Mariinsky Palace

The Mariinsky Palace is a building near Saint Isaac's Square in Saint Petersburg, featuring a reddish-brown facade with Corinthian columns and Renaissance details that stand out against the cathedral across the way. Its structure combines elements from various European architectural traditions into a unified eclectic design.

Czar Nicholas I commissioned architect Andrei Stackenschneider to build the palace between 1839 and 1844 as a wedding gift for his daughter Maria. After the revolution, the building was repurposed for public administration, a role it continues to serve today.

The interior spaces blend architectural styles from different periods, creating a visual record of European design traditions that shaped 19th-century Russian taste. Walking through the halls, you notice how each room reflects the aesthetic preferences of its era.

The building currently functions as the home of the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg and is not open for public visits inside. You can view the exterior, photograph its facade, and appreciate its placement among the other historic structures surrounding the square.

The palace was the last imperial residence built in Saint Petersburg before the fall of the Russian Empire. This distinction makes it a symbolic landmark of the final era of Czarist rule in the city.

Location: Saint Petersburg

Inception: 1839

Architects: Andrei Stackenschneider

Official opening: 1844

Architectural style: eclectic architecture

Address: Исаакиевская площадь

Website: http://assembly.spb.ru

GPS coordinates: 59.93083,30.30944

Latest update: December 13, 2025 05:39