The stories behind the clothes

A visit to the Costume Gallery of the State Hermitage Museum, located at the Staraya Derevnya Restoration and Storage Center, is an unusual cultural experience. On display are Peter the Great’s coats, military uniforms, folk clothing, wedding gowns, canonical clothing of Russian Orthodox priests and a fabulous selection of ballroom dresses of Russian aristocrats. The guide will take you on a captivating tour of the dimly lit halls, which go completely dark as soon as visitors leave in order to protect the fragile items, which are sensitive to light and humidity. The gallery is a unique combination of a classic exhibition hall and a repository: there are no labels or descriptions, and all stories come directly from the curator. Individual tours are held on Thursdays and Saturdays, and start at 15.15.