Anichkov Palace is the oldest Palace on Nevsky Prospect. It is situated on the corner of Nevsky Prospect and Fontanka Emb. and faces Fontanka with its fasade. Anichkov Palace was built by order of Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter I. In the second half of the XVIII century it belonged to the favorites of Empress Elizabeth and Empress Catherine the Great. Then in the 19th century Anichkov Palace was a Royal residence, the place of magnificent official receptions, brilliant court balls and masquerades.
     It was one of the first buildings to be constructed in the style of Baroque. The building of the Palace was designed by architects Zemtsov, Dmitriev and Rastrelli. The construction was completed in 1751. The ensemble of Anichkov Estate in 1750’s included, apart from a splendid Palace, a Main Court with a canal, giving it a harbor entrance from Fontanka River, promenade galleries along the bank and a large regular garden which stretched to Sadovaya Street. In 1776-1778 the architect Starov brought considerable alterations to the exterior appearance of the building, imparting the facades with forms of early Classical architecture. The galleries were dismantled; the harbor and the ponds were covered up with earth. In 1803-1805 the architect Quarenghi erected two buildings with the open arcades united by an Ionic colonnade on the corner of Nevsky and Fontanka, thus the facade of the Anichkov Palace was hidden from the side of Fontanka River. Since then the outside appearance of the Palace has stayed nearly unaltered.
     In 1817 the Palace passed to Grand Prince Nicholas (future Emperor Nicholas I) and his wife, daughter of Frederic-William III, future Empress Alexander Feodorovna. Since that time Anichkov Palace became the city’s residence of the “small court” and after Nicholas I came to the throne in 1825 the Palace became the Imperial residence. Emperor Nicholas I loved Anichkov Palace most of all and called it “my own palace,” “Anichkov paradise,” later saying that here he spent “the best years of his life.” Every week there were held grand balls in Anichkov Palace: 100 persons (highest circles of society) were invited: Ministers who usually sat at the cardtables and many elegant ladies. The supper was at 1 a.m. Nicholas I liked late dances and took part in dances himself. One of his favorite partners was Natali, the wife of great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. The first beauty of St. Petersburg Natali captivated the heart of the Emperor and he gave her husband the rank of gentleman of the monarch’s bed-chamber in order to make the married couple of Pushkins attend all the imperial balls. In his diary (January 26, 1834) Pushkin wrote: “Last Tuesday I was invited to Anichkov Palace. I arrived in uniform but I was told that all the guests were in tail-coats. I departed from the Palace having left Natali there...” The most tragic days in Pushkin’s life are connected with Anichkov Palace. It was here that in November 1836 (shortly before Pushkin’s death) the poet was received by Nicholas I and was asked to promise not to fight a duel with d’Anthess.
     Emperor Alexander II, the son of Nicholas I, spent his childhood in Anichkov Palace and later, in 1841, this Palace was gifted to him in the day of his marriage. Next Emperor Alexander III lived over 25 years in Anichkov Palace. Being very unpretentious and loving plain living Alexander III didn’t like the large and luxurious rooms of the Palaces. That is why he didn’t move to the Winter Palace and lived instead in Anichkov Palace, always occupying small rooms. It was in Anichkov Palace that the last Russia’s Emperor Nicholas II spent his childhood and youth. In Anichkov garden he made snow balls and climbed trees. When Nicholas II married he moved with his wife to Anichkov Palace. Here the young Emperor ruled the huge country dealing with all its business in the small drawing-room. In the times of Nicholas II Anichkov Palace continued to be one of the centres of musical life of the city, judging by the repertoire of the court concerts.
     After the revolution of 1917 the nationalized Anichkov Palace housed the Museum of the City and now the Palace of Youth Creativity is situated in these historic walls as well as a wax museum.

     There is a magnificent Palace on the corner of Nevsky Pr. and Moika Emb., notable for its austere composition and style consistency, which belonged to the family of Stroganovs. The building’s middle part is emphasized with twinned columns standing on pulled out pedestals. Behind the Palace there is a garden yard decorated with sculptures where there is now a restaurant. The Palace today includes a wax exposition with the figures of Russian Emperors and the masters of the Palace.
