Vorontsov Palace catholic chapel. Vorontsov Palace. Description of the park surrounding the Vorontsov Palace

Address: Russia, Republic of Crimea, Alupka, sh. Palace, 18
Date of construction: 1840
Architect: Furasov P.I.
Coordinates: 57°19"07.5"N 43°06"40.4"E

Short story

The chic palace, named Vorontsov in honor of Count Vorontsov M.S., is a unique building that has become the epitome of the era of Romanticism. It is located on the Crimean peninsula in the city of Alupka.

The beginning of its construction dates back to 1828, when Governor-General Vorontsov, responsible for the Novorossiysk Territory, chose the site for the future main building and drove pegs on it. However, the palace did not appear quickly - it took 20 years to build it.

Initially, the project of the future Vorontsov Palace was developed in the style of strict classics, and a famous Italian architect named Francesco Boffo and his colleague from England, Thomas Harrison, worked on it.

1829 was the beginning of the implementation of their joint project, and as all the preparatory work was completed, the foundation was immediately laid and the first masonry was made. However, an unpleasant surprise soon happened - in the midst of the preparation of working drawings, the architect Harrison died.

In order for the construction to go on as usual, Boffo needed a new partner. It was Edward Blore, a young architect working in the romantic direction of English architecture.

Stone staircase with white marble sculptures of lions

Why did Count Vorontsov choose him and decide to make changes to the project of the future palace in the Crimean Alupka? The fact is that in those years he was in England, and he was impressed by the local architecture and new fashion trends for the construction of buildings. Therefore, the count revised the already developed project and entrusted the new architect to adjust it so that the result of the work was a real castle, combining the rigor of English architecture and the luxury inherent in Indian palaces.

And since 1832, construction work on the construction of the Vorontsov Palace in the Crimea has already been carried out according to an updated project, but without distorting the previously completed stages. The execution of all work was entrusted to the best craftsmen - masons, sculptors, stone and wood carvers, artists, furniture makers and other workers, who approached the orders entrusted to them with all responsibility. As a result, the construction of the palace cost Vorontsov 9 million rubles..

Left to right: front dining room, winter garden

The layout of the Vorontsov Palace

The entire palace complex, commissioned by Vorontsov, is represented by several solid buildings, designated as:

• central;
• canteen;
• guest;
• library;
• economic.

The building, intended for receiving guests, was later called Shuvalovsky, since on its right side was the room of Vorontsov's daughter, who after marriage became Countess Shuvalova.

North facade of the main building

Oddly enough, the construction of the palace began with the construction of a dining building, and this work took 4 years (from 1830 to 1834). The construction of the central building took 6 years - 1831 - 1837. From 1841 to 1842, work was underway on the construction of a billiard room, which supplemented the dining room building. It also took a lot of time to build the guest building, all the towers, outbuildings, outbuildings and the decoration of the Front Courtyard (these were 1838-1844). And finally, the library building, built from 1842 to 1846, joined the palace complex.

The sculptures of lions, the production of which was entrusted to the Italian master Giovanni Bonnani, became the decoration of the central staircase. And the whole luxurious palace ensemble ended with a lion's terrace, that is, with many figures of lions.

Right - Clock Tower

Features of the architecture of the Vorontsov Palace

The Vorontsov Palace, which in the middle of the 19th century became the decoration of Alupka in the Crimea, was a kind of innovation that violated some architectural and construction principles. In those days, it was customary to arrange the buildings of palace ensembles in a strict geometric grouping, however, the architect Blor deviated from this rule and distributed all the structures that make up the Vorontsov Palace on the ground so that they stood in the direction from west to east, as if in accordance with with the movement of the mountains. This approach allowed all the buildings to harmoniously fit into the local landscape - the Vorontsov Palace Complex found its place in the Crimean expanses.

Moving from building to building, one can clearly trace the stages of development of medieval architecture, starting from its earliest forms and ending with the traditions of the 16th century.

