In 1710 for further expansion of the newly built city in St. Petersburg began to distribute land along the banks of the Fontanka river for construction of a country yards. In 1724, one of them went to the son-in-law of A. D. Menshikov Anton Devier, the one on which later was built the Anichkov Palace. In 1727, after the fall of the great companion of Peter I of his relatives were also arrested and exiled to Siberia. The land was confiscated.

Following its owner, the merchant Lukyanov, after the decree about the construction of the Nevsky prospect stone houses found it more profitable to sell it to Elizabeth, daughter of Peter I, who ordered to build the Palace, which was the first stone structure Nevsky Prospekt.

Its name, the Palace owes nearby wooden bridge, which was built by soldiers of the Admiralty battalion under the leadership of officer Anichkov.

The construction of the Palace was carried out by architect M.G. Zemtsova from 1741 on the right Bank of the Fontanka river in the style of high Baroque. A year and a half Zemtsov died, and supervision of works on construction of the Palace was passed on to his disciple G.D. Dmitriev, and then B.F. Rastrelli which substantially changed the original intent. By the spring of 1751 was essentially completed the decoration of the Palace, and this allowed us to sanctify his Church. The building has an H-shaped plan. Its Central part - the three-storey with a large double-height room. Porch she connects with the side of a three-storey wings, which is crowned by a ribbed dome with onion domes. The Central facade of the Palace was turned to the Fontanka, and not to Nevsky prospect. Here is the front yard, in which was arranged a pool associated with the Fontanka canal. Opposite, the Western facade of the Palace went to a regular garden with pavilions and sculptures. The high porch with porticos that support the balconies that adorn both the facade.

The decoration of the Palace was carried out according to the drawings and under the direct supervision Rastrelli. Paintings were made Antropov, Vishnyakov, Bielski brothers. Very careful thought has been given to the interior of the Church, which occupied the third and second floors of a side wing that is parallel to Nevsky prospect. Her opener with a carved gilt three-tiered iconostasis was famous for its wealth of Baroque ornamentation.

More than two hundred years the Palace has constantly changed its owners: in the eighteenth century the Empress gave it to my favorites, and in the early nineteenth century, when it again became the property of the Romanov family, has a new tradition - members of the tsarist family began to receive it as a wedding gift. After the revolution it was converted into a history Museum, and later there was built the Palace of pioneers. At this time, the decoration of the Palace were particularly affected. Now here are the youth creativity Palace and Anichkov Lyceum.

Also in the halls of the Anichkov Palace is a Museum of the history of the Anichkov Palace, which was opened in 1991. The Museum regularly hosts exhibitions, where the best teachers and pupils of the Palace of youth creativity share their professional success.