Mariinsky Palace

Also known as Marie Palace. Built in 1839—44, by architect Andrei Shtakenshneider. In the 18th century, the plot belonged to Zakhar Tchernyshov and contained his mansion. In 1825-39, the Tchernyshov mansion housed a military school. Emperor Nicholas I conceived as a present to his daughter Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia on the occasion of her marriage. Although the reddish-brown facade is elaborately rusticated and features Corinthian columns arranged in a traditional Neoclassical mode, the whole design was inspired by the 17th-century French Baroque messuages. Other eclectic influences are apparent in the Renaissance details of exterior ornamentation and in the interior decoration, with each main room designed in a different historic style. Until 1917, housing the State Council of Imperial Russia, State Chancellory, and Soviet of Ministers. After the October Revolution, the palace housed various Soviet ministries and academies. Later served as a hospital. From 1945 became the residence of the Leningrad Soviet (Ленсовет), succeeded by the Saint Petersburg Legislative Assembly in 1994.

WIKIVOYAGE · SAINT PETERSBURG/CENTER · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