Vorontsov Palace is a former palace in the historical center of St. Petersburg, on Sadovaya Street opposite Gostiny dvor. The palace is an object of cultural heritage of federal significance.
The palace is also known as the Vorontsov Manor and the Chancery House.
Vorontsov Palace stands out in the Baroque style.
It was erected in the middle of the 18th century for Count Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov and is one of the outstanding creations of architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli.
In front of the central part of the palace (between the palace and Sadovaya Street) there is a front yard, which is separated from the road by a cast-iron fence cast according to Rastrelli's drawing. The central gate with a wrought-iron lattice is distinguished by two supporting structures with columns with architectural capitals.
The palace was built as an extensive estate sometime in 1744-1758 (exact dates are unknown) by the architect Rasstrele, commissioned by and for Mikhail Vorontsov, on the site of the estate of the cabinet secretary of Peter I Alexei Makarov and Alexei Volkov, secretary of Prince Alexander Menshikov, which Vorontsov acquired in 1740.
After the construction of the estate, on November 23, 1758, a housewarming party was celebrated in the palace, which was attended by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, who gave Count Vorontsov a "decree for 40,000 rubles" and awarded Vorontsov the title of chancellor of the Russian Empire. After that, the palace received a second name - "Chancellor's House".
Vorontsov's Palace has become a striking example of a mid-18th century urban estate. On the site, in addition to the main building with two side wings, one of which adjoins a U-shaped two-story building, forming a closed courtyard, there were also several other buildings and a regular garden with a pond. The garden stretched to the Fontanka River (now it has not been preserved and the area is built up).
Since the costs of building the palace were great, that after a few years Vorontsov sold the palace to the treasury.
For some time the Vorontsov Palace was empty, then it was used as a guest house. In 1798, Emperor Paul I, who assumed the title of Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, granted the palace to the Order of Malta. Then the palace became known as the "Castle of the Knights of Malta". In 1798-1800, at the behest of Paul I, two churches were built on the territory of the palace estate: the Orthodox Church in the name of the Nativity of John the Baptist and the Catholic chapel of the Order of the Knights of Malta - the Maltese Chapel, erected by architect Giacomo Quarenghi.
Under Emperor Alexander I, the Russian branch of the Order of Malta ceased to exist. From 1810 until the revolution of 1917, the palace housed a Page corps. In 1827, the palace was rebuilt according to the project of architect Alexander Staubert, then the interior decoration was lost, but the exterior decoration of the palace was not changed. Some of the premises were rented out, various buildings were also erected already on the territory of the former garden of the palace.
In the 20th century, the palace complex was occupied by various military schools. During the Second World War, a hospital operated in the building. In 2019, the building was occupied by the Third Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction.
Today Vorontsov Palace is a pearl of the Baroque style of the 18th century. It has a magnificently decorated facade with an openwork lattice of balconies. The main facade of the palace is decorated with three projections-risalites, columns and stucco; it has a porch.
The chapel (the House Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist) has now been restored and can be visited. The chapel has a Museum of the History of Russian Cadets and organ music concerts.
The chapel has three naves separated by two rows of artificial marble columns.
Practical information
Vorontsov Palace is located in the historical center of St. Petersburg, at the address: Sadovaya Street, 26.
Coordinates of the Vorontsov Palace: 59°55'53.0"N 30°19'55.0"E (59.931389, 30.331944).
Nearest metro stations: "Gostiny Dvor", "Nevsky Prospekt", "Dostoevskaya" and "Vladimirskaya".
All accommodation facilities in St. Petersburg, including in the city center and more remotely from it, can be viewed and booked here
