8: View of the Menshikov Palace and the Neva River embankments

		The Menshikov Palace Full size image
		View of St Isaac's Cathedral Full size image

The Menshikov Palace, situated on University Embankment of Vasilyevsky Island, was built for Alexander Menshikov, the first governor of St Petersburg and Peter the Great's close associate. The construction of the palace, the first large-scale stone edifice in the city, started in 1710 to the design of Giovanni Mario Fontana and was continued under the guidance of Johann Gottfried Schaedel (1712-21). The design and decor of the palace are characteristic of the early 18th century. The palace was the most luxurious building in St Petersburg during the age of Peter the Great and was then often used for official diplomatic receptions and assemblies. The site where the Menshikov Palace is located affords a majestic panoramic view of the Neva embankments.