the Smolny Monastery

The Smolny ensemble includes a number of structures put up at

different times. This territory on the Neva bank, opposite the

Nienschanz Fortress put up by the Swedes in the 17th century, was

allotted for the tar-yard (Smolyanoi dvor); tar was stored and

smelted there for the needs of the Admiralty.

The name of Smolny (tar) was henceforth used for the territory,

though the tar-works ceased to exist in the first half of the 18th

century.

The Smolny Cathedral was meant to become the main church of a

convent, but it had to be very special. Elisabeth, daughter of Peter

the Great was not allowed to rule the country, so she decided to

become a nun. It was decided to build a convent for her. But as soon

as her predecessor was overthrown during a coup, carried out by the

royal guards, she decided to forget the whole idea of a stern

monastic life and happily accepted the offer of the Russian throne.

The blue-and-white building of the Smolny Cathedral is one of the

most fabulous works of Rastrelli (the creator of the Winter Palace,

the Grand Catherine (Yekaterininsky) Palace in Pushkin, the Grand

Palace in Peterhof, and other major landmarks). The cathedral is the

centerpiece of the convent, built by Rastrelli in 1748-64. When

Elisabeth's reign came to a close, the funding for the convent had

quickly ran out. Thus Rastrelli was unable to build a huge bell-tower

that was planned and to finish the interior of the Cathedral. The

building was finished only in 1832-35.

Nowadays, the Smolny Cathedral is used mostly as a concert hall. The

chambers of the convent are used by some local government

institutions and offices.

oh, a very good scan! :))

Guillermo, it seems to me that hihglights are really overexposed, I find them quite disturbing. Can you get e better scan?