The Hermitage in St Petersburg is one of the great museums of the world. Professor Piotrovsky, director of the Hermitage, writes a new introduction on the 'Greater Hermitage' project: its recent expansion, the museum's new restoration and conservation center, and its affiliated museums in St Petersburg. First published in 1994 as The State Hermitage, this revised and updated two-volume survey of the museum is the official publication for the 250th anniversary of the Hermitage in 2014. It is sure to remain the definitive work for many years to come.