Kadriorg Palace, or “Catherine's Valley,” was commissioned by Peter the Great of Russia for his second wife, Catherine I, and while less opulent than their St. Petersburg digs, there is a strong resemblance to them. Surrounded by acres of wooded parkland with an ornamental lake, formal gardens, and several museums, the complex sits on the edge of Kesklinn district of Tallinn. The palace, designed by famed Italian architect Nicola Michetti, is an exquisite example of Petrine Baroque architecture, which flourished in St. Petersburg in the 17th and 18th centuries. As it seems that a trip to Russia is not going to be possible in the short run, this will give a sense of the oppulence and wealth that Peter the Great commanded.
The art that is housed here pales in comparison to the building itself. The Great Hall at Kadriorg is pristine white, with light streaming in through its many windows and an exuberance of stucco ornamentation. Stylized monograms of Peter and Catherine are crafted on opposite walls above the highly ornate fireplaces. The ceiling has a beautiful mural, depicting a scene from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The goddess Diana is seen bathing in a celestial spring along with her nymphs, while an enraptured Actaeon watches, as yet unnoticed. Peter died before the palace was complete, and the Baltics became less popular once the Russians had captured Crimea, and there was a Black Sea option open to Russians. Sound familiar?
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