The building and history of the Russian consulate are no less interesting than its official activities. The plot of land for it was acquired back in the mid-18th century. However, the embassy building erected on it burned down completely just a few years later. A fire at the beginning of the 19th century once again destroyed the building. The structure that you now see before you was erected from 1837 to 1845 under the direction of the Swiss architect Gaspare Fossati, who was sent to Istanbul at the behest of the imperial court.
The interiors of the Russian consulate were painted by the Italian artist Forcari, and the coats of arms, grilles, and cast-iron gates were made to special order by the best foundry workers of the Luhansk metallurgical plant.
The construction of the building was carried out under strict supervision by Russia. There is a legend that, on the personal instructions of Catherine the Great, the embassy was founded on land specially brought from Russia. However, no such records could be found in the official archives.
