Bread Musuem of St Petersburg (The), St. Petersburg

If you think you can manage to climb the thirteen flights of stairs which lead to this unique place, do. And don't be put off by the stark entrance. Pay the minuscule fee and discover the incredible history of bread in St Petersburg and, for that matter, in the rest of Russia. One sizable room divided into various sections shows the rise and fall of this humble product over time. From the early days when bread was plentiful and eaten at a beautifully set table with jam and tea, to the dark era of Communism and more specifically World War II, there are samples of a rock loaf which people ate in order to survive, and the coupons they used to purchase it. A series of photos paint a frightfully clear picture of what life was like in wartime St Petersburg.