For visitors to Russia who are hoping to get to know a little bit more about the everday lives of the Tsars, there are few attractions more edifying that the Catherine Palace in Saint Petersburg. Built in 1717, the Catherine Palace was originally meant to serve as the summer residence of the Tsars. The Palace is an architectural masterwork on par with some of the other major sights of Russia
It features a design sense that was flamboyant even for its age and in today’s world appears amazingly luxurious. The interior of the palace was decorated in such a fashion that many were heard to call it “obscene”. Over 200 pounds of gold were used throughout, for various jobs such as gilding statues and other ornamental parts of the decor. Furthermore, it is in close proximity to other attractions that visitors with a taste for history and culture are sure to want to visit, such as the Hermitage museum.