Utkina Dacha, Noble estate at Okkervil River, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Utkina Dacha is a classical estate near the Okkervil River with a main manor house and service building positioned at the junction of two waterways. The property displays typical late 18th-century architecture and now serves as a museum branch focused on urban sculpture.
Founded in 1790, the estate belonged to Mark Poltoratsky, director of the imperial court chapel and the first Russian performer in Italian opera. The property endured various changes in purpose through the following centuries.
The estate connects to poet Alexander Pushkin through Anna Olenina, niece of the owner, who rejected his marriage proposal in 1828 while living there. This personal chapter shapes how visitors understand the place within Russian literary history.
The estate is open to visitors interested in architecture and art history, with exhibitions held regularly throughout the year. Plan your visit for warmer months when the surrounding grounds are fully visible and accessible.
The property transitioned through unusual phases, serving as an almshouse, orphanage, psychiatric clinic, and residential complex at different times. These varied uses reflect the shifting nature of Russian society across two centuries.
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