Historical and Memorial Museum 'Smolny'
About museum
In this building important historical events took place, and great people left their marks here. Today the Smolny Institute is a museum and exhibition hall.
The Smolny building was constructed in 1806–1808 to a design by the Italian architect Giacomo Quarenghi in the style of austere Russian classicism. In those years a privileged educational institution for girls was opened here – the Imperial Educational Society for Noble Maidens (Smolny Institute). For more than 100 years the walls of Smolny were a center of Russian education and culture. Important historical events took place here, and great people left their marks here. Today the Smolny Institute is a museum and exhibition hall where visitors can take a journey into the past and learn about the history and architecture of this remarkable building.