Universitetskaya Naberezhnaya 7
Bus: 7, 47, K- 47, K- 128, K- 129,
K- 147
Trolley: 1, 10
Closed: to public
The Twelve
Colleges, also known as the Twelve Collegia (Russian: Двенадцать
Коллегий, Dvenadtsat Kollegiy), is a monumental architectural complex on
Vasilievsky Island in Saint Petersburg, Russia, located at
Universitetskaya Embankment 7. Built between 1722 and 1744, it is the
largest surviving edifice from the Petrine era, commissioned by Peter
the Great to house his reformed government’s administrative bodies.
Designed by Swiss-Italian architect Domenico Trezzini, with
contributions from Theodor Schwertfeger, Mikhail Zemtsov, and Giuseppe
Trezzini, the red-brick, three-story structure stretches 400–440 meters,
making it one of the city’s longest buildings. Originally intended for
the Senate, Synod, and ten colleges (ministries), it has been the main
campus of Saint Petersburg State University since 1835, hosting
faculties, administrative offices, and two museums. Its Petrine Baroque
style, historical significance, and academic legacy make it a
cornerstone of Saint Petersburg’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic
center.
The Twelve Colleges were conceived as part of Peter
the Great’s sweeping reforms to modernize Russia’s government, inspired
by Western European models, particularly Swedish and German
administrative systems. In 1717, Peter replaced the outdated prikazy
(medieval administrative offices) with a collegial system, establishing
nine colleges—Foreign Affairs, Revenue Collection, Justice, Expenditure,
Financial Control, War, Admiralty, Commerce, and Mining and
Manufacturing—plus a tenth for Trade, alongside the Senate (founded
1711) and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. To house these
12 branches, he envisioned a centralized administrative quarter on
Vasilievsky Island, which he intended as the heart of his new capital.
Construction began in 1722, following Peter’s 1718 decree, under the
direction of Domenico Trezzini, the architect behind the Peter and Paul
Fortress and Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Trezzini’s design reflected Peter’s
vision of a rational, efficient government, with 12 distinct buildings
symbolizing the autonomy of each college while united in a single
complex. The project, spanning 1722 to 1744, faced delays due to Peter’s
death in 1725, labor shortages, and the Neva River’s lack of permanent
bridges, which isolated Vasilievsky Island from the city’s growing
center on the Admiralty Side. Theodor Schwertfeger, Mikhail Zemtsov, and
Giuseppe Trezzini (Domenico’s nephew and son-in-law) oversaw completion,
with the first collegia meetings held in 1732.
By the late 18th
century, the colleges’ inconvenience—cut off from the mainland during
floods—prompted their relocation to the left bank of the Neva. In 1802,
Alexander I replaced the collegia with ministries, rendering the
building obsolete for government use. In 1804, the Pedagogical Institute
occupied part of the complex, and in 1819, Emperor Alexander I
reorganized it into Saint Petersburg University (later Saint Petersburg
Imperial University), officially transferring the entire building to the
university in 1835. The university, claiming a 1724 founding date tied
to Peter’s Academic University, became a global academic powerhouse,
with alumni like Dmitri Mendeleev, Ivan Pavlov, and Vladimir Lenin.
During the 19th century, the Twelve Colleges hosted groundbreaking
research, including Mendeleev’s creation of the Periodic Table (1869),
Alexander Popov’s radio experiments (1890s), and Pavlov’s studies on
conditioned reflexes. The Soviet era saw the university renamed
Leningrad State University (1924–1991), with the building surviving the
Siege of Leningrad (1941–1944) despite minor damage. Post-1991, it
reverted to Saint Petersburg State University, now Russia’s
second-ranked university, with eight Nobel laureates among its alumni,
including Joseph Brodsky and Leonid Kantorovich, plus political figures
like Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev.
The Twelve Colleges is a landmark of Petrine Baroque, a style
blending Dutch and Italian influences with Russian functionality,
characterized by austere forms, red-brick facades, and white stucco
accents. Stretching 400–440 meters along Mendeleevskaya Liniya, the
complex comprises 12 three-story buildings, originally separate but
later connected to form a unified structure, creating the illusion
of a single edifice. Its length, rivaling the Winter Palace’s
210-meter facade, makes it one of Saint Petersburg’s most imposing
structures.
