LOMONOSOV

Ten kilometers west of Petrodvorets, this estate was founded by Alexander Menshikov who envied Peter's work on his seaside palace and wanted one as well, but it was not finished by the time Menshikov went bust and was shipped off to Siberia. It was further developed by Peter III and Catherine the Great. The estate was originally called Orienbaum (German for orange tree) as Menshikov had a hot-house orange orchard. Lomonosov is significantly less touristy and lower-key than Pushkin, Pavlovsk, and Petrodvorets and is also the only estate that didn't fall into Nazi hands during World War II; still, heavy bombing and neglect have taken their toll.

The Grand Palace (the upper-crusties before the Revolution were rather unimaginative in naming their palaces) has been closed for renovation for some time but it should re-open "soon." Peterstadt, Peter III's humble (by tsarist standards) residence, is open for viewing; he lived on the second floor. Check out the Katalnaya Gorka Pavilion, an 18th century ski- lodge/roller-coaster starting point of sorts, and the Chinese Palace, baroque on the outside, rococo on the inside with only a wee bit o' Oriental in the almost- aptly named Small Chinese Room and Big Chinese Room.