The village of Tsarskoye Selo (“Imperial Village”) was established in the 18th century to build the summer residences of the czars. Rebaptized “Pushkin” after the Revolution, it is the location of the splendid Catherine Palace, built by the Italian architect Rastrelli by decree of Elizabeth I. The Alexander Palace was built by Catherine II on the occasion of her grandson’s marriage, the future Alexander I. It is easy to appreciate the b...