Exterior: The complex’s red-brick facade,
punctuated by white pilasters and window frames, is a vivid example
of Petrine Baroque’s “rustic style.” Each of the 12 sections has a
projecting central bay with a second-floor balcony and a figured
pediment, emphasizing their individual identity while maintaining
uniformity. The first floor, with rustic masonry and large
semicircular windows, housed trading premises, while the upper
floors contained administrative offices. Uniquely, the main facade
faces Mendeleevskaya Liniya, away from the Neva River, as Peter
planned a grand Kollezhskaya Square (never realized) as the city’s
administrative center. The Neva-facing side, less ornate, integrates
with Universitetskaya Embankment’s neoclassical ensemble, including
the Kunstkamera and Academy of Sciences. A statue of Mikhail
Lomonosov, the polymath and university rector (1758–1765), stands
outside the main entrance, installed in 1986 to mark his 275th
anniversary.
Interior: The interior, largely adapted for
university use, retains some original features, particularly in the
Petrovsky Hall, a grand chamber used for ceremonies and concerts.
The hall preserves 18th-century elements like sculptural wall
insets, a painted plafond (ceiling mural), and two corner fireplaces
with stucco decoration, though much of the original decor was lost
to 19th-century modifications. The complex’s 383-meter-long
corridor, one of the world’s longest, runs through all 12 buildings,
connecting faculty offices, lecture halls, and administrative
spaces. The austerity of the interiors, designed for function over
opulence, contrasts with the lavish Baroque of the Sheremetev Palace
or St. Nicholas’ Naval Cathedral.
Museums: The building houses
two small museums:
Mendeleev Apartment Museum: Located in
Mendeleev’s former residence (1866–1890s), it displays his
laboratory, personal belongings, and Periodic Table drafts, offering
insight into his chemical discoveries.
Museum of the History of
Saint Petersburg University: Showcases the university’s legacy
through artifacts, documents, and exhibits on alumni like Pavlov,
Popov, and Brodsky.
Surroundings: The Twelve Colleges anchors
Vasilievsky Island’s academic hub, near the Rostral Columns,
Kunstkamera, and Zoological Museum. The University Sculpture Garden,
accessible from the main entrance, features busts of notable alumni,
adding a cultural dimension. The complex’s orientation toward
Mendeleevskaya Liniya, rather than the Neva, reflects Peter’s
unrealized urban plan, making it less visually prominent than
riverfront landmarks like the Winter Palace but integral to the
Strelka’s neoclassical ensemble.
The Petrine Baroque style, with
its red-and-white palette and geometric clarity, contrasts with the
Elizabethan Baroque exuberance of St. Nicholas’ Naval Cathedral,
aligning more with the functional aesthetic of early 18th-century
Dutch architecture. The complex’s length and uniformity, while
impressive, can feel monotonous compared to the dynamic facades of
the Tavrichesky Palace, though its historical context elevates its
architectural value.
The Twelve Colleges is a multifaceted symbol of Saint Petersburg’s
Petrine legacy, academic excellence, and urban evolution, with a
significance that spans several dimensions:
Petrine Reforms:
Commissioned by Peter the Great, the complex embodies his vision of a
modern, centralized state, replacing the chaotic prikazy with a rational
collegial system modeled on Swedish governance. The 12 colleges, housed
in a single structure, symbolized administrative unity, a radical
departure from Moscow’s fragmented bureaucracy. Their placement on
Vasilievsky Island, intended as the city’s administrative core, reflects
Peter’s ambition to reorient Russia toward Europe, a theme echoed in the
Kunstkamera’s scientific mission and the Rostral Columns’ maritime
symbolism.
Academic Legacy: Since 1835, the Twelve Colleges has been
the heart of Saint Petersburg State University, Russia’s oldest and
second-ranked higher education institution. The university’s alumni,
including Mendeleev (Periodic Table), Popov (radio), Pavlov (conditioned
reflexes), and literary figures like Ivan Turgenev and Alexander Blok,
have shaped global science and culture. Political graduates like Lenin,
Kerensky, Putin, and Medvedev underscore its influence on Russian
governance, while Nobel laureates like Brodsky and Kantorovich highlight
its intellectual prestige. The complex’s role in fostering freethinking,
as noted in university histories, made it a crucible for socio-political
thought, paralleling the Literary Café’s literary salons.