     The family of Stroganov, which traces its roots back to the 14th century, was a noble and rich family. In the 18th century they had three Palaces: one in Moscow and two Palaces in St. Petersburg, then the capital of the Russian State. The splendid Palace on the corner of Nevsky Pr. and Moika Emb. was built in 1752-54 for Count S. Stroganov. His son, Alexander Stroganov, became one of the most famous masters of this Palace. He strengthened his influence in the Court in the times of Empress Elizabeth. Then, when Catherine the Great came to the throne, he was appointed secrete adviser and could afford, while playing cards with Empress Catherine II, to fling the cards on the table in a burst of indignation. Long-lived friendship with Catherine the Great wasn’t the obstacle for him, as it was for many others, to become the favourite of her son, Emperor Paul I. Paul I appointed Stroganov to the position of President of the Academy of Arts, making him responsible for the construction of St. Kazan Cathedral. At the same time Stroganov became the first director of the Public Library. Since 1784 Stroganov was the head of St. Petersburg nobility. In the 18th and 19th centuries Stroganov Palace was one of the centres of Petersburg’s cultural life. Prominent writers and poets, such as Fonvisin, Derzhavin, Krylov, composer Bortnyansky and many artists were the frequent guests of the salon in Stroganov Palace.
     Initially Stroganov Palace was constructed in the style of Baroque by Court architect B. Rastrelli. But it was Alexander Stroganov who ordered the Palace be reconstructed because the style of Baroque went out of fashion at the end of the 18th century and Classic style came to the fore. Moreover the enlarged collection of valuables, minerals and books required new rooms. The most significant reconstruction was undertaken by talented architect Voronihin, who was the serf of Stroganov and who became the Professor of the Academy of Arts and later designed St. Kazan Cathedral. Nowadays this Palace has been recently renovated with the colour of pink which replaces the earlier green colour.
     Eminent artist and decorators of the 18th and 19th century took part in shaping the interiors of this Palace. As the years passed, the fashion and the architecture styles changed and every new owner of the Palace redesigned its interiors according to his taste and the current fashion. Among the most interesting halls of this Palace are the Mineral Study, with the rich collection of minerals and rocks; Picture-Gallery, which housed an excellent picture collection including the creations by Botticelli, Tintoretto, Rembrandt, Rubens, Loraine and sculptures by Donatello, Falcone, Gudon; Arabesque Drawing-Room with the copies of Raphael’s frescos; and a large double-bay hall in the building’s western wing decorated by a pictorial plafond by G. Valeriani. After the Revolution of 1917 the largest part of the Stroganovs’ private collection of arts was conveyed to the many museums, including Hermitage, Russian Museum, Museum of Mineralogy, Ethnographic Museum and several libraries. Today Stroganov Palace is part of the Russian Museum and it exhibits collections of the Russian Museum.

     In 1846-1848 architect Stakenshneider rebuilt an old house on the corner of Fontanka Emb. and Nevsky Prospect near Anichkov Bridge for Count Beloselsky-Belozersky. Erecting the Palace on its place Stakenshneider blended it with the architectural scenery of Nevsky Prospect following the principles of Russian Baroque of the 18th century, in the imitation of Rastrelli’s Palaces. In the interiors of this Palace Stakenshneider embodied the ideals of the “second Rococo:” luxury, richness gracefulness and sophistication.
     The family of Beloselsky-Belozersky descended from the first Russian Princes. Counts Beloselsky-Belozersky served under many Russian Kings from the 14th to the 18th century. In the second half of the 19th century the mistress of the Palace, Elena Pavlovna, organized balls, receptions and concerts for the members of the Imperial family. Aristocracy loved balls in Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace with first-class musicians playing in the splendid interiors full of works of art. Women of high society made a parade of jewelry and danced in the whirlwind of waltz and mazurka till morning. Guests left Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace for sleep at 4 or 6 a.m and next day such officials appeared in their offices at about 2 p.m. Many famous composers, singers and musicians took part in the musical evenings in Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace. F.List four times visited St. Petersburg and always gave concerts in Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace. Tchaikovsky several times attended concerts here as a listener. One of the first performances of the Griboedov’s comedy was staged in Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace. Sumptuous balls and concerts shook the financial position of the Beloselsky-Belozersky family and in 1884 they had to sell this Palace to Grand Prince Sergey Alexandrovich Romanov, the brother of Emperor Alexander III.
     The new master of the Palace, Grand Prince Sergey Alexandrovich, ordered to wrench out the monogram of the Beloselsky-Belozersky family from the staircase railing and install on this place a monogram with his own initials, which you can see today in the Palace. Grand Prince Sergey Alexandrovich moved to the Palace with his young wife just after the marriage. Sergey Alexandrovich was in command of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards regiment and he used to organize dinners for the officers of his regiment and wassail with them in his Palace on Nevsky. Of course his wife didn’t like such behaviour of her husband and she decided to influence him towards sports. So the floor in the largest hall of the Palace was covered with cloth, a net was stretched and lawn tennis ground was organized in the Palace! Members of the Imperial family and high-ranking officials came to the Palace to play tennis.
