Smolny Cathedral in Saint Petersburg is one of the most spectacular cathedrals in the city built in Rococo style. The designer of this majestic edifice was Bartolomeo Rastrelli, an Italian architect. The cathedral was the chief attention of the convent, which was built for Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great.
Purpose of Building the Smolny Cathedral
Smolny Cathedral in Saint Petersburg was built with the intention of housing Elizabeth, who had then decided to be a nun. The church was to become an important part of the entire monastery surrounding it. The decision of Elizabeth to lead a monastic life was taken when her right to inherit the throne was dismissed. However, she was later accepted back as the Czarina of the Russian throne and the plan of leading monastic life was dismissed altogether.
Smolny Cathedral- An Architectural Overview
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The décor of the Smolny Cathedral is done up in blue and white hues. It was built between the years, 1748 to 1764. The final developments were resumed between 1832 and 1835. Bartolomeo Rastrelli was the designer of the Smolny Cathedral and its surrounding areas. Bartolomeo Rastrelli was the architect of the Winter Palace, the Grand Palace and Grand Catherine Palace, to name a few spectacular landmarks. Some fifty thousand wooden piles were used to develop the base of the cathedral.
There was a plan to build a bell tower in the Smolny Cathedral but this plan was never executed. The power of ruling the Russian throne passed on to Catherine the Great.
The Smolny Cathedral portrays the rich artistic creativity and imaginative skills of the local craftsmen who had built the magnificent edifice.
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