The picturesque landscape, spring-fed lakes with connecting tributaries and rivers made it possible to create here the unique landscape park with the palace of remarkable architecture as its focal point. Building project was executed by Italian architect Antonio Rinaldi, the construction began on May 30, 1766. The Priory Palace is Gatchina’s architectural landmark. This unique structure was conceived by the architect Nikolay Lvov for the knights of the Maltese order and constructed of rammed earth in 1799. It is the only rammed-earth structure that has survived in Russia from the late 18th century.