On the first Petersburg maps the territory of modern Elagin Island was named Melgunov Island. According to one of the city legends a detachment of Petrov soldiers was searching for Swedes there, but found a bear. This is why the island was named in that way. It had changed a lot of owners before it was purchased by the Director of Court Theatre Ivan Yelagin. It was in his time, that the stone Palace, the Orangery, the Pavilion were constructed. The garden was a public one, all-comers could have a walk there. At the same time the island was renamed Yelagin. Yelagin is the northernmost island of the Neva delta. It has an area of 96 ha, the fifth part of which is occupied by 9 adjusted ponds. In the eastern part of the island there's Palace and Park ensemble. After Ivan Yelagin's death the island was sold and bought for several times, until the Emperor Alexandr I purchased it for his mother Empress Mariya Fyodorovna. Replanning and reconstruction were guided by one of the most eminent architect Carlo Rossi. After the October Revolution 1917 the Museum was opened and the park was made public. At all times Yelagin has been a park of family holiday. Thousands of townsmen keep on bringing their children there. It was in the amusement park, where more than one generations of St. Petersburg inhabitants have learned skiing and skating. Together with the presenter Diana Pylaeva you will spend a wonderful winter day in the heart of Saint-Petersburg.