Built to house Elizabeth (1709 – 1762), daughter of Peter the Great (1672 – 1725), after she opted to become a nun, the Smolny Cathedral was originally intended to be a convent. However, after a successful coup d'état to overthrow the Imperial predecessor, Elizabeth ascended the throne, and work on the church continued under her royal patronage. The convent’s centrepiece, the stunningly beautiful blue and white cathedral itself, is considered to be one of the architectural masterpieces of Italian architect Francesco Rastrelli (1700 – 1771), who also designed many other wonderful buildings in St Petersburg, including the Grand Catherine Palace. Original plans for the cathedral included adding a gigantic bell-tower in its interior, but after Elizabeth’s death and the lack of funds, the idea was canned. Today, the cathedral serves primarily as a concert hall, and its surrounding convents have been converted into offices and government buildings.