Throughout its 250-year history, the Mariyinsky Palace experienced blossoming, landscaping, desolation, reconstruction, forgetfulness and fame.

There is only one edifice in Kyiv which can answer a classical description of a palace: «a very large, richly decorated house, especially one which is, or used to be, the home of a royalty or president» (Collins Dictionary) and which dates to the «time of wide proliferation of palaces», that is, to the 18th century. The palace is called Mariyinsky. It is situated in an old part of town, called Pechersk, on top of a hill overlooking the mighty Dnipro River, surrounded by parks.

In 1744 the Russian Empress Elizabeth ordered a palace built in Kyiv at a picturesque place on the hilly bank of the Dnipro River. She wanted the palace to be a close replica of Count Rozumovsky's palace at his estate of Perov not far from Moscow. Count Rozumovsky was her favourite then and his palace had been designed by B. Rastrelli, the most famous architect of the time. One of the disciples of Rastrelli, I. Michurin, was commissioned to take on the construction of the new palace in Kyiv. He, in his turn, engaged a number of other architects to help him.

The construction was completed in 1752 but the Empress Elizabeth, Peter the Great's daughter, did not live long enough to see it. The first royalty to live in the palace was Catherine II the Great (Empress, 1762-1796) who on her visit to Kyiv in 1787 stayed in it for three months. Much of the Empress' time in Kyiv was spent at magnificent balls, banquets and receptions. Later the Empress made the following entry in her diary: «Kyiv is a romantic and beautiful place.»

In anticipation of Catherine's visit it was furnished with pieces of rich furniture and adorned with works of art. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries the palace was a residence of Governor-Generals. In 1812 the right wing of the palace burned down and in 1819 another bad fire did further damage to the palace: the second floor, made basically of wood, was reduced to ashes. It was only in 1834 that reconstruction work was begun. The Kyiv Artificial Mineral Water hydropathic Company renovated the building and turned it into a (hydropathy — treating diseases.

In 1868 the Czar Alexander II issued an order to restore the palace to its former splendour. Architect Mayevsky, who was commissioned to do the work of reconstruction, did a good job of preserving the basic features and general appearance of the original palace and almost completely changing the interior. Mariya Alexandrovna, the wife of the Czar, donated a very considerable sum of her own money to the reconstruction project. She wanted a big park to be laid out on the southern side of the palace; the empty space there had previously been used as a parade ground. The new park, to honour the Empress, was called «Mariyinsky» and later the palace itself came to be referred to as «Mariyinsky» as well.

In the stormy years of the 1917 Revolution and Civil War the palace was used as a military headquarters. In the twenties an agricultural school was housed there, later the palace was turned into a museum. In the Second World War the Mariyinsky was badly damaged and restored at the end of the forties. In the early eighties a major restoration was undertaken. Now the palace is used for official receptions and as a venue for summits.

Originally the palace had been built of wood and brick, with parquetry on the floors, tapestry and silk on the walls and gilded stuccowork and moulding on the ceilings.

The daughter of Peter I, Empress Elizabeth, who was surprised of the beauty of Kiev, had chosen the place for the future palace, the construction of which started in 1750. The draft of the palace in baroque stile by architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli was embodied in the life by the Russian architect Ivan Michurin. But Palace existed not for long, it was destroyed by fire. This was followed by restoration works, each of which brought something new to the palace, followed by new fires. This is the story of the palace...

Its present name in honor of Empress Maria Alexandrovna the palace received in 1870 after the next rebuilding. The dominant style was Baroque with the rich plastic of facades and expressive volumes.

Palace with the adjacent gardens and parks has strict symmetry. The main building and its outbuildings form a spacious courtyard.

The main facade of the building faces the Mariyinsky Park, which was grounded in 1874. Its winding paths follow the natural landscape. And from the opposite side of the palace there dominate the classic direct alleys of the City garden, which intersect at right angles. Its second name originates from this place, laid by Peter I. Green design plantings, designs fountains are made in the traditional style of the XVIII century. The fountains are replete with sculptures and compositions, which are recreated according to the documents stored in museums. Palace welcomes its visitors with spacious lobby. From it in the second floor staterooms follow the marble steps.

The unique elements of the interior of the palace are the objects of decorative - applied art: chandeliers, furniture, as well as pictures of famous masters. Expensive parquet floor, made up of different species of trees, creates a unique original design and amazing skill of execution.

The central hall of the palace is called «Bily» («White») or «Baletny» («Hall for Balls»). High official receptions are held in this hall; ambassadors receive their accreditation, most important documents and agreements are signed. Another of the stately halls, known as the Green Reception Room, is often used for conducting talks with foreign delegations and state leaders. The Green Reception Room has seen US Presidents Nixon, Bush and Clinton, British Premier Thatcher, French President Mitterand and German Chancellor Kohl.

There are 26 rooms on the second floor, most of them richly adorned suites and halls. There are many fireplaces and even in the severest of winters they could keep the place cosily warm but for safety reasons central-heating radiators are used. The walls are hung with paintings borrowed from picture galleries of Kyiv, L’viv and Odesa. They are works both by foreign and Ukrainian artists.

55 rooms of the ground floor are used by security, press and other services. There are rooms for physicians and rooms for performing artists to change in before their performances which are organized in the palace on some special occasions.

The Mariyinsky Palace is an elegant architectural landmark. So successfully are the various sections of the palace linked and blended that it is difficult to dissociate them and study singly. It is a harmonious blend of several styles. The delicacy of the outlines and the restrained decorations of the facades are skilfully attuned to the idyllic settings afforded by the park.

Today, in the palace there are held public receptions, summits and meetings at the state level, the Ambassadors of foreign countries present their credentials here.