Built for the son of Nicholas I between 1853 and 1861 by Andrei Stackenschneider, Nicholas Palace was turned into a school for noble young ladies in the late 19C. In 1919 it was handed over to the trade unions which later turned it into a palace of culture. Today some rather interesting concerts and folk dance performances are held here. Attending one of them also gives you a chance to admire the magnificent interior of the palace, whose main staircase is considered the most beautiful in St. Petersburg.