Best Royal Palaces in Europe

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3Winter Palace, Russia

St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace, a majestic symbol of Imperial Russia’s might and opulence, was the official residence of the Russian monarchs from 1732 to 1917. The baroque palace, designed by architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, is a monumental green-and-white building that dominates the Palace Square.

Today, it houses part of the Hermitage Museum, which boasts one of the largest art collections in the world. The palace’s history, filled with tales of extravagance, revolution, and artistic patronage, mirrors the tumultuous history of Russia itself.