The Great Palace makes the heart of the world-famous Livadia ensemble.
In 1830s the grounds of Livadia belonged to the Potoskis.
At that period two buildings were erected here, as well as the church
and subsidiary structures, while gardener Delinger laid out a park.
In 1860 the estate was bought by the Tsar’s family.
In 1862-1864 architect I. Moniguetti rebuilt some buildings and constructed
the Great (While) Palace (designed by N. Krasnov)
consisting of over than 120 rooms. The walls, order details and outer
stairs were made of Inkerman limestone, Krymbal stone,
polished Balaklava limestone and Gurzuf limestone, the
floors were made of ferro-concrete, marble stairs were finished out oak,
and central water heating was connected with ventilation.
On the whole, the palace is constructe d in Italian
Renaissance style of the 15th-16th centuries,
a number of living quarters have features of English
style, the well and the chimera on the balcony include some Gothic elements.
The Palace Church built by I. Moniguetti in the Bysantine style in 1872
has been reconstructed. After the Revolution of 1917 the Palace ensemble
was nationalized. In 1925 the Livadia Peasant Resort was opened here.
Six years later it was reorganized into a climatic resort-sanatorium.
In February 1945 the main dining hall saw the Yalta Conference
of the leaders of the USSR, the USA and Great Britain which came
to significant decisions on the post-war order of the world.
Since 1974 an exhