Behind ornately constructed fences, not far from the bustle of Nevsky Prospekt, lies a splendid palace and its magnificent courtyard. The palace, which is commonly known as the Fountain House, has recently re-opened following extensive restorations. The palace is the former estate of Count Sheremetyev, and it is one of the few mansions in St. Petersburg to have remained the property of a single family until the time of the revolution. Five generations of Sheremetyevs resided within the Fountain House and its history dates back to the early 18th century. In 1712, Field Marshal Boris Sheremetyev, who was regarded as the hero of Poltava, was rewarded for his accomplishments by Peter I. Peter I presented Boris with the plot of land on which the palace would be built. In 1750, Peter Sheremetyev (the son of the hero of Poltava), resided on the premises following the construction of a new sumptuous palace. The visitors to the palace included Catherine the Great, and her son Emperor Paul I. The serf actress Praskovya Zhemchugova was also a guest when she was brought to the Fountain House by the estate's third owner, Count Nikolay Sheremetyev. In the first 200 years of its existence the Sheremetyev Palace witnessed a great deal of change. During Soviet times the palace housed two museums before finally being designated as The Institute of the Arctic and Antarctic. Currently the palace is experiencing a new stage in its history. Restoration work which began in the 1990s made it possible for the splendid formal rooms, designed by Corsini between 1830 and 1840, to be opened to the public. In addition, since 1997 the palace's gallery wing has housed St. Petersburg's extensive collection of musical instruments. The origin of the collection dates back to the 1880s when it was started by the Head of the Court Orchestra, Baron Stakelberg. Today the collection contains over 3000 pieces. A set of horns that formed a single orchestra (a peculiar Russian cultural phenomenon) are of particular interest to visitours. The display also features more than 400 flutes (including some from Alexander I's collection), Amati and Stradivarius violins, a spinet from 1532, instruments once owned by Glinka, Tchaikovsky, and Anton Rubinstein and other rare items.
Average duration 1 hour
Address 34, Fontanka River Emb. Open: 12 a.m. - 6 p.m, closed on MON, TUE, and on the last WED of every month.

The Museum of Theater and Music was established in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) in 1918. Today the museum collection consists of portraits and documents from the Alexandra Theater. The collection is based around the history of Russian and Western European Theaters during the 18th and 19th centuries. There are over 400,000 unique exhibits within the halls of this museum.
Average duration 1 hour
Address 6, Ostrovskogo Sq. Open: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. WED: 13 a.m. to 7 a.m, closed on TUE.

The Museum of Musical Instruments was founded in 1902 and now holds one of the world's largest collections of musical instruments. The collections include several instruments formerly owned by famous musicians and masters of music.
Average duration 1 hour
Address 5, Isaakievskaya Sq. Open: 12 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on MON, TUE

This museum is located in the house which was formerly inhabited by the famous Russian opera singer by the name of F.I.Shalyapin. Shalyapin lived in this particular residence from 1914-1921. The museum was opened, after extensive restorations, on the 125th anniversary of Shalyapin's birth. Today, the exhibition consists of personal items, documents, photographs, theatrical costumes, and scenery sketches pertaining to the singer's life.
Average duration 1 hour
Address 2, Graftio Str. Open: 12 a.m. - 6 p.m, closed on MON, TUE, and on the last FRI of every month.

The Apartment Museum of N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov is the only museum in St.Petersburg dedicated to a composer. The apartment, in which the museum is located, was the former residence of the great composer during the last 15 years of his life (1893- 1908). The exhibition consists of four rooms which have been preserved to match their appearance during the time that Rimsky- Korsakov inhabited them. The rooms which have been restored to their original form are the composer's study, the parlour, dining room, and hall. In addition to the exhibition concerts are also held here on WED, SAT, and SUN.
Average duration 1 hour
Address 28, Zagorodny Prosp. Open: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m, closed on MON, TUE, and on the last FRI of every month.