PETERHOF 



large ponds. In the upper park are the imperial 

 villas of Babigon (where there are some beautiful 

 pictures of the French school, and some priceless 

 Sevres china) and Belvedere, built in the classic 

 style in the reign of Nicholas I (1856) from 

 designs by Stakenschneider. East of the lower 

 park we find Alexandria, including the farm, 

 the favourite resort of Alexander II. In its own 

 grounds, guarded by picturesque Cossacks, the 

 Emperor's bodyguard, is the Imperial Villa, 

 built in Gothic style by the Empress Alex- 

 andra Feodorovna ; the summer residence of 

 Nicholas II, and the beautiful little church of 

 St. Alexander Nevski, built by Schinkel in 

 1832. The villa stands almost on the edge of 

 the sea, and is surrounded by gay flower borders 

 and beautiful trees. The Empress's Cossacks, 

 in red and silver, and those of the Tsar, in blue 

 and silver, pace the drive. The hall-porter is 

 clad in a scarlet toga reaching to his feet. In 

 summer the other servants in the palace are 

 dressed in white. The rooms are lofty, hung 

 with water-colours, and bright with flowers and 

 English chintzes. In the outer park, round 

 the palace of Peterhof, are the houses set apart 

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