The Romanovs' Winter Palace: From Rastrelli to Revolution

This episode explores the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg as a living symbol of Romanov power, from its construction under Elizabeth Petrovna to its role as the backdrop of revolution. We discuss Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli's Baroque design, the palace's near-destruction by fire in 1837, and its transformation into the Hermitage Museum. Lucas and Luna delve into the daily life of the imperial family, the palace's vast art collections started by Catherine the Great, and the storming of the palace in 1917. They touch on the Jordan Staircase, the Malachite Room, and the irony of the Romanovs' most opulent residence becoming a museum of their downfall. The conversation also contrasts the palace's grandeur with the squalor of the surrounding city, setting the stage for revolution. #WinterPalace #StPetersburg #Romanovs #ElizabethPetrovna #Rastrelli #Hermitage #CatherineTheGreat #Baroque #1837Fire #NicholasI #AlexanderII #NarodnayaVolya #1917Revolution #JordanStaircase #MalachiteRoom #RussianHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo