The big azure-blue Big Tsarskoselsky (Ekaterininsky) palace is one of the main sights of the Tsarskoye Selo (Tsar Village). Its construction began at Ekaterina I, wife of Peter the Great, and the Palace was named in her honor. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna signed an edict for fundamental reconstruction of the old palace of Ekaterina I on the 10th of May, 1752 and F.B Rastrelly, a chef architect of the court, showed his creation to Elizaveta Petrovna and to foreign ambassadors in 1756 already. The Big Palace had become the center of the court life where not only balls and masquerades took place but the important state affairs were directed since 1756. The Ekaterininsky palace was opened as a museum on the 9th of June, 1918.