the palace was built in 1783-95 to a design by giacomo quarenghi. there emerged a palace designed according to the principles of russian classicism. while the façade of the mansion looked fairly modest, its interiors were notable for their resplendence. the interior decoration has partly survived till today. the façade however has changed much since its erection. only a portico of four granite columns survived from the original façade. after the count's death his heirs sold the palace to the post-office department that adapted the building to its needs. in 1924 the building was given into the possession of the museum of communications. during the siege it suffered badly from artillery bombardments and was closed for repair. the museum partly resumed its display only in 1950. in 1974 owing to a drastic state of the entire structure its major repair was started and the museum has returned to the building only thirty years later, in 2003.