MUSEUMS. Yusupov Palace
- 94, Moika River Embankment (Naberezhnaya Reki Moiki)
- Metro - Sennaya Ploschad'
- Open daily from 12.00 noon to 04.00 pm.
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The Yusupov Palace is one of the finest palaces of St. Petersburg. The construction of the palace began in the 1760s, but it didn't come into the Yusupov family until 1830. The interior is from the period of the Grand Duke Yusupov and it has been fully restored to its original beauty. The palace is known for its tragic history. Before the revolution the palace belonged to Prince Felix Yusupov, one of the richest men in Russia. He was thought to be even as rich as the tsar. In Russia Yusupov owned 57 palaces, including four in St. Petersburg. In 1916 Felix Yusupov and his friends assassinated the retainer of Nicholas the second, the adventurer Gregory Rasputin. He was invited there to dinner and was filled with poisoned food and drinks but didn't die. When Rasputin tried to run away Yusupov and his friends shot him several times, beat him with steaks, and finally stuffed him through the ice of the frozen river. As a footnote, legend has it that Rasputin did not die until he was submerged - water was found in his lungs. You are welcome to take so called 'Rasputin Tour' to see the basement chamber where Rasputin ate the poisoned puffy stuff.
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