MUSEUM OF HYGIENICS

Why not? Located on the second floor of the former Shuvalov Palace, this museum is used primarily for school excursions, i.e. groups of nine-year olds are taken here and shown a comprehensive exhibit of cancerous organs and aborted fetuses preserved in formaldehyde in order to convince them not to drink, smoke, or have sexual intercourse. The exhibition is actually quite eclectic and includes two very well- preserved domestic mummified women (one is fully clothed and still sports her 18th century hairdo), a large collection of cute stuffed animals propagandizing the danger of rabies and other fun diseases of the wild, and a wide array of anatomical models. It's worth the price of admission, which is free.

Italianskaya Ulitsa 25. Metro: Nevsky Prospekt/Gostiny Dvor. Open 10:00-17:00 Monday to Friday. Tel for excursions (Russian only): 210 8508.