Constantine Palace, Baroque palace in Strelna, Russia
The Constantine Palace is a Baroque palace in Strelna, about 19 km from central Saint Petersburg, on the south shore of the Gulf of Finland where the Strelka and Kikenka rivers meet. Its long, pale yellow facade has white trim, a rusticated grey stone base with a ground-floor arcade, and a central block rising higher, topped by a small domed cupola with a flagpole. A columned entrance portico with statues above the main door faces a paved square.
Tsar Peter the Great began construction in 1720 and commissioned the French architect Jean-Baptiste Alexandre Le Blond to design the residence. After several changes of ownership and renovations, the building served as a summer residence for grand dukes during the 19th century.
The halls take their names from the colors of their original wall coverings and drapes, which have been carefully reproduced during each restoration. Visitors today see furniture and paintings by Russian masters that show how nobles arranged their residences in the past century.
Guided tours take visitors through three main rooms: the Blue Hall with parquet floors, the Marble Hall with windows facing the sea, and the Belveder Hall for events. Access is only allowed with a group, and tickets should be booked in advance.
The palace hosted the 32nd G8 summit on 15–17 July 2006, when the eight world leaders were lodged in eight luxurious seaside mansions, each named after a historic Russian city. In 2003 it received more than fifty heads of state or government during Saint Petersburg's tercentenary. Inside are three collections: heraldry from the Hermitage, an exhibition on the four princes who lived here, and items from the Saint Petersburg Maritime Museum.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,032 contributors worldwide.
