Tsarist history; revolutionary artwork taking the country by storm. Yet Russia is an incredibly rich source of unique contemporary art.

5+1 Best Science Museums In Russia

When you are in Russia check out the following scince museums: planetarium in St. Petersburg is worth a visit for everyone interested in the universe; Moscow’s museum of Cosmonautics delivers all the information you could wish for concerning space travel. If you’re a fan of electricity, the Nikola Tesla Electric Museum in Sochi is what you’re looking for. Right next to Tesla you’ll find the Museum of Da Vinci’s Mechanics - a must-see for fans of the Italian genius. In the Wonder Park Galileo you can get lost in a maze of illusions and play while learning about the laws of physics.

8 Non-Touristy Things to See in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities. World-famous sites such as the Russian Museum, Hermitage and Mariinsky Theatre attract millions of tourists each year. But what if you are looking for something off the beaten track, and want to experience the city as local people do? Whether you’re looking for museums and galleries, retail, nightlife, or want to admire the local culture on a walk around the city, read on to find some of St. Petersburg’s most unique non-touristy spots.

The State Museum of Russian Political History

A political history museum has existed in St. Petersburg since 1919. It was first housed in the Winter Palace and known as the Revolution Museum. In 1957 it moved to its current premises, where, until 1991, it was called the Museum of the Great October Socialist Revolution. It is now known as the Museum of Russian Political History, a title that reflects the recent changes that have been made to its profile.

The Museum of Hygiene

The exhibits display campaigns against smoking, alcoholism and drug addiction, on sexual education, AIDS prevention and radiation hygiene. There| is a unique collection of anatomical preparations, an electro physical "glass man" model and a giant artificial heart. There is also an area devoted to the history of health care in St. Petersburg.

Dostoevsky Literary Memorial Museum

For anyone that has read any of Dostoevsky's work and has enjoyed it, will want to experience where he lived and worked for his final few years. St. Petersburg and Dostoevsky were so closely related and his remnants are alive in most parts of the city, but it is here in the memorial apartment that you can inhabit the life and the work of the legendary writer.

Museum of the History of Religion

The museum has exhibitions about the history of the world's religions from the 6th century BC all the way to the present day. The permanent exhibitions consist of 6th century BC Archaic Rituals, Mythology of the Ancient World, Judaism, Early Christianity, Orthodox Christianity, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and Buddhism. The museum has approximately 200,000 exhibits ranging from artefacts to art work.

The Piskariovsky Memorial Cemetery

We cannot name all the names here,
There are too many under this granite wall,
But remember the one who stands nearby:
No one is forgotten and nothing is forgotten.

The Cruiser Aurora

The cruiser Aurora is a monument to Russian shipbuilding and the history of the Russian Navy, a veritable relic of the 1917 revolution and in 1957 it was converted into a museum.

The Artillery Museum

A large part of the museum is devoted to the Patriotic War of 1812, including some of the personal weapons of Napoleon Bonaparte. Upstairs, the entire floor is dedicated to the Great Patriotic War, otherwise known as World War II.
In the courtyard outside you can climb on the tanks and have pictures taken alongside the heavy artillery, rockets, and signal equipment which are on display.

Bread Museum

The St. Petersburg Bread Museum was founded in 1988. This is the only museum of its kind in Russia and one of only 13 in the world! It is situated on the premises of the Bread Bakery Plant.

Academy of Arts Museum

Many great Russian artists studied at the Academy including Ilya Repin and Karl Bryullov. Visitors can see works by Russian artists from the mid-18th century to the present; a collection of plaster casts of classical and Western European sculpture; architectural drawings and designs; and a unique collection of wooden models of the Academy, the Stock Exchange, St. Michael's Castle, the Smolny Convent and other famous buildings.

State Memorial Museum of Leningrad Defense and Siege

The museum is a real eye-opener to the difficulties that both the military and the civilians went through in order to defend themselves and their country against the German attacks.

The Manege Central Exhibition Hall

As the “Manege” is a rotating gallery of exhibitions it means that it’s impossible to tell you at this moment what you will be able to see on your visit! It’s one of those moments where if you like contemporary art and delving into the latest artistic trends, then you won’t be disappointed, no matter what’s on!

St. Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music

The museum includes 4 branches also in the city of St. Petersburg: the N.A.Rimsky-Korsakov Museum, the F.I.Chaliapin Museum, the Samoilov Family Museum, the Museum of Music in the Sheremetev Palace. To help with establishing the theatrical world of the past portraits of famous actors, theatre designs by well-known artists, posters, manuscripts, theatr e props, set models are on display for all to see.

Anna Akhmatova Museum at the Fountain House

This is a truly emotive museum, full of interesting memorabilia not just relating to Akhmatova and her fellows, but also to the complicated period of time that she secretly circulated her work.

Museums