ART GALLERIES

Ananov Located in the Grand Hotel Europe, this elegant boutique displays and sells exquisitely crafted Faberg© jewelry. The works, following the traditions set down by Faberg©, are subtle combinations of precious metals and stones, and are by no means cheap. On the other hand, if you've got the money and your appetite has been sufficiently aroused by countless gilt palaces and tsarist treasures, this is the place to splurge. Mikhailovskaya Ulitsa 1/7. Metro: Nevsky Prospekt. Open 11:00-20:00 daily. Tel: 119 6008.

Anna Gallery This modern gallery exhibits and sells works by skillful and talented artists of Russia and the former Soviet Republics. An English-speaking attendant can help you, and full customs support is provided for buyers. The gallery is relatively small, but friendly and comfortable. Nevskij Palace Arcade, Nevsky Prospekt 57. Metro: Mayakovskaya. Open 09:00- 20:00. Tel: 275 2001.

Borey Gallery holds temporary exhibits of paintings, graphics, photography, sculpture and decorative art. Exhibits change every second Tuesday. Performance and conceptual art works can also be found here. They have a cafe, a design studio and an art club that holds book launches and informal gatherings of local bohemia. Free entry into the gallery. Liteiny Prospekt 58. Metro: Mayakovskaya. Open 12:00-20:00 Tues-Sat. Tel: 273 3693.

Foundation of Free Russian Art was founded during the Breznev years by a repressed art collector named Mikhailov. It exhibits and sells formerly banned paintings, including avant-garde, as well as works of various unknown artists of the former Soviet Union. There is a cafe on the premises. Liteiny Prospekt 52. Metro: Mayakovskaya. Open 11:00-20:00 Mon-Sun. Tel: 272 4848.

Gallery 102, located on the second floor of a Daewoo electronics shop, has a reasonable collection of modern art. They arrange full customs support. Nevsky Prospekt 102. Metro: Mayakovskaya. Open 10:00-21:00. Tel: 275 5766, 273 6842.

Lavka Drevnostei holds various one-man exhibitions. Morskaya Nabereznaya 9. Metro: Primorskaya. Open 10:00-18:00 Mon-Fri. Tel: 355 6229.

Manezh The former tsarist riding school was handed over to the Union of Artists' and turned into an exhibition hall in 1977. The exhibitions here vary greatly, from an all-St. Petersburg artist extravaganza to photography shows and commercial exhibitions. Issakievskaya Ploshchad 1. Metro: Nevsky Prospekt and trolleys 5, 14 or 22 to St. Isaac's Square, or a 15 to 20 minute walk. Open 11:00-19:00, closed Thursday. Tel: 312 8156; Fax: 314 8254.

Masters' Guild Paintings, graphic art, ceramics, tapestries, etc. Nevsky Prospekt 82. Metro: Mayakovskaya. Open 11:00-19:00 daily. Tel: 279 0979.

Palitra You won't find any matryoshkas or balalaikas in here; Palitra is a serious gallery for people seriously interested in art. Works by respected contemporary Petersburg artists are exhibited here. An English-speaking guide/art critic is usually on hand to show you around. Exhibits are for sale. Nevsky Prospekt 166, enter from courtyard. Metro: Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskogo. Open 11:00-19:00 Tues- Fri; 10:00-18:00 Sat. Tel: 277 1216.

Petropol exhibits and sells contemporary sculptures of unquestionable artistic merit at various high prices. Sculptures are made from mammoth tusks and bronze by members of the Ancient Split group. Petropol art pieces have been exhibited abroad, in Moscow and in the Russian Museum and the Hermitage. They also have catalogues. Millionnaya Ulitsa 27. Metro: Nevsky Prospekt. Open 12:00-18:00 Tues-Sun. Tel: 315 3414.

Pushkinskaya 10/10 Located in a building that has been at the center of Petersburg's hip art scene for the last several years, this gallery features works of interesting local artists. Pushkinskaya Ulitsa 10, apt. 10, on the 3rd floor. Metro: Mayakovskaya. Open 12:00-19:00 Mon-Sat. Tel: 315 2832.

The Union of Artists' building is home to several galleries. Two exhibition halls, a large one on the third floor and a smaller one on the ground floor, hold temporary shows of local artists and are a good way to get acquainted with Petersburg's fine and applied arts. Also on the third floor is the Blue Drawing Room, a gallery of works for sale, and around the back of the building (entrance from Moika 83) there is a modern art gallery. Bolshaya Morskaya 38. Metro: Nevsky Prospekt. Tel: 279 0979.

Zerkalo exhibits paintings, bronze and ceramics. Ulitsa Nekrasova 11. Metro: Ploshchad Vosstanya. Open 11:00-19:00 Mon-Sat. Tel: 272 4058.