Anichkov Palace

Across the Fontanka River, Anichkov Palace stands proudly. It’s one of the oldest structures on Nevsky Prospekt. Anichkov Palace has witnessed centuries of Saint Petersburg’s history unfold. Empress Elizabeth commissioned the palace in 1741. Back then, this area was on the outskirts of the city. Nevsky Prospekt was a tree-lined avenue, a far cry from the bustling thoroughfare it is today. Anichkov Palace was a gift for Aleksey Razumovsky, her favorite and rumored unofficial spouse. The original architect, Mikhail Zemtsov, shaped the palace. Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli added the baroque decorations. After Razumovsky’s death, Catherine the Great acquired Anichkov Palace from his brother. She then presented it to her own favorite, Grigoriy Potemkin. Potemkin, ever the aesthete, decided to update the palace. He hired Ivan Starov to give it a neo-classical makeover. Starov leveled the uneven stories of the wings. He replaced the ornate baroque decorations with the simpler neo-classical facades you see today. Anichkov Palace has housed many notable figures, including Nicholas I, Alexander II, and Alexander III before they became Tsars. This palace was more than just a residence. It was a place where family gatherings, celebrations, and important decisions took place. Anichkov Palace later served as the headquarters of the Soviet equivalent of the Boy Scouts. Today, Anichkov Palace houses the Palace of Youth Creativity. It also houses the Anichkov Lycee, one of St. Petersburg’s top secondary schools. It’s a place where young minds are nurtured and dreams are fostered.