Anichkov Palace

Anichkov Palace a former imperial palace in Saint Petersburg, stands at the intersection of Nevsky Avenue and the Fontanka River. The palace, situated on the plot formerly owned by Antonio de Vieira, takes its name from the nearby Anichkov Bridge across the Fontanka. Designed for the Empress Elizabeth of Russia in a dazzling Baroque style, the palace came to be known as the most imposing private residence of the Elizabethan era. Some suggest architects Bartolomeo Rastrelli and Mikhail Zemtsov were responsible for the design, though it’s yet to be substantiated. The main frontage faces the river and was originally connected to it by a Canal.