Smolny

Smolny is a historic complex and district in Saint Petersburg, Russia, associated with a late Baroque architectural ensemble on the Neva bank. The name derives from the Smolny Convent that once occupied the site, and it is commonly used to refer to the adjacent cathedral, educational institute, and surrounding district.

Smolny Cathedral, officially the Cathedral of the Resurrection at Smolny, is a prominent Baroque church in the complex. It was designed by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli and constructed in the mid-18th century (completed around 1764). The cathedral is noted for its pastel-colored exterior, gilded domes, and ornate interior, and it remains in use as a parish church.

Smolny Convent is an 18th-century Russian Orthodox convent that formed the core of the ensemble. It became a major religious and charitable center under imperial patronage. The convent complex surrounds the cathedral and includes other religious and civil buildings.

Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens was established in 1764 by Catherine the Great as a state school to educate girls of noble birth. The institute occupied part of the Smolny complex and became an emblem of Enlightenment-era reform in Russia. The building later served other uses, including administrative and government functions.

In 1917, during the Bolshevik seizure of power, Smolny became the headquarters of the revolutionary government for a period, and Lenin and other leaders directed activities from the institute’s premises. The Smolny ensemble remains a major architectural and historical landmark and is a popular site for visitors to Saint Petersburg. The surrounding district named after the complex is still known as Smolny.