The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

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The Hermitage Museum is located in St. Petersburg, on the Neva River. It is considered one of the most famous, oldest and most important art museums in the world. There are more than 60,000 exhibits in nearly 1,000 rooms with nearly three million items kept in the reserves. Apart from the pieces of antiquity, there is an excellent collection of paintings with the names of remarkable artists such as Rembrandt, Matisse, Gauguin, Leonardo Da Vinci and Picasso among others. Several buildings, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, built between XVIII and XIX centuries, form the museum (Small Hermitage, Old Hermitage, Theater Hermitage, New Hermitage and the Winter Palace). Part of the State Palace (on the other side of the Palace Square) and the Menshikov Palace have been added to the Hermitage complex. The museum was born thanks to the empress Catherine the Great and her collections of paintings that she began to place in the Winter Palace. Originally the Hermitage was exclusive to family members and loved ones but in 1922 was opened to the public with free admission for the first five years. Since the opening of Russia, the Hermitage has become for foreign tourists the main attraction of the country. It still has annexes in Amsterdam and Las Vegas.

Tips

You can take photos for private, non-profit purposes.

It is possible to visit the Hermitage without a guide with the existing smartphone app (Russian or English only).

The cats of the Hermitage are well known and in the spring the Party of the guardian cats takes place. For the occasion, there is an exhibition of art representing cats, visits to cat areas, games for children and adults, etc. This event is a way of collecting money to feed cats and their maintenance because this expense is not part of the museum’s budget.

On Wednesdays and Fridays, the museum has more opening hours and on the first Thursday of each month, admission is free.

The fastest way to buy the tickets is online or on the automatic machines on site. Note that children and students (regardless of age or nationality), do not pay but students will have to queue for get their entry with a student card.

Bray, Wicklow, Ireland

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Bray is a town in County Wicklow south of Dublin on the east coast of Ireland; 20 km from the center of Dublin, the eighth largest city in the country. Since 1855 it is connected to Dublin and became the main resort on the east coast of Ireland, but since 1960, interest in this seaside resort decreases slowly. Bray is located at the mouth of the River Dargle. Some of its northern districts are even in County Dublin and is considered part geographically and economically of Greater Dublin. There are several Dublin urban bus lines that connect the two cities as well. In the south, the plain of Bray is closed by the Bray Head Mount (241 meters). It is a popular base for walkers, hikers and strollers. It is remarkable for its promenade stretching from the harbor, with its swan colony at the base of Bray Head at the southern end hence a well-worn trail leads to the summit. The city has a professional football team that plays in the first division, the Bray Wanderers. and also counts with several festivals. The most important is the Bray Summerfest with hundreds of free events: concerts, markets, family activities, etc. which is held for six weeks in July and August. The annual celebration for St. Patrick is as important one too with a carnival and a 5-day parade. Ardmore Studios (movie studios) are also in the city with a large production for film, TV and advertising.

Tips

If you visit Dublin, it is worthwhile to dedicate one day to Bray. It is a city with many restaurants, bars, pubs, cafes, easy transport in common access or even by bicycle. If you decide to stay in town for a few days or just a weekend, you will find any kind of accommodation from guest-rooms to hotels for all tastes.
Its long esplanade next to the beach invites walking.
If you like beer, visit the Porterhouse bar that specializes in brewing their own beers. It is considered one of the best bars in the world.

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Valletta, Malta

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Valletta is the capital of Malta; located on the northeast side of the island on the Xiberras peninsula. It was founded in 1566 by the knights of Saint-Jean and bears the name of its founder: Jean de Valette. The city preserves many buildings which belong to the time when the hospital order of Saint John of Jerusalem, was the sovereign of the Maltese archipelago (from 1530 to 1798). The city was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage in 1980, a city rich in monuments on a small surface (320 monuments in 55 hectares). There is a lot of pedestrian area in the city, with a lot of sloping streets and stairs. To see: the co-cathedral of Saint-Jean, the fortifications, the Magisterial Palace, the Fort Saint-Elme, the National Archaeological Museum, the Notre-Dame de la Victoire church, among others.

Tips

Wear comfortable shoes to walk in the city.

If you are driving, you can leave the car in the underground parking lot of Il-Furjana and take the shuttle that takes you into town.

From the central bus station, you can use public transport to travel to other cities and places of interest.

For a great view of the city and its surroundings, go to the Upper Barrakka Gardens.