Architectural Milestone: As the largest Petrine-era structure, the
Twelve Colleges is a testament to early 18th-century Russian engineering
and aesthetics. Trezzini’s design, with its austere yet unified facade,
set a precedent for Saint Petersburg’s red-brick architecture,
influencing later buildings like the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Its Baroque
style, rooted in Dutch and Italian models, reflects Russia’s cultural
alignment with Europe, contrasting with the neoclassical Tavrichesky
Palace or the Russian revival Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. The
complex’s inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage site underscores its
global architectural value, though its inland orientation limits its
visibility compared to riverfront landmarks like the Rostral Columns.
Urban Planning Context: The Twelve Colleges’ location reflects Peter’s
unrealized plan for Vasilievsky Island as Saint Petersburg’s
administrative and commercial hub. The absence of permanent Neva bridges
until the 19th century isolated the complex, contributing to its
administrative decline but preserving its integrity as a university
campus. This contrasts with the Finland Station’s revolutionary
prominence on the Vyborg Side, highlighting the city’s shifting centers
of power. The complex’s long corridor and 12-section design symbolize
Peter’s emphasis on order, a principle seen in the grid-like layout of
Vasilievsky Island’s streets.
Soviet and Post-Soviet Continuity: The
complex’s survival through the 1917 Revolution and Siege of Leningrad,
unlike the demolished Annunciation Church, mirrors the resilience of St.
Nicholas’ Naval Cathedral. Its Soviet-era role as Leningrad State
University, despite ideological constraints, maintained its academic
prestige, with figures like mathematician Andrey Markov advancing global
science. Post-1991 restorations, particularly of the Petrovsky Hall,
align with efforts to reclaim pre-revolutionary heritage, as seen in the
Sheremetev Palace’s revival, though the complex’s utilitarian interiors
limit its tourist appeal compared to ornate sites like the Winter
Palace.
The Twelve Colleges’ transition from government to academia
mirrors Saint Petersburg’s evolution from an imperial capital to a
cultural and intellectual center, a narrative shared with the Zoological
Museum’s scientific legacy. Its red facade, especially vibrant in autumn
as noted by Tripadvisor reviewers, has become a visual icon of
Vasilievsky Island, though its academic function overshadows its Petrine
origins in public perception.
As of 2025, the Twelve Colleges serves as the main building of Saint
Petersburg State University, housing administrative offices, the
Faculties of Geology and Earth Sciences, and parts of the Biology and
Philology departments. The complex also includes the university’s
Research Library (four million volumes), the Petrovsky Hall for
ceremonies and concerts, and two museums: the Mendeleev Apartment Museum
and the Museum of the History of Saint Petersburg University. It remains
a working academic campus, with over 20,000 students and 24 specialized
faculties, maintaining its status as a global academic leader.
Visitors can access public areas, including the Petrovsky Hall and
museums, though the campus is not a primary tourist attraction like the
Hermitage or Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. The Mendeleev
Museum, open weekdays (10:00 AM–4:00 PM, ~200 rubles, $2 USD), showcases
his laboratory and personal effects, while the University History Museum
(similar hours, ~150 rubles, $1.50 USD) highlights alumni achievements.
The Petrovsky Hall hosts classical music concerts and lectures,
announced on the university’s website (english.spbu.ru), with tickets
(~500–1,000 rubles, $5–10 USD). Guided tours, offered by agencies like
Petersburg 24 (~3,000 rubles, $30 USD for groups), explore the corridor,
museums, and Sculpture Garden, though advance booking is recommended due
to academic activities.
Located at Universitetskaya Embankment 7,
the complex is a 10-minute walk from metro station Vasileostrovskaya,
near landmarks like:
Rostral Columns (0.5 km), naval beacons
framing the Strelka.
Kunstkamera (0.3 km), Peter’s first museum.
