**Full Version:** First Time at the Hermitage: Audio Tour to the State Rooms and Masterpieces (No Ticket Included)
The Hermitage is the second-largest art museum in the world. It’s easy to get lost here, as the route through all the halls stretches for 24 kilometers. That’s why this tour follows a shorter route, comfortable for those visiting for the first time. This audio guide includes only the most significant masterpieces from the collection. The audio tour begins with the state rooms of the Winter Palace and the famous Jordan Staircase. You will follow the route once taken by the personal guests of the imperial family and see the Grand State Enfilade: the Peter Hall, the Armorial Hall, and St. George Hall. Important state decisions were made in these rooms, and royal receptions and throne ceremonies were held here. After that, you will enter the room that gave the Winter Palace its name, the Hermitage, and take a close look at the Peacock Clock. Next, you will see paintings on the level of the world’s greatest collections. The Hermitage houses two original paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and the only statue by Michelangelo in Russia. A fascinating and easy walk awaits you, with an engaging story about the main masterpieces in the museum’s collection—perfect for a first visit. The tour is designed to last 2–2.5 hours. After it ends, you can continue exploring on your own.
