Regality, decadence, opulence – this monument not only brings these words to mind, but screams them to a deafening degree. After setting foot on Catherine Palace in St Petersburg, reality pales in comparison. This palace is like a time machine, transporting you to the 18th century when this originally unassuming building dedicated to Catherine I by her husband, Peter the Great, was transformed by their daughter Empress Elizabeth to the palatial wonder you see before you. Adorned with gold from exterior to interior, this monument has several rooms to explore that will leave you spoilt for choice. The Amber Room is a masterpiece in itself, covered with amber mosaics and mirrors, and the Chinese Blue Drawing Room is decorated with extravagant blue and white silk wallpaper, hinting at the prominence of Chinese culture outside of China then.

See this icon of luxury for yourself by visiting Catherine Palace in St Petersburg today!