In St. Petersburg, many magnificent pre-revolutionary buildings have been preserved, but the mansion of Countess Zinaida Yusupova stands out even among them and is considered one of the most beautiful. It is designed in a rare architectural style for our country, the Italian Renaissance, which was not widely spread even in the past and is even rarer today. The construction was commissioned by the wealthiest woman of the Russian Empire, Zinaida Yusupova, who spared no expense on the best craftsmen of her time. The house was designed by the outstanding architect Gerald Andreyevich Bosse, and the construction was overseen for more than six years by the renowned builder Ludwig Ludwigovich Bonstedt.

The mansion was completed in 1858, and its interiors were decorated to a high standard. Externally, the building was one of the best in the imperial capital and could compete in beauty with Western European houses. In addition to the Italian Renaissance style, its appearance was complemented by elements of Baroque, the walls were faced with sandstone, and the facade was adorned with columns and pilasters. The outstanding Russian artist Nikolai Apollonovich Maikov worked on the medallions and ceilings, whose works were very popular. The exterior of the mansion was exquisite and tasteful. Zinaida Yusupova personally selected the interiors, and everyone noted the special beauty of some rooms, including the grand and concert halls, where lavish receptions were held. The owner of the house was popular among the Russian nobility, and many visited her. It was here that the last owner of the mansion, Felix Yusupov, began his life.

In peacetime, the Yusupov house housed a theater, and with the onset of World War I, the building was converted into a hospital, which was maintained with donations from the Yusupovs. After the revolution, wounded soldiers were quickly evicted from the luxurious quarters, and for many years the mansion was used to accommodate propaganda agencies. It now houses an institute.