Friends, today we are in for a rather unusual walk: we will explore the modern interiors of the former building of the Mutual Credit Society of the St. Petersburg Uyezd Zemstvo, located in the very heart of St. Petersburg, on Italyanskaya Street.
History of the Building
The city's list of cultural heritage sites states that the current building at 8 Italyanskaya Street dates back to the first half of the 19th century. It acquired its present appearance in 1893–1894 when architect Alexander Sergeyevich Khrenov redesigned it. Khrenov built more than thirty structures in St. Petersburg.
As mentioned earlier, Khrenov reconstructed the building for the Mutual Credit Society of the St. Petersburg Uyezd Zemstvo. Such organizations provided loans to industrial, commercial, and other enterprises on a mutual basis. The first mutual credit society in Russia, the St. Petersburg Mutual Credit Society, was established in the 1860s. The Mutual Credit Society of the St. Petersburg Uyezd Zemstvo appeared in the following decade and was among the most successful and numerous organizations of its kind.
Online sources indicate that after the revolution, the building was used as a residential space, and later, it housed an office of a federal telecommunications operator. In March 2024, a five-star hotel, Cosmos Selection Saint-Petersburg Italyanskaya, opened within the historic structure. Travelers visiting the city can choose to stay here not only for its location but also to experience a building that is part of St. Petersburg’s cultural heritage.
The hotel features 23 rooms, with windows overlooking either the inner courtyard or Italyanskaya Street. The restoration work on the building took about three years. Cosmos Selection Saint-Petersburg Italyanskaya is a boutique hotel, a term used for small hotels offering high-end services to guests.
As we conclude our exploration of the building’s interiors, let’s take another look at its exterior. The late eclectic-style facade is quite striking: the walls are adorned with columns and pilasters with capitals. To me, this design evokes references to the Mikhailovsky Palace complex and the Ethnographic Museum—both architectural landmarks of the area.
Nearby Attractions
The building is located at 8 Italyanskaya Street, just a five-minute walk from the exits of Gostiny Dvor and Nevsky Prospekt metro stations. This area is rich in attractions, including the Fabergé Museum, the Shuvalov Palace, and the historic Eliseyev Emporium, all of which are easily accessible on foot.
Have a nice trip!
