The winter Palace was built in 1754-1762 by the Italian architect Rastrelli. A Grand building in which more than 1,000 rooms and more than hundred stairs, North façade, facing the Neva river, South to the Palace square. Various combinations of projections, porches, accentuated by the lines of the cornice and balustrade, make the facade is extremely picturesque.

Over the decoration of Palace interiors in different years worked Giacomo Quarenghi, Auguste Montferrand, Carl Rossi. On the second floor, which is built by Rastrelli and rebuilt after the fire of 1837 Embassy (Jordan) stairs – the Suite of state rooms, mostly decorated by Giacomo Quarenghi and Ivan Starov in 1780-90's (after the fire, they were rebuilt Vasily Stasov). In 1837, when the fire Palace was badly damaged, but was rebuilt within two years. Many of the rooms were decorated in accordance with the new tastes of the 30-ies of the XIX century, but the facade of the building and the premises have been restored to its former appearance.

The Palace for a long time (until 1918) was the winter residence of the Russian emperors, and from July to November 1917 served as the meeting hall of the Provisional government. In 1918 and in 1922 the building transferred to the State Hermitage.

In the early nineteenth century to finalize the architectural ensemble of the Palace square, which is the Winter Palace, in front of him the architect Carlo Rossi designed the building of the General staff. Two huge arched buildings that frame the square, links the arc de Triomphe – a monument to the victory over Napoleon. The arch is decorated with compositions of armours, and is completing her chariot driven by the goddess of victory Nike.

In the middle of the Palace square the Alexander column, erected in the Empire style in 1834 by the French architect Auguste Montferrand by decree of Emperor Nicholas I to commemorate the victory of his elder brother Alexander I over Napoleon.