Private Half Day Tour to Gatchina and the Gatchina Palace from St Petersburg

Enjoy a tour to Gatchina - small town, located in 50 kilometers from St. Petersburg. In 1783 Catherine II bought Gatchina Farmstead for Duke Paul Petrovich the future Emperor Paul I, now the Gatchina Palace. The Palace and Park ensemble of Gatchina was formed in the 18th and 19th century in the picturesque area of White, Black and Silver Lake.

The history of the Gatchina Palace consists of three periods. The first period is when in 1766 - 81 year A. Rinaldi began construction of the Palace for the favourite of Catherine II, Earl Orlov. The Palace consisted of a main building with three floors, galleries and office buildings. The Palace was designed in the style of early classicism. However, in the appearance of the Palace you can highlight the features of a medieval English Castle from ten faceted towers and the underground passage leading to the lake. In finishing the architect had used one of the varieties of Gatchina limestone, which is characterized by its richness of colour shades.