The complex of the large guest yard is one of the architectural monuments of world importance. In St. Petersburg there were many hotels in the courtyards since the very creation of the city, and during the time of Catherine the Great there were even more. The prototype of this Gostiny Dvor was Mytny Dvor (customs), which stood at the Green Bridge. The city grew and along the Nevsky a new large hotel courtyard was created. By the way, in 1840 it was one of the first places in the city fully illuminated by gas lamps. Translated with Google Translate