     In 1918 the Palace was nationalized and given to State committees. Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace was then damaged during the WW II and restoration work lasted from 1948 to 1988. The traditional vinous colour of this Palace was recently changed to the soft red/pink colour. Now this splendid pink Palace with the figures of atlantes congealed in the strained poses houses the Municipal Culture Centre, the wax museum and the office of the 1-st Moscow TV channel. Almost every day concerts of classical music are held in the Big Concert Hall and in the Hall of the prior home theatre of the Beloselsky-Belozersky family.

     At 34 Fontanka Emb. there is situated back from the river Sheremetev Palace, which is also known as Fontanny House. This remarkable monument of Russian architecture of the middle of the 18th century was constructed by architects Chevakinsky and Argunov. The smart iron fence was designed by Korsini in 1844. The emblem of Sheremetevs’ family, the old noble family that owned this magnificent Palace, is depicted on the arch of the gates.
     Sheremetev Palace is connected with the name of Russia’s great poet Alexander Pushkin. In summer 1827 he came several times to the Palace in order to pose for the artist Kiprensky, who created there the most famous portrait of the poet.
     In the 1930’s prominent Russian poetess Anna Ahmatova lived in one of the wings of Fontanny House. Here she was caught by the Second World War and after a wartime evacuation of this poetess, she later returned to this Palace. So Fontanny House is the scene for action of many episodes of her “Poem without a Hero.” Today there is a State Literary-Memorial Museum-flat of Anna Ahmatova situated in Fontanny House. Sheremetev Palace also houses a Museum of Antique Musical Instruments which are all still in working order and the big hall still presents from time to time live concerts.

     Menshikov Palace is one of the first stone dwellings in St. Petersburg founded during the period of birth of the wonderful city. It was erected in 1710-1722 in the eastern part of Vasilyevsky Island beside the Neva River on what is now known as 15 Universitetskaya Emb. for Count Alexander Menshikov, the closest associate and friend of Peter I and the first Governor General of St. Petersburg, President of Military Board. Menshikov Palace, quite well maintained even today, is a precious architectural monument of the Baroque style of Peter the Great’s time. Famous architects of St. Petersburg – Fontana, Schedel, Tresini, Leblon and Rastrelli created this Palace in the European manner, resembling the “Italian style.” As the most sumptuous building of the young city the Palace served for assemblies, feasts, receptions of foreign diplomats and celebrations of the victories in the Great Northern War, which Russia was waging with Sweden for the return of the lands along the Gulf of Finland. Of course Peter the Great often visited the Palace of his favourite Menshikov.
     To reach the Palace one then had to go by boat along the Neva River and then through a small canal to the entrance of the Palace. There was a vast regular garden that stretched from the Palace to the Malaya Neva with fountains, arbours, greenhouses, grotto and different pavilions. Unfortunately this peculiar ensemble doesn’t remain nowadays.
     Alexander Menshikov despite his nonnoble origin became a first-rate military and Statesman. He was raised by Peter the Great to the highest steps of power and received the highest titles and ranks of that time. He played a key role in the building of St. Petersburg, Kronstadt and Peterhof but it seems that he didn’t miss opportunities to enrich himself at the expense of the State treasury. After the death of Peter I in 1725 under Empress Catherine I and Emperor Peter II, Count Menshikov actually became the effective Governor of Russia, ruling the State from his Palace on Vasilyevsky Island. Then he conferred on himself the rank of Generalissimo. By that time he was one of the richest people in the country. He owned 6 cities, around 100, 000 serfs and lands in Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic. Menshikov had many Palaces, mansions and dachas. 9 mansions and dachas belonged to him just in St. Petersburg and its suburbs. The whole of Vasilyevsky Island was gifted to him by Peter the Great in 1703, in the year of the foundation of St. Petersburg.
     Later a struggle for power closed with the arrest of Menshikov. He was exiled with his family to Siberia, where he died in 1729. All his properties, including the Palaces, were confiscated and applied to the State treasury. In 1732 the Palace and new buildings, which had been added to it, housed the first military educational institution in Russia – a Military school which turned out great people who later glorified Russia. In the second half of the 19th century the Council of the Main Board of all Military Educational Institutions was accommodated in Menshikov Palace. Revolutionary times had a pernicious influence on the interior decoration of the Palace: the Church Hall was pillaged, the Museum of the First Military school (which was located in the Palace) was ravaged and later closed. Menshikov Palace later housed different State institutions and offices till it was passed over to the State Hermitage in 1967.
     Today Menshikov Palace is open for all visitors. Concerts of classical music are frequently held in its halls.

     1. Palace of Grand Prince Alexander Mikhailovich – 106 Moika Emb.
     2. Palace of Grand Prince Alexey Alexandrovich – 122 Moika Emb.
     3. Anichkov Palace – 39 Nevsky Pr.
     4. Bezborodko Palace – 7 Pochtamtskaya St.
     5. Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace– 41 Nevsky Pr.
     6. Bobrinsky Palace – 58-60 Galernaya St.
     7. Palace of Grand Prince Vladimir Alexandrovich – 26 Dvortsovaya Emb. (also known as the House of Scientists), read the article about this Palace in Neva News, February/March 2004 issue – see web site www.nevanews.com 8. Vorontsov Palace – 26 Sadovaya St.
     9. Yelagin Palace – 4 Yelagin Island
     10. Winter Palace – 36 Dvortsovaya Emb., read the article “The Hermitage Museum: St. Petersburg Symbol and Landmark” in Neva News, June 2004 issue - see web site www.nevanews.com
     11. Kamennoostrovsky Palace – 1 Malaya Nevka Emb.
     12. Palace of Grand Prince Kirill Vladimirovich – 13 Glinka St.
     13. Summer Palace of Peter I – Dvortsovaya Emb. (Summer Gardens)
     14. Mariinsky Palace – 6 Isaakievskaya Sq.
     15. Menshikov Palace – 15 Universitetskaya Emb.
     16. Palace of Grand Prince Mikhail Alexandrovich – 54 Angliyskaya Emb.
     17. Palace of Grand Prince Mikhail Mikhailovich – 8 Admiralteyskaya Emb.
     18. Mikhailovsky Palace– 4/2 Enginernaya St. (State Russian Museum)
     19. Mikhailovsky (Engineer) Castle – 2 Sadovaya St.
     20. Marble Palace – 5/1 Millionnaya St.
     21. Nikolayevsky Palace – 4 Truda Sq.
     22. Palace of Grand Prince Nikolay Nikolayevich – 2 Petrovskaya Emb.
     23. Novo-Mikhailovsky Palace – 18 Dvortsovaya Emb.
     24. Oldenburgsky Palace – 2 Dvortsovaya Emb.
     25. Palace of Grand Prince Pavel Alexandrovich – 66-68 Angliyskaya Emb.
     26. Palace of Peter II – 11 Universitetskaya Emb.
     27. Razumovsky Palace – 48 Moika Emb.
     28. Stroganov Palace – 17 Nevsky Pr.
     29. Taurichesky Palace – 47 Shpalernaya St.
     30. Chesmensky Palace – 5 Gastello St.
     31. Sheremetev Palace – 34 Fontanka Emb.
     32. Shuvalov Palace – 25 Italyanskaya St.
     33. Shuvalov Palace – 21 Fontanka
     34. Yusupova Palace – 42 Liteiny Pr.
     35. Yusupov Palace – 94 Moika Emb., read about this Palace in Neva News issue February/March 2004, page 14, see web site www.nevanews.com
     36. Yusupov Palace – 115 Fontanka Emb.

     1. Grand Palace in Peterhof
     2. Monplaisir Palace in Peterhof
     3. Marli Palace in Peterhof
     4. Hermitage Pavilion in Peterhof
     5. Cottage Palace in Peterhof
     6. Palace of Peter III in Oranienbaum, which is also known as the town of Lomonosov
     7. Chinese Palace in Oranienbaum
     8. Grand Palace in Gatchina
     9. Priorate Palace in Gatchina
     10. Grand Palace in Pavlovsk, read article about Palace in Pavlovsk in Neva News issue, October/ November 2003, see web site www.nevanews.com
     11. Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo/the town of Pushkin
     12. Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo, read article about the Catherine and the Alexander Palaces in Tsarskoye Selo in Neva News issue, August 2004, see web site www.nevanews.com
     13. Kochubey Palace in the town of Pushkin
     14. Konstantine Palace in Strelna, read story about the Konstantine Palace in our next issue.