In the heart of St. Petersburg, on Nevsky Prospect, stands the imposing Anichkov Palace. Many tourists have likely heard of it, partly thanks to the nearby Anichkov Bridge with its famous horse sculptures by Klodt. However, few know that a couple of times a week, fascinating tours are held inside the ceremonial halls of the palace.
First, let’s address a common mistake in the pronunciation of the palace’s name. The correct way to say it is "Aníchkov Bridge" and "Aníchkov Palace," with the stress on the second syllable. Both the bridge and the nearby palace owe their names to Mikhail Anichkov, whose battalion participated in the construction of the bridge, and later, the adjacent residence was named after him.
How to Get There by Metro
Reaching the palace by public transport is quite easy. The nearest metro station is Gostiny Dvor, and from there it’s about a 10-minute walk to the entrance of the Anichkov estate.
Tours of the palace are held according to a schedule posted on the official website. The cost of an adult ticket is 200 rubles (as of 2019). There’s no need to book in advance, you just need to check the visiting schedule and purchase a ticket at the box office.
Tour of Anichkov Palace
Like many other palaces, visitors are greeted by a majestic grand staircase. Currently (as of spring 2019), some parts of it are closed for restoration work. In fact, it’s worth noting that many of the palace's rooms have been recently restored, though some halls still retain their original interiors.
The palace has changed owners several times throughout its history. It was originally owned by the favorites of two empresses — Alexey Grigorievich Razumovsky and Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin. Later, the building passed into the hands of members of the imperial family. The interiors of the palace were designed by renowned masters such as Carlo Rossi and Bartolomeo Rastrelli.
However, the palace also features more modern interiors — in the 1930s, Palekh artists painted two former cloakrooms of the palace. The main themes of these interiors are works by Maxim Gorky and Alexander Pushkin. They are quite unusual and interesting, and they have never been restored, even surviving the difficult wartime period.
Before the war, after the revolution, the palace was nationalized and became the City Museum. On February 12, 1937, the Anichkov Palace opened its doors as the Young Pioneers' Palace, later becoming the Palace of Youth Creativity. Today, many children’s clubs operate here, offering a wide range of activities. Each year, up to 15,000 young residents of St. Petersburg join these clubs. Interestingly, this continues a long-standing tradition, as the palace was once home to the young future Emperor Alexander II, who received his home education here.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that Anichkov Palace is in a very convenient location. After the tour, you can stroll down the bustling Nevsky Prospect or escape the city’s hustle and visit nearby landmarks, such as the Tolstoy House.
In summary:
- Magnificent interiors with a variety of ceremonial halls;
- The tour is conducted by a knowledgeable and engaging guide;
- Restoration work is ongoing at the palace, and the ticket office can be a bit hard to find, so it’s best to arrive early.
