The STROGANOV Palace
Located on the main avenue (Nevsky Prospect), The Stroganoff Palace used to be the residential building of the Stroganoff Family, a long-established family of industrialists and Art collectors.
In 1742, Baron Sergey Stroganoff asked the architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli (the most famous architect of St. Petersburg) to build a stone palace in the location of the old wooden house. The palace, created within only two years, became a splendid example of Russian Baroque with Classicism interiors, thanks to both the works of Piotr Sadovnikov and Andrey Voronikhin.
The palace was the center of Petersburg's cultural life, holding balls and masquerades. The Palace owners (later the descendants of Sergey, his son Alexander and Pavel) lived generously, holding inner yards for various residents and dining with various meals; among them was the Beef stroganoff meal, so popular now in Russia.
After the Revolution of 1917, the Palace was nationalized, becoming a historical-household museum and then a place for the Academy of Agriculture.
Its owners went abroad; they managed to save their lives and didn’t follow the dreadful destiny of Emperor Nikolai II and his family.
Living in Russia, I started to understand better what happened during the revolution and how society was divided in a bloody war between the red (revolutionary) and the White (aristocracy). I can’t hide the fact that I was shocked to see the photographs before the renovation due to a state of ransacking and degradation (after 1998, when the Stroganoff Palace became part of the Russian Museum). It showed how they must have been of great ignorance to destroy such a place of fine art and taste, simply because it was a powerful historical symbol of a period they wished to erase….
The visit takes only an hour, since the access to the public is limited to the second floor.
My favorite room were :
the “Room Rastrelli” (Big Room),
the “Living Room” with French tapestry,
the “Corner Hall”(Special Diner Place) and finally,
the "Gubera Robera Room”.
I was very inspired by the Greek mythology-inspired frescoes, the French tapestries, and the unique beauty of each room.
I imagine that it was even more beautiful with all the furniture and the garden in the center visible from the inner windows.
It shows how the owner had such a great education and tastes. There was an extensive scientific and art collection that included numerous books, Western European paintings, coins and minerals. Many books in the library were in French language, which brought me a big smile. It reminds us that in the 18th century in Russia, most of the high society was speaking French.
Visiting such a palace, is a small travel in Russian Imperial time that shows us that human beings can create Greatness and Beauty.
Beau Voyage !
*Enjoy the travel !
