Elagin
Russia, St. Petersburg, Neva Delta
Description:
Elagin Island, originally called "Mishin Island", at different times, even under tsarist Russia, was owned by private individuals. The loudest names of them were, Vice-Chancellor Shafirov, Prince Potemkin and Ivan Venediktovich Elagin, the imperial master.
From 1777 to the present day, the island is called Elagin. In 1786, a palace of the same name was built on the island, which was rebuilt in 1818, while retaining the classical style. In the "English" Park, where once created canals, grottoes, ponds, built arbors and bridges, also made some additions, built piers and summer pavilions.
Today, almost all over the island there is a park of culture and recreation. There is a museum in the Yelagin Palace. There is a library in the greenhouse building. There is a stable where exhibitions are held periodically. Clubs, cozy cafes and restaurants, tennis courts, its own boat station and a volleyball playground. There is a mini-zoo, where right in the middle of the alleys of the park there are enclosures with different animals.