The exposition is dedicated to Abram Hannibal, who was a great-grandfather of Alexander Pushkin, and at the same time a close associate of Peter the Great, as well as a talented mathematician and engineer.
Abram Hannibal was born in the small sultanate of Lagon in the center of Africa. As a child yet he was forcefully taken away to Turkey, named Ibrahim and turned into Moslem. In 1705 the prince Savva Raguzinsky brought the boy to Moscow. He was soon introduced to Peter I and this meeting changed his life and promoted him to become an outstanding figure of Russia, a leading mathematician and the first Russian engineer-fortifier.
Abram Hannibal was married twice. His son Osip, one of the six children born by Abraham's second wife, became a grandfather of Alexander Pushkin, the greatest Russian poet of all times.
After retirement in 1759 Abram Hannibal retired, and settled in the central estate of Suida, where he stayed until his death in 1781.
Alexander Pushkin's mother Nadezhda Osipovna was born in Suida, and got married to Sergey Pushkin in the local Ascension Church. The same year the family moved to Saint Petersburg.
The year 1999 saw the official opening of Abram Hannibal's Memorial Estate in Suida. Visitors can see memorial things that belonged to the estate owner: a bronze candlestick, books, a snuffbox, a casket, a silver spoon. Unusual exhibits here include a portion of land brought by Abram Hannibal's relatives from far-away Cameroon, and an openwork towel with "A.P." initials. The personal towel of Alexander Pushkin was presented to the museum by the poet's great-grandson.
The museum houses an art gallery with works by local artists. In the estate area there is a park, a stable, and a greenhouse.
Address: 4, Tsentralnaya Street, Settlement of Suida, Gatchina District, Leningrad Region.
Official website of Suida Memorial Estate.
Author: Vera Ivanova