Unit 10 The Hermitage

Walk across the Neva offers an excellent opportunity to consider the complex of five buildings comprising the State Hermitage. It is lo­cated on the opposite bank of the Neva, just east of the Palace Bridge. To­gether these buildings form the largest museum in the country and second largest in the world. Only the Louvre is larger. Four of the five buildings in the complex face the Neva. All are connected by high archways through which royalty could easily move from one building to the next.

The oldest and largest structure, the Winter Palace, was built in Baroque style and designed by the famous Italian architect, Bartolomeo Rastrelli, be­tween 1754-62. It is the green building situated closest to the bridge. It has served as a repository of great art since the time of Catherine II. However, for many years these riches remained inaccessible to the general public. Catherine is supposed to have once said that the whole collection of the Hermitage was there to be admired only by herself along with the resident mice. Even many years later only specially selected guests were allowed to enter.

To house the ever-growing collection of the private gallery, more build­ings were soon constructed immediately to the east of the Winter Palace. The French architect Vallin de la Mothe designed the Small Hermitage. Six white columns adorn its exterior. Next to, it stands the Old Hermitage, painted in yellow and without elaborate exterior decoration. Yuri Felten designed it in 1787. In the same year the fourth building in the complex, the Hermitage Theater, was built. Painted green and also decorated with white columns, it provided private entertainment facilities for the royal family. If you look care­fully, you'll notice a small bridge crossing a break in the Neva embankment between the Old Hermitage and the Hermitage Theater. The so-called Winter Ditch (Zimnaya Kanavka) connects the Moika River to the Neva. The break marks its intersection with the main channel.

The final building in the Hermitage complex is not seen from the vantage point of the Palace Bridge, because it does not front onto the Neva River. However, it can easily be reached from Palace Square.

While you're still on Palace Bridge it might be a good idea to take note of the fact that this particular span, completed in 1916, is only one of the more than 500 bridges located within the greater area of St. Petersburg. Indeed, among all the cities in the world, only Venice has more. The city has been called "a museum of bridges." Outstanding examples of various architectural styles can be encountered. They range from small wooden spans dating from the 18th Century to modern steel and concrete construction. If you spend sufficient time wandering amongst the city's embankments and canals, you're sure to decide on a personal favorite.

Ex. 1. Answer the following questions:

1. Where is the State Hermitage located?

2. Who built Winter Palace? When did it happen?

3. What did Yuri Felten design?

4. What connects the Moika River to the Neva?

5. Why is the final building in the Hermitage complex not seen from the vantage point of the Palace Bridge?

Ex. 2. Match the words in A with their definitions in B:

A	B
1. comprise	a. a sloping wall of earth or stone beside a road, railway or river
2. outstanding	b. to decorate something
3. wander	c. to consist of two or more things
4. adorn	d. extremely good or impressive
5. elaborate	e. a short relaxed walk without a particular direction or purpose
6. embankment	f. very detailed and complicated

Ex. 3. Complete the gaps with one of the words given below:

intersection	wooden spans
wandering	inaccessible
facilities

1. However, for many years these riches remained ……… to the general public.

2. It provided private entertainment ……… for the royal family.

3. They range from small ……… dating from the 18th Century to modern steel and concrete construction.

4. The break marks its ……… with the main channel.

5. You can spend sufficient time ……… amongst the city’s channels.

Ex. 4. Put the verbs in an appropriate tense and voice:

1. The city (be called) "a museum of bridges."

2. The Winter Palace, (be built) in Baroque style and (design) by the famous Italian architect.

3. It (serve) as a repository of great art since the time of Catherine II.

4. It (be) the green building situated closest to the bridge.

5. If you (look) care­fully, you (notice) a small bridge crossing a break in the Neva embankment between the Old Hermitage and the Hermitage Theater.

Ex. 5. Translate the sentences into Russian paying attention to infinitive and gerund constructions:

1. Driving is not the ideal way to get around central Sydney, although a car can be very convenient for journeys into the suburbs and further a field.

2. This hotel guest likes the sheets being changed every day at the hotel.

3. In case of trouble (theft, threats, or drunken/overbearing behavior), tourists should immediately notify the wagon’s steward who will call train guards.

4. We managed to get only the single tickets.