The Florence tribune., 1898-07-09
THE PALACE OF GATscH1NA.
of All the Russians in Time of Troubles.


 The palace of Gatschina cannot be compared with such castles as Yer sailles, Sanssouci or Schoenbrunn. It has nothing of the artistic embellish ment of the one, the historical memories of the other or the landscape beauty and comfort of the third. Situated in the middle of wide and desert plain, it has no pretty surroundings, and, built without luxury, its exterior does not make an imposing impression. Cats china lies between Tsarskoje Sclo and Krasnoje-Selo, and the roads from each of these places to the imperial palace, which have private court railway sta tions, are placed under particular su- peryision, and may not be used except by the court. A high wall incloses the park, in the center of which is the palace, and this wall is protected by patrols, which never leave the outer circle nor the park itself for one mo- ment out of sight.
 Entrance is only permitted by special order. Though the superintendence is so strict, it is said that the inhabitants of the palace are not, and must not be, aware of it. Their pleasures and com forts are not impaired by it, and all the amusements that could be agreeable to the emperor and his family-drives, hunts, riding and rowing, evening par | ties, theatrical representations, etc. can be partaken of. Adjoining the well-tended park is an extensive wood like the park, surrounded by a wall and guarded. In the park itself are two lake-like basins of water; the palace contains splendid saloons, and two col onnades which afford agreeable prom enades in bad weather; all this aids ir preventing the inhabitants from feel. l ing anything of the anxious and never tiring supervision held over them and the want of more charming surround ings.
 Sometimes the royal family .inhabii Peterhof, but always return to Cats china. Peterhof Is more magnificent Oranienbaum prettier, but Gatschina i considered safer and quieter. For man, | years before the accession of Alexande, III. the palace had been unused; h. caused 1t to be restored and comfort ably furnished. It has been seldom spoken of and scarcely more was knowl of it than that the imperial hounds wer kept there. The Gatschina race wa celebrated, and dog from the imperia al eaTea iiutie TOT tfIr castfs u1lu- taE7e~rl
 Still Gatschina has its history. Pete the Great made a gift of it to his fl vorite sister, Natalie; Catherine II. gay it to her favorite Orloff, who furnishe it at great expense, and built additions edifices, by which, after the plans of tn Italian architect, Rinaldi, it receive quite a different form. After Orloff' death the empires rebought 1t from hi family and gave it to Archduke Pau who inhabited 1t for some length q time. The palace forms a long square at each corner of which is a statel tower. The dwelling rooms are in thre stories. The colonnades run along tb sides, and the pillars are of Finlan. marble. The rooms are not architec turally beautiful, but are adorned wit valuable pictures and sculpture iron the imperial hermitage in St. Peters burg, from the Anitschkow palace ant from the winter palace. The views ar limited by the park and wood, which however, have been beautifully laid ou by the celebrated St. Petersburg land scape gardener.-London News.