Universitetskaya Naberezhnaya 7
Bus: 7, 47, K- 47, K- 128, K- 129, K- 147
Trolley: 1, 10
Closed: to public
Building of Twelve Colleges was constructed in 1723- 43 under supervision of Italian architect Domenico Trezzini. This beautiful red and white stuccoed brisk structure measure 400 m (1300 feet) in length. Its single uninterrupted facade was intended to show unity of 12 colleges of ministries of the government that worked together as one organism.
In 1819 part of the buildings was bought by Saint Petersburg University. It was considered one of the best universities in the country and throughout Europe. Its graduated included Vladimir Lenin, revolutionary and a founder of Soviet Union. Other famous included professor Dmitriy Mendeleev (1834- 1907) founder of periodic table of elements and father of a Russian Vodka. As far as we know there was no connection between two discoveries, but who are we kidding.
Other notable professor included physiologist Ivan Pavlov (1849- 1936) famous for his experiments with dogs and reflexes.
12 colleges
12 collegiums are 12 associations representing a
transitional form from Moscow orders to modern ministries. In
particular, among them were the “Collegium of Foreign Affairs”,
“Manufactory Collegium”, “Military Collegium”, “Admiralty Collegium”,
“Justice Collegium”, “Commercial Collegium”, “Berg Collegium”, “State
Office Collegium”, “Chamber Collegium”, “Revision Collegium”, “Vectoral
Collegium”, “Chief Magistrate”.
The construction of the building of the Twelve Collegia began in 1722
as part of the plan of Emperor Peter I to create an administrative
quarter on Vasilyevsky Island. It was supposed that the Senate, the
Synod and collegiums would be located here.
Initially,
construction was carried out under the leadership of Domenico Trezzini
and Theodor Schwertfeger, and completed by Giuseppe Trezzini and Mikhail
Zemtsov. The first meeting of the boards in the new building took place
in 1732. The main building was completed by the mid-1730s. In 1737-1741,
a two-story gallery was added to the west side of the building.
In 1804, the Pedagogical Institute was located in the building, and in
1835 the building was transferred to St. Petersburg University. For this
purpose, the college complex was reequipped under the leadership of
Apollon Shchedrin.
Petrovsky hall
The interiors of the
buildings of the Twelve Colleges were rebuilt and renovated many times.
The initial decoration was preserved only by a square in plan,
two-height hall called Petrovsky (formerly Senate) - a masterpiece of
architecture during the reign of Empress Anna Ioannovna.
The
decoration of the hall was made in 1735-1736 under the direction of M.
G. Zemtsov by the Tessin sculptors-decorators, the brothers Giovanni
(Ivan) and Ignazio Lodovico (Ignatius) Rossi. This decoration
foreshadows the rocaille of the Elizabethan period (later I. Rossi
worked under the direction of F. B. Rastrelli in Tsarskoye Selo). The
picturesque plafond was painted by A. M. Matveev “with a picturesque
team” of the Chancellery from the buildings, the authors of the wall
panels: Matveev and G. S. Musikisky. In the interior, corner stoves
decorated with volutes and stucco desudéportes with the monograms "P"
and "A" (the initial letters of the names of Peter I and Anna Ioannovna)
have been preserved.
The Petrovsky Hall was subjected to repair
work and "renovations" in 1748-1749, 1836-1837 and 1903-1904. After the
removal of records and washing of the plafond, carried out in 1966 under
the direction of M. G. Kolotov, the original paintings of Matveev and
Musikisky were discovered. Nowadays, the most solemn events, conferences
and meetings of St. Petersburg University are held in the Petrovsky
Hall.
Modernity
In post-Soviet times, the building of the
Twelve Colleges is considered the main building of St. Petersburg
University. Until now, some faculties of this educational institution
are located there. It also houses the university's scientific library
and some administrative services.
In the building of the Twelve
Collegia, certain scenes of Georgy Danelia's film "Autumn Marathon"
(1979) were filmed.