In the eastern part of Furshatskaya Street in Saint Petersburg stands a magnificent building with stunning interiors — the N. V. Spiridonov Mansion. This name is included in the list of cultural heritage sites of the Northern Capital, but many city residents know it better as the location of the Palace of Ceremonial Birth Registration "Malyutka," which has occupied the former luxurious mansion for many years. Let me take you on a virtual tour of its interiors.
How to Join a Tour
I had the opportunity to explore the mansion's interiors through the "Open City" project. With the guidance of "Open City" tour leaders, you can visit private mansions, palaces, and public buildings that are usually closed to the public. All project events are free, and you can register on the official website.
If you're only interested in seeing the building’s facade, its address is Furshatskaya 58. The nearest metro station is Chernyshevskaya.
A Bit of History
The opulent stone mansion was built in 1895–1896 on the site of wooden structures previously located on the plot. Remarkably, three prominent architects contributed to the building's creation — Alexander Nikanorovich Pomerantsev, Vasily Fyodorovich Svinin, and Hieronymus Sevastianovich Kitner.
The initial design of the mansion was commissioned from Pomerantsev. The architect was responsible for numerous buildings in Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Chelyabinsk, and Nizhny Novgorod, with some of his works also found abroad. Among his most notable works in Saint Petersburg are this mansion and the Synodal School Council building and school with the Church of Saint Alexander Nevsky on Pravda Street. Pomerantsev is also famous for designing the Moscow GUM.
Architect Svinin handled the interior decoration of the Furshatskaya mansion. Although his list of works in Saint Petersburg is relatively short, the buildings he created are widely recognized. At the turn of the 20th century, he renovated the Mikhailovsky Palace to house the Russian Museum and constructed the adjacent building of the Museum of Ethnography. Another master, academic architect Hieronymus Kitner, designed the Winter Garden inside the Spiridonov Mansion.
As for the mansion’s first owner, Actual State Councillor N. V. Spiridonov, the guide mentioned that one of his main sources of income, which allowed him to afford such a luxurious home, was a gold mine. After Spiridonov passed away, the building gained a new owner.
During the Soviet era, the mansion housed a children’s home, followed by a dental institute. Since the 1960s, it has served as the Palace of Ceremonial Birth Registration "Malyutka."
A tour of the lavish mansion lasts about an hour. After such a journey, you can continue exploring other buildings in the Liteyny district of the city. Among the most famous and popular is the Kelkh Mansion.
Have a nice trip!