Shuvalov Corps

However, the emphasis in the development of projects for all structures was nevertheless placed on the English style. Why is the Vorontsov Castle in Crimea so attractive? Its peculiarity is its appearance, reminiscent of a castle-fortress from the ancient VIII - XI centuries.. When you get to the courtyard of the utility buildings, you involuntarily stumble upon blank walls and find yourself in closed spaces, and when you try to get to the central building, you find yourself surrounded by round watchtowers. Further, the general impression of impregnability is complemented by narrow loophole windows and high walls of rough masonry. But suddenly an openwork suspension bridge made of cast iron appears and brings a festive touch to this harsh composition. And so, as you move away from the arch of the western entrance, signs of architecture of the following eras become more and more apparent.

West entrance towers

Having crossed the openwork bridge and getting rid of the feeling of isolation, you can find yourself in the Front Courtyard, from which you can see Mount Ai-Petri. But this is not just a view - it is a kind of picture, because the landscape is, as it were, limited by an architectural frame, represented by a clock tower, an eastern wing and a retaining wall with a fountain.

The architecture of the main building of the Vorontsov Palace in Crimea is also interesting. Its walls are pushed out of the plane at different levels, as required by the English Tudor style. The central part is decorated with the main entrance and is decorated with projections of bay windows and side projections. The roofs of the towers are onion domes. The northern facade of the building is decorated with narrow semi-columns-polyhedrons, the crowns of which are pinnacles (decorative tops).

Chapel

Graceful pinnacles and battlements, domes and chimneys, decorated with flower-shaped tops, smooth out the roughness of the stone texture of the walls and their massive luggage.

Considering the carved stone decorations that decorate the Vorontsov Palace, it is worth noting their pronounced similarity with some elements of Western and Eastern architecture. Thus, real connoisseurs of architecture immediately notice the Gothic chimneys and minarets of the mosque, and it is this compatible incompatibility that makes the palace complex special. This similarity is especially sharply felt as you move to the southern facade of the building, called the main one. In the rays of the sun, its outlines seem unusual, bizarre.

From left to right: front dining room, winter garden, main building

But the main motive for the design of the palace are the arches of the most diverse forms - they are gentle, and keeled, and horseshoe-shaped, and lancet. And you can see them everywhere, from the balustrade of the balconies to the decoration of the portal of the southern entrance to the Vorontsov Palace. In addition, the architectural ensemble, erected by order of the Governor General, has its own “zest” - these are 6 identical lines in Arabic, indicating that only Allah is the winner. You can see the inscription in a niche decorated with a Tudor flower and an Indian lotus.

Description of the park surrounding the Vorontsov Palace

During the construction of the palace, work was also carried out on laying the adjacent park. But if the construction of the Vorontsov Palace took two decades, then work on the creation of the park does not stop to this day. On an area of ​​40 hectares, a wide variety of plants brought from all over the world harmoniously coexist.

Shuvalovsky passage overlooking the openwork bridge

In general, the palace park is divided into Upper and Lower. The upper park is decorated with several glades - Chestnut, Contrasting, Solnechnaya. And each of them is remarkable for its trees (Italian pine, oriental plane tree, yew berry, Himalayan cedar, Chilean araucaria, or monkey tree, etc.). In addition, on the territory of the Upper Park there is Swan Lake, where these beautiful birds really live, the Upper and Mirror Lakes and a waterfall.

In the Lower Park, surrounded by the most beautiful and rare representatives of the flora, there is a small tea house, which the Vorontsov family once used to celebrate holidays on the seashore. Then this place was often illuminated by fireworks and fireworks.

Shuvalovsky passage overlooking the western gate

Being here, you can really feel the atmosphere of the holiday, because it was not without reason that the architect chose a place to build a house here. Surrounded by many unique plants, it creates the feeling of being in a fairy tale, since the entire territory of the Lower Park is conducive to creating an enchanting mood. And the lower part of the Vorontsovsky Park in Crimea is decorated in the Italian style of a regular park.

