Sightseeing

THE MENSHIKOV PALACE A branch of the Hermitage, the Menshikov palace is a fine example of the early 18th century architecture and one of the first brick buildings appeared in St.Petersburg, which was constructed on Vasilevsky Island in 1710 to the project of architects G.Fontana and J.Schedel for the first city's general governor Alexander Menshikov, who was marked for valour, common sense and a brilliant organizing gift. Although numerous European architects and artists (Giovanni Mario Fontana, Johann Gottfried Schadel, Domenico Trezzini, Carlo Bartolommeo Rastrelli, Georg Johanns Mattarnovi, Jean-Baptiste Alexandre Le Blond) took part in creating this palace, one can hardly do justice to their talent given the palace exterior, but the interior decor is different from any of the other palaces in the city: marble and painting to imitate marble, monumental decorative painting and moulding, antique and contemporary Italian sculpture, as well as Dutch cobalt painted tiles, Russian stove tiles, painted and stamped leather, textiles and woolen tapestries adorned the rooms of the mansion. But as soon as Menshikov fall from grace, all the treasures of the splendid palace, which frequently used for foreign guests’ receptions, was confiscated by the state, while the building itself was transferred to the First Cadet Corps. Nowadays, the Menshikov palace, which used to combine both residential and administrative functions, houses an excellent museum of the Petrine era: a display of clothing worn by Peter the Great, Prince Menshikov’s belongings; a foyer reminiscent of a French or Italian Hall, and a magnificent Ballroom which may have been the inspiration for the Grand Hall in the Catherine palace. Open daily 10.30 - 16.30. Closed on Monday. Address: Universitetskaya embankment, 15. Phone: 323-11-12 Metro Vasileostrovskaya

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