The ensemble of Smolny Cathedral of Resurrection for All Educational Establishments produces an unforgettable impression even though it had not been completed fully, and the grandiose 140 m belfry (18 m higher than that of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral) had never been built. The cathedral amazes you as you approach because of its strange and mystical ability to decrease in size as you draw nearer, while still remaining as majestic.
Even those professional architects who did not feel any piety towards the baroque style gave Rastrelli credit for this work with its perfect proportions and exquisite decor. The construction of Smolny monastery was carried out on a very grand scale. But as the Seven Year War with Prussia started, the construction was halted.
In 1764 by an order of Empress Catherine the Great a nunnery and a School for Noble Girls were founded in Smolny, followed in 1765 with creation of a school for low middle class, which were the first two Russian educational establishments for women.
The detailed information look on the site: http://www.cathedral.ru
