Catherine II and Grigory Orlov were closely connected not only by state affairs but also by personal relationships. Thanks to Orlov, Catherine was able to rid herself of her husband Peter III and ascend to the throne of the Russian Empire. Their romance, which lasted 11 years, left Orlov not only pain and disappointment but also many wonderful memories. One of them is associated with a modest building in the center of St. Petersburg, hidden behind the foliage of an old park on Galernaya Street.

The first construction on this street appeared in the second half of the 18th century and belonged to Alexander Vasilyevich Khrapovitsky, a senator and author of articles in a popular literary magazine. In 1790, the estate by the New Admiralty Canal passed to Senator Pyotr Metlyayev, who expanded it by adding a neighboring plot. The reconstruction was handled by the budding architect Luigi Rusca, who included in the complex the house of architect Savva Chevakinsky. The updated estate began to resemble a palace.

The facade of the building is adorned with four Ionic columns, and the central entrance from Galernaya Street is decorated with pylons and busts. The interior spaces are richly painted, possibly by Ivan Scotti, a renowned painter. The palace overlooking the canals initially attracted Prince Pavel Zubov and later became the property of Empress Maria Feodorovna.

Few know that from the union of Catherine II and Orlov, a son named Alexei Bobrinsky was born. His birth was kept secret, and he learned of his origins only at the age of 19. Pavel I recognized Alexei as a brother and granted him the title of count, while Maria Feodorovna gifted him the palace on Galernaya Street. However, Bobrinsky preferred to live in an estate near Tula, and his family moved to St. Petersburg only in 1820.

The house of the widow Bobrinskaya became the center of high society life. Masquerades, concerts, and creative evenings were held here, attended by famous people, including Pushkin. Under the count's grandson, Alexander Bobrinsky, a study-museum of Count Orlov and a collection of paintings opened in the palace.

After 1917, the palace was converted into a "Red Cross" hospital and then nationalized. In 1920, a department of the Russian Museum opened here, and collections of paintings and furniture were transferred to the Hermitage. In 1929, the Central Geographical Museum was located in the palace, which was later closed, and the building was occupied by faculties of Leningrad State University.

In the 21st century, the palace was restored and adapted for the needs of St. Petersburg State University. Today, classes and scientific events take place here. Visits to the palace are limited, but free tours can be booked as part of the "Open City" project. The building is listed as a monument of architecture.