Description of the attraction
The Mariinsky Palace was built by order of Emperor Nicholas I as a wedding gift to his daughter Maria, the future Duchess of Leuchtenberg. The palace is located opposite St. Isaac's Cathedral on the banks of the Catherine Canal.
The Mariinsky Palace looked somewhat unusual: the right wing of the building, located at a certain angle to the central facade, was 30 meters shorter than the left. This, however, did not prevent the palace from blending into the architectural ensemble of St. Isaac's Square, since it was decorated in a strict classical style, in perfect harmony with the neighboring buildings.
Inside the Mariinsky Palace there was the house church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, decorated in the style of Byzantine churches. Sculptures of ancient heroes were placed along the main staircase of the palace, and on the wall one could see a beautiful stucco ornament in the form of letters intertwined with each other, from which the name Maria was formed.
Maria Nikolaevna has lived in this palace all her life. After her death, the palace was sold by her sons, who were thus forced to pay off their debts. As a result, the Mariinsky Palace became the property of several government departments at once. In the mid-70s of the twentieth century, a comprehensive restoration of the Mariinsky Palace was carried out.
