“Why is it called the Small Marble Palace?” Someone always asks that. Well let’s uncover the story behind this elegant structure right here in Saint Petersburg.
The Small Marble Palace is a historical building designed in the Italian Renaissance style. It was built in 1857 to 1862. Architect Ernst Schmidt designed it for Count N.A. Kushelev-Bezborodko. Today the palace houses the European University.
Count Kushelev-Bezborodko’s home became known as the Small Marble Palace for two reasons. Firstly he was obliged to use Russian rose marble. Secondly Saint Petersburg already had the well-known Marble Palace. In 1873 the palace was purchased for residential use. The owner was Grand Duke Nikolai Konstantinovich. Consequently the palace was renamed.
An interesting fact is that the house which became the Small Marble Palace was created in the 1840s. Architect G.A. Bosse designed it. Ernst Schmidt updated its appearance in 1857 to 1862. The main facade reflects the Italian Renaissance style. The first floor is decorated with rusticated stones. The second floor features pilasters. The windows have semi-circular arches.
Inside the Small Marble Palace once stood a theater an orangery and a garden. Later they were replaced by another house. The interiors were distinctively designed. Noteworthy rooms included the Vestibule the Main Staircase and the White Gold and Blue Halls.
Styles varied from room to room. You could find features of Rococo and Renaissance styles. A striking element of the interior was its sculpture. This included moldings columns caryatids and vases. The parquet floor was inlaid with precious woods and mother-of-pearl.
In its early days the palace walls displayed a rich collection of paintings. These were acquired by its first owner Count N.A. Kushelev-Bezborodko. Later they were transferred to the Hermitage Museum. After Grand Duke Nikolai Konstantinovich owned the palace Princess Dolgorukaya lived here.
During the Soviet era the palace housed the Research Institute of Occupational Safety. Today the European University occupies its halls. The Small Marble Palace is a protected architectural monument in Saint Petersburg. Its address is 3 Gagarinskaya Street.
So as you admire the Small Marble Palace remember its evolution. From a count’s residence to a grand duke’s home and now a university. It stands as a testament to Saint Petersburg’s rich history and architectural beauty.