Use of the Vorontsov Palace complex in different years

Since 1990, the Vorontsov Palace in Alupka has become a palace and park museum-reserve. Several interesting expositions are located in nine main halls. Thanks to their content, everyone can get acquainted with the way of life of the count family, who lived in the palace before the October Revolution, and the character of the interiors of the palace.

Exit from the yard

But in 1990, the opening of the Vorontsov Palace as a museum was secondary - for the first time its building was used as a museum in 1921.

But with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War in 1941, valuable museum exhibits could not be saved, and the building itself was repeatedly threatened with destruction. However, thanks to the efforts of one of the employees of the museum Shchekoldin S.G. The Vorontsov Palace Museum still survived. Of course, many art treasures were lost during the war years, but after it ended, some paintings were still found and returned to the museum.

And we continue the Golden Fleece 2017 quiz, and now we have a question - The architectural complex of this palace includes a Catholic chapel.

Answer options:

A) Stroganov
B) Tauride
C) Vorontsovsky
D) Anichkov

The correct answer to the question is C) Vorontsovsky

The Catholic chapel is part of the complex of the Vorontsov Palace in St. Petersburg. Built according to the project of the famous Rastrelli, it is distinguished by its exquisite architecture.

The Vorontsov Palace went to the treasury for debts in the second half of the 18th century. Paul, having taken patronage over the Order of Malta, handed it over to the knights. The Order included both Catholics and Orthodox. A separate Catholic Chapel was built for Catholics. For the Orthodox knights, the house church served as a Temple. And the Maltese Cross as a symbol of the Order.
Although in fact, the types of the cross is already a human fantasy. Orthodox, Catholic, Maltese - not the point. Christians worship not the form of the Cross, and not even the Cross itself, but the power of Christ crucified on the cross.

The Vorontsov Palace is a palace in the central part of St. Petersburg, located on Sadovaya Street opposite Gostiny Dvor. It was built by the architect Count Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli in 1749-1757 for Chancellor Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov. The palace is distinguished by rich, elegant decoration of facades and lavish interior decoration. There are more than 50 ceremonial halls and rooms in the palace. The palace is decorated with stucco, gilded carvings and other elements typical of the Baroque style.

The Vorontsov Palace is the main building on the estate of Count Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov, a nobleman, state chancellor, participant in the palace coup of 1741, which brought Empress Elizaveta Petrovna to power.

The construction of the palace was carried out according to the project of the court architect Elizabeth Petrovna - Federico Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the period from 1749 to 1757.

The estate occupied a vast territory between Sadovaya Street and the Fontanka River. Violating the traditions of urban estate building, Rastrelli placed the palace not by the river, but closer to Sadovaya, separating the building from it with a fence of artistic work.

The border of the vast courtyard-garden, spread out behind the fence, is formed by the main building of the palace and its side wings. Such a layout with the letter "P" has long been called "peace" in Russia.

The main three-story building with a quadrangular courtyard is located in the depths of the estate. Two symmetrical two-story outbuildings are brought forward and placed along the red line of the street. The central part of the main facade is decorated with double columns and pilasters, the windows are decorated with decorative architraves.

The palace was built in the opulent and ornate Baroque style. As you know, Rastrelli was a master of this style, which reached its peak in Russian architecture during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna. This is evidenced by such names of this style of the middle of the 18th century as "Rastrelli baroque" and "Elizabeth baroque".

Behind the main building, a regular garden was laid out, stretching to the Fontanka, with numerous pools, fountains, alleys of trimmed trees, and other "futures".

Above the one-story building overlooking the park, an open terrace overlooking the river was arranged. From here there was a beautiful view of the fireworks set in the Anichkov Garden. The interiors, decorated in the same way in the traditions of the Baroque, were also distinguished by luxury. Fifty ceremonial halls were located on the enfilade principle along the main facade and in the side buildings. In the central part of the Vorontsov Palace there was a large double-height hall, in another spacious hall there was the Vorontsov library, then one of the best in St. Petersburg.

In 1763, M. I. Vorontsov was forced to cede the palace to the treasury on account of debts for 217,600 rubles, since the construction required huge investments.

After the accession to the throne of Emperor Paul I in the late 1790s, the palace was transferred to the Order of Malta, and the chapter of Russian orders was also located here. The former Vorontsov Palace was ordered to be called the "Castle of the Knights of Malta". Above the lattice gates of the palace, the order coat of arms was strengthened: on a red background, a white Maltese cross with four bifurcated rays.

Two churches were built on the estate - an Orthodox church and a Catholic chapel of the Order of the Knights of Malta (architect Giacomo Quarenghi).

Later, the Corps of Pages was located in the palace. For the needs of this educational institution, which was located in the palace from 1810 to 1918, in 1827 the premises were rebuilt according to the project of the architect Alexander Yegorovich Shtaubert; at the same time, the former baroque interior decoration was lost.

Today, organ music concerts are held in the Maltese Chapel. The decoration of the interiors of the chapel is well preserved - the colonnade of the Corinthian order, painting, stucco decoration of the walls, lined with artificial marble. The restoration of the chapel was carried out in 1927 by the architect N. P. Nikitin.

After the revolution, the First Petrograd Infantry School of the Red Army Command Staff was located here, on the basis of which in 1937 the Leningrad Infantry School named after. S. M. Kirov. In 1958, the building was completely given to the Suvorov Military School.

The Vorontsov Palace is one of the main attractions of St. Petersburg. The palace is located on the territory of the estate belonging to Count Vorontsov Mikhail Illarionovich. The palace coup of 1741 (in which Vorontsov took an active part) elevates Empress Elizabeth to the Russian throne. Elizaveta Petrovna did not fail to thank Mikhail Illarionovich for his services, conferring on him the rank of general.

The design and construction of the palace was carried out by F.B. Rastrelli - Russian architect, Italian by birth. The estate is located between the Fontanka and Sadovaya Streets in a southwestern direction and occupies a significant area. The facade of the palace is separated from the street by a fence, which is an example of artistic casting. Behind the fence lies a vast palace with the main building and symmetrical two-story outbuildings placed forward. In the depths of the courtyard is a three-story main building, away from the noise of the city. To decorate the main facade, Rastrelli uses double rusticated columns, above which there is a balcony. The arched windows on the ground floor are framed with decorative architraves. The main hall is located on the second floor.

The impression of the solemnity and splendor of the palace, inherent in the Baroque style, is created at the first moment, as soon as one enters the estate. According to contemporaries, the interior of fifty ceremonial halls located along the main facade was distinguished by dazzling luxury. Unfortunately, the interior of the buildings has not survived to this day. The garden, which was located behind the main building, was decorated with numerous fountains, well-groomed alleys, pools and other "whims". In the garden, which stretched to the Fontanka, one could watch fireworks, which certainly accompanied the festivities in the Anichkov Garden.

In 1817, according to the project of Carl Rossi, the garden was shortened. An open terrace, located above the one-story building, opened a beautiful view of the river. In the central part of the palace there was a large double-height hall. One of the halls housed the library of M.I. Vorontsova, rightfully considered the best in St. Petersburg. The construction of the palace required no small investment. And the holding of regular balls and receptions led to the fact that the financial situation of M.I. Vorontsov no longer allowed to spend money on its maintenance.

In 1763 the palace was transferred to the treasury for debts. During the reign of Paul I, the palace was renamed the castle of the Knights of Malta and was transferred to the Order of Malta. This is due to the fact that in 1798 Emperor Paul was elected Master of the Order of Malta, and the former Vorontsov Palace became his residence. The coat of arms of the order - a white Maltese cross - was installed above the gate. According to the project of D. Quarenghi, in 1798, the construction of the Catholic chapel of the Order began, in which meetings of the Order of the Knights of Malta were held. An Orthodox church was built in the left wing.

Under Alexander I, the estate with all its property was transferred to the disposal of the state, and soon it housed the Corps of Pages. The Corps of Pages trained guard officers, and the bedrooms of the cadets were located on the second floor.

The October Revolution led to the closure of the Corps of Pages. In the early 1920s, military educational institutions were located on the territory of the Vorontsov Palace. In 1928, some of the items were given to the museums of Leningrad. Since 1958, the building has been given to the Suvorov Military School.

In 2003, in honor of the anniversary of St. Petersburg, the interior of the Maltese Chapel was restored. Today, excursions, organ music evenings are held in the chapel, a museum on the history of the Kadets has been opened.

Petersburg owes its connection with the Order of Malta to Emperor Paul I, who in 1798 accepted the title of Master - the highest religious rank of this knightly union. Thanks to him, a Maltese cross appeared on the Russian coat of arms for a while, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem appeared among state awards, and the emperor planned to make Malta a Russian province. But these plans were not destined to come true due to the tragic death of Paul I.

Meanwhile, ties with the Order of Malta were not completely severed: Alexander Suvorov, Alexander II, Alexander III and Nicholas II were members of it. The passion of warriors and monarchs for this religious movement was reflected in urban planning, and today in St. Petersburg you can find places associated with Maltese symbols.

The most striking of them, of course, remains the Maltese Chapel, solemnly opened on April 29, 1800. SPB.AIF.RU tells about it and four other "Maltese" sights of the Northern capital.

maltese chapel

Sadovaya street, 26

The Maltese Chapel was designed by the architect Giacomo Quarenghi and was originally conceived by Paul I as a Catholic church of the Order of the Knights of Malta. It is part of the Vorontsov Palace, which today houses the Suvorov School. The palace, which Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli created in the 18th century for Count Vorontsov, changed many owners, and as a result, Paul I, with the adoption of the title of protector, and then the Grand Master of the Order, gave the Vorontsov Palace to the Knights of Malta.

Maltese Chapel by Giacomo Quarenghi. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Continuing the ensemble created by Rastrelli, Quarenghi built a chapel in the spirit of the Renaissance. The temple has the shape of a rectangle with a barrel vault. Two rows of artificial marble columns divide the interior of the chapel into three naves. Behind the marble altar is an altarpiece by the artist A.I. Charlemagne "John the Baptist" (the holy prophet and forerunner of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist is the heavenly intercessor and patron of the Order of Malta). To the right of the altar, under a canopy, stood the crimson velvet chair of the grand master (grand master) of the order.

The chapel was consecrated in June 1800, and a year later Paul I was assassinated in the Engineering Castle. His successor Alexander I refused the title of Grand Master of the order, but retained the title of his protector. The Maltese cross was removed from the Russian state emblem. In 1803, Alexander I resigned the title of protector, and in 1817 it was announced that "the order no longer exists in the Russian Empire."

For a while, the chapel acted like an ordinary Catholic church. In the middle of the 19th century, a chapel was added to it, where the ashes of the former trustee Duke Maximilian of Leuchtenberg rested.

In 1928, the building of the Maltese Chapel was transferred to the club for the Infantry School. Sklyansky, then the Leningrad Twice Red Banner Military School. CM. Kirov, and since 1955 it has belonged to the Suvorov Military School. The interior of the Maltese Chapel was restored for the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg.

Mikhailovsky Castle

Sadovaya street, 2

The Mikhailovsky Castle, or the Engineer's Castle, is an example of the extravagant preferences of Paul I. The palace became the emperor's last home and place of death; the autocrat's dreams of a "knight's stronghold" were embodied in it.

Mikhailovsky Castle - the dream and death of Paul I. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Aleks G

The palace, which Pavel stubbornly called the "castle" (in fact, he even called the Winter Palace that), was unusual for St. Petersburg in its architectural design. It was erected in extreme haste according to the project of Vincenzo Brenna and completed by the time the emperor agreed to accept the title of Grand Master of the Order. It was planned that meetings and solemn ceremonies of the Maltese cavaliers would be held here. Therefore, the image of the Maltese cross is so often repeated in the interiors.

On the central wall of the Main Staircase, a bronze coat of arms of the Russian Empire was installed in the version approved under Paul - with a cross. The coat of arms is the only Maltese relic in the castle that has survived to the present day.

One of the controversial issues in the history of the castle is its mysterious reddish color. There is a beautiful legend that the walls were painted in the color of a glove that Anna Gagarina, the favorite of the emperor, dropped at the ball. The second version says that brick red is the traditional color for the Order of Malta.

Today, the interiors of the Engineering Castle house a branch of the Russian Museum.

Cathedral of the Savior Not Made by Hands in the Winter Palace

Palace embankment, 32

The Cathedral of the Savior Not Made by Hands (or the Great Church of the Winter Palace) was founded in 1753 as an Orthodox palace church. Francesco-Bartolomeo Rastrelli executed it in the Rococo style. For many years it was the house temple of the imperial family.

This is how the cathedral looked from the inside until 1917. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Three ancient relics of the Hospitallers were brought here in December 1799: a particle of the wood of the Cross of the Lord, the Philermo Icon of the Mother of God and the right hand of St. John the Baptist, handed over to Paul I in October in Gatchina. In memory of this event, in 1800, the Holy Synod established a holiday on October 12 (25) in honor of “the transfer from Malta to Gatchina of a part of the tree of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, the Philermo Icon of the Mother of God and the right hand of St. John the Baptist.” Today, the right hand of John the Baptist is kept in a monastery in the Montenegrin city of Cetinje.

Since 1918, the cathedral has been one of the halls of the Hermitage Museum used for exhibitions.

Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist

Kamennoostrovsky prospect, 83

The Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, or St. John's Church, was built in 1778 according to the project of Yuri Felten at the disabled home of the sailors of the Baltic Fleet. This pseudo-Gothic building can be mistaken for a Catholic church from a distance due to the architecture uncharacteristic for Orthodox churches: red brick walls with a pointed gray dome. Lancet barred windows, a narrow canopy over the entrance, and a wooden iconostasis remind of Gothic.

Behind the church, a Maltese cemetery operated for some time. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / IKit

During the time of Paul I, the church was transferred to the Order of Malta, and a cemetery of the Maltese cavaliers was arranged near it. The churchyard was closed after the accession of Alexander I to the imperial throne. In 1807, the remains of the gentlemen were transferred to the Smolensk cemetery. After the construction of the Kamennoostrovsky Palace, the church was transferred to him. Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin baptized two of his children here.

The church was closed on March 15, 1938, and various organizations were housed in its devastated interiors. It was returned to the parish in 1989, and in November 1990 services resumed there. Today the temple belongs to the St. Petersburg diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, is part of the Petrograd deanery district.

Palace of Cantemir

Millionnaya street, 7

An outstanding Italian diplomat Julius Litta, a Maltese cavalier and the youngest general in the history of Russia, lived in St. Petersburg on Millionnaya Street for more than 40 years - he was promoted to the rank at the age of 26. Such attention to the Italian was explained by the desire of Catherine II to strengthen ties with the Order of Malta.

Litta appeared in St. Petersburg, first as an experienced naval officer, and then as an envoy of the Order of Malta to the Russian court. By the way, it was he who brought Leonardo da Vinci's "Madonna" to Russia, which flaunts today in the Hermitage under the conditional name "Madonna Litta".

The house where Litta lived has three addresses at the same time. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Helvin spb

The house behind the Marble Palace has three addresses at once: Millionnaya Street No. 7, Marble Lane No. 1 and Palace Embankment No. 8. In 1715, at the behest of the Moldavian aristocrat Dmitry Cantemir, Francesco-Bartolomeo Rastrelli built a baroque palace on this site. In 1743, the Church of the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates was built on the top floor. Later, Count Alexei Bestuzhev-Ryumin, Count Vladimir Orlov, Count Pavel Skavronsky lived here. The widow of Skavronsky Ekaterina Vasilievna married Litt, who settled with her in the palace. For them, the architect Luigi Rusca rebuilt one of the buildings of the palace in the classicist style. After the death of Julius Litta, the mansion came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, and now it is occupied by the Maritime Register of the Russian Federation and the Institute of Culture.