The Shuvalovsky Palace was built in the very center of St. Petersburg. It adorns the embankment of the Fontanka River. It is believed that the construction of the palace was completed at the end of the eighteenth century, and its author is the famous architect of that time - J. Quarenghi.
The history of the famous building
The Shuvalov Palace was originally owned by the Vorontsov family. In 1799, it was bought out by the wife of clerk master Naryshkin - Maria Antonovna. By decision of the new owners, the building was expanded. The front rooms for the museum, art gallery and ballroom were attached to it.
In the early decades of the nineteenth century, the Ballroom, which was also called the Alexander, Dance, and Belokolonnaya, was especially popular with the high society of St. Petersburg. The balls held in the palace were attended by Pushkin and Vyazemsky, Krylov and Derzhavin. Emperor Alexander I was considered a personal guest of Maria Antonovna
In 1834, the Naryshkins left St. Petersburg. From that time on, their relatives began to own the house that towered on the Fontanka. In 1846, Peter Pavlovich Shuvalov became the new owner of the palace. The house was a dowry of Sofia Lvovna Naryshkina, whom he married. And from this period the palace began to be called Shuvalovsky.
Since the mid-forties of the nineteenth century, the reconstruction of the house began. Bernard de Simon was invited to become the author of the project. Architect N.E. Efimov connected separate buildings, the facade was transformed. The appearance of the palace began to correspond to the style of the Italian Renaissance.
The Shuvalovs office was located on the ground floor. In these premises, management of enterprises and family estates was organized. The previous through passage from the side of the Fontanka was favorably replaced by the front lobby, decorated with a marble staircase. In the period from 1844 to 1846, magnificent living rooms were created. Among them are Blue, Gold, White and Blue. In addition, the Shuvalovsky Palace acquired the Gothic and the Great Cabinets, as well as the Knight's Hall.
Soviet period
After the 1917 revolution, the Shuvalovsky Palace came under nationalization. In 1919, the Museum of Life was organized in the building. It housed expositions of Western European painting, a collection of carved bones, glass, porcelain, etc. After six years of existence, it was closed. All exhibits of this museum, as well as objects of applied art and paintings by the Shuvalov Palace, were transferred to the Hermitage and the Russian Museum.
Since this period, the House on the Fontanka housed the House of Engineering and Technical Workers named after Molotov, Printing House, as well as design organization.
During the war with the German occupiers, the building on the Fontanka was badly damaged. For example, the Alexander Hall was completely destroyed. A high-explosive bomb hit him.
At the end of the war, restoration work began in the Shuvalov Palace. In 1965, the House of Peace and Friendship with the Peoples of Foreign Countries was opened in the building. Numerous delegations from all over the world gathered in the restored palace. Their visits allowed us to strengthen cultural and international ties between our peoples.
Present day
The Shuvalov Palace currently houses a government agency. It is called the St. Petersburg Center for International Cooperation. This organization in many aspects is a continuation of the traditions of those people who once owned the Shuvalovsky Palace. Exhibitions, charity concerts, presentations and international symposiums are held here constantly.
In addition, the Center for International Cooperation provides beautiful comfortable halls of the palace for hosting a variety of events. At the service of all comers - the organization of business meetings and congresses, conferences and concerts, banquets and competitions, weddings and anniversaries.
To carry out all these events, customers are provided with the necessary demonstration, lighting and sound equipment. In addition, a full complex is possible to serve congressional business tourism in St. Petersburg. At the same time, the Center for International Cooperation can provide eight rooms of the palace, the total area of which is 1250 square meters, as well as magnificent halls. Guests can take advantage of simultaneous translation, fax and telephone services, as well as services for copying and printing the necessary materials.
Excursions
The Center for International Cooperation invites everyone who wants to communicate to visit the Shuvalovsky Palace, appreciates every opportunity given to him to receive new information, and also loves the feeling of a holiday and the solemn atmosphere. Guided tours are offered in the halls of this magnificent building. Moreover, each visitor can always get advice on the composition that interests him.
Outside, you can visit the Shuvalov Palace around the clock. Opening hours for visitors are from ten to eighteen.
Significant event
At the end of 2013, the Faberge Museum was opened in the Northern capital. In the Shuvalov Palace, where it is located, visitors can see a wonderful collection of valuable pieces of jewelry made during the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
History of Jewelry
Before, almost all exhibits made by the masters of Carl Faberge, which are presented at the exhibition, were in a private collection. Its owner was the media magnate Malcolm Forbes. He collected this collection for almost half a century.
In early 2004, a sale of valuable items was announced. Collections threatened crushing. However, the auction was unexpectedly canceled. All items were purchased by Viktor Vekselberg, the founder of the Connection of Times Foundation.
Museum exhibits
Guests of the Northern capital who are interested in the cultural heritage of Russia should definitely visit the Faberge Museum. In the Shuvalovsky Palace, where it is located, you can see the famous imperial Easter eggs. This is the basis of the exposure.
Faberge exhibition in the Shuvalovsky Palace is the largest collection in the world, created from the works of the company of the great jeweler. The exhibit list contains nine Easter eggs. In addition, the museum’s collection contains a collection of other unique items that were created by Russian masters.