Anichkov Palace-one of the former imperial palaces-now a monument of Russian architecture of the 17th and 19th centuries in St. Petersburg.
The palace is a complex of buildings with an adjacent garden with pavilions.
Anichkov Palace is located in the center of St. Petersburg, near Anichkov Bridge, from which the palace got its name, on the embankment of the Fontanka River and the intersection with Nevsky Prospekt - one of the most visited and beautiful streets of the city.
The Palace is the oldest surviving building on Nevsky Prospekt.
The palace was erected starting in 1741 by the decree of the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.
The construction was started according to the project of the architect Mikhail Zemtsov. Since Zemtsov died during the construction (1743), the construction of the palace was completed according to the project of the architect of Italian origin Bartolomeo Rastrelli.
At that time, Fontanka was the outskirts of the city, and Nevsky Prospekt was not one of the most important streets, so the palace faces Fontanka. Also, the palace was a kind of decoration at the entrance to the city.
During the history, as a result of alterations and restorations, the appearance of the palace changed, it became more strict, and, eventually, it became an ensemble, the style of which was formed under the influence of successive eras, architectural styles and aristocratic owners. So, at various times, the Anichkov Palace belonged to the favorites of the Empresses Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II, became the residence of the imperial family and acted as gifts, and many famous architects contributed to the design and construction of buildings on the territory of the Anichkov estate, including: I. E. Starov, L. Ruska, J. Quarenghi, K. I. Rossi, A. I. Stackenschneider and others.
One of the significant changes in the appearance of the palace complex was carried out at the end of the 18th century, when the palace was bought off to the treasury and for some time there was an Office of His Imperial Majesty within its walls, for which later on the Fontanka Embankment in front of the palace, the architect Quarenghi built two separate buildings that closed the view of the palace from the Anichkov Bridge.
In front of the Anichkov Palace is the garden of the Anichkov Palace, where in 1817-1818 the architect K. I. Rossi erected two small pavilions decorated with Ionic Order columns. The pavilions and the garden still exist today.
Initially, the lands of the Anichkov Garden were more extensive, but later part of the land was given over to the development of the territory before Alexandrinsky Theater. Today it is the Catherine Garden, the center of which is decorated with a monumental monument to Catherine II. Learn more about the garden and the monument…
Now the ensemble of the once imperial residence-the Anichkov Estate, includes architectural monuments: the Anichkov Palace, the Service Building, the Cabinet building, the palace garden with pavilions and other structures.
Since February 12, 1937, the main children's palace of the city - the St. Petersburg City Palace of Youth Creativity (until 1990-the Leningrad Palace of Pioneers) - has been located within the walls of the palace.
Also within the walls of the palace are: a modern theater and concert complex "Carnival", a library and Anichkov Lyceum, where the most gifted students complete their secondary education.
For all comers, the palace offers sightseeing tours (the museum of the history of the St. Petersburg City Palace of Youth Creativity); as well as concerts, evenings and holidays, which take place in the magnificent state interiors of the former Anichkov Palace. The enfilades of living rooms, halls and offices, decorated in the style of Russian classicism, are also used as a venue for official receptions, assemblies, exhibitions, balls and chamber concerts.
Concert hall
Blue Hall
Dance hall
Grand staircase
Library
Practical information
Anichkov Palace is located in the center of St. Petersburg, at the intersection of the Fontanka River and Nevsky Prospekt, at the address: Nevsky Prospekt, 39.
Coordinates of Anichkov yard: 59°55'58" N 30°20'23" E (59.932778, 30.339722).
Nearest metro stations: "Gostiny Dvor", "Nevsky Prospekt", "Mayakovsky" and "Ploshchad Vosstaniya".
Website of the Anichkov Palace (St. Petersburg City Palace of Youth Creativity): anichkov.
All accommodation facilities in St. Petersburg, including in the city center and more remote from it, can be viewed and booked here