Zoological Museum (0.4 km), with mammoth exhibits.
Saint Nicholas’
Naval Cathedral (4 km), a Baroque naval shrine.
Tripadvisor reviews
(4.0/5 from ~100 reviews) praise the “marvelous red facade” and
“historical significance,” especially in autumn when surrounded by
golden leaves, but note limited public access and Russian-only signage,
a challenge shared with the Finland Station. The 383-meter corridor,
while impressive, is often closed to visitors for security, and the
campus’s academic bustle can feel unwelcoming to tourists, as one
reviewer found walkways blocked on a Sunday. The Sculpture Garden and
Lomonosov statue offer photogenic spots, enhanced by the Neva’s
proximity, though the complex’s inland orientation reduces its
riverfront allure compared to the Rostral Columns.
The
university’s competitive admissions, based on the Unified State Exam,
and its eight Nobel laureates maintain its prestige, with concerts and
exhibitions (e.g., a 2019 display on the Bestuzhev Courses for women’s
education) fostering public engagement. The complex’s inclusion in
Vasilievsky Island walking tours, alongside the Kunstkamera and Academy
of Sciences, integrates it into the city’s academic narrative, though
its working campus status limits its tourist infrastructure compared to
the Sheremetev Palace’s museum focus.
The Twelve Colleges is a triumph of Petrine Baroque, its 440-meter
red-brick facade embodying Peter the Great’s vision of a modern,
Europeanized Russia. Trezzini’s design, balancing autonomy (12 distinct
sections) with unity (a cohesive complex), reflects the collegial
system’s rational ethos, a stark contrast to the ornate Baroque of St.
Nicholas’ Naval Cathedral or the Sheremetev Palace. Its length and
austere style make it a bold urban statement, though its inland
orientation, due to Peter’s unrealized Kollezhskaya Square, diminishes
its visual prominence compared to riverfront landmarks like the Winter
Palace.
Historically, the complex’s shift from government to
academia mirrors Saint Petersburg’s transformation from an
administrative capital to a cultural hub, a trajectory shared with the
Tavrichesky Palace’s parliamentary role. Its role in Mendeleev’s and
Pavlov’s discoveries underscores its scientific legacy, rivaling the
Kunstkamera’s contributions, though its administrative origins are less
celebrated than the Finland Station’s revolutionary fame. The
university’s claim to a 1724 founding, linking it to Peter’s Academic
University, is debated, as Moscow State University (1755) challenges its
“oldest” status, highlighting a historiographical tension.
Architecturally, the complex’s uniformity can feel monotonous compared
to the dynamic facades of the Rostral Columns or Anichkov Bridge, and
the loss of original interiors, except in the Petrovsky Hall, limits its
historical authenticity, a critique echoed in the Blagoveshchensky
Bridge’s steel restorations. The 383-meter corridor, while a marvel, is
underutilized as a public space, unlike the Literary Café’s immersive
salons. The lack of multilingual signage and restricted access, noted in
reviews, hinders international appeal, a challenge shared with the
Zoological Museum, though the university’s active status justifies its
academic focus.
Culturally, the Twelve Colleges’ association with
figures like Lenin and Putin invites scrutiny, as their legacies spark
debate in post-Soviet Russia, similar to the Finland Station’s Lenin
statue. The complex’s scientific contributions, from Mendeleev to Popov,
are less mythologized than the city’s literary (Literary Café) or naval
(Rostral Columns) narratives, potentially limiting its tourist draw. A
digital guide or outdoor exhibit on Peter’s reforms could enhance
engagement, as suggested for the Chizhik-Pyzhik monument, without
disrupting academic functions.
The complex’s isolation on
Vasilievsky Island, exacerbated by the Neva’s historical bridge
scarcity, reflects Peter’s ambitious but flawed urban planning, a theme
seen in the Rostral Columns’ port relocation. Its red facade, vibrant in
autumn, remains a visual anchor, but its academic role overshadows its
Petrine origins, unlike the Kunstkamera’s preserved 18th-century aura.
Balancing its working campus status with public access could elevate its
profile, aligning with Saint Petersburg’s tourism-driven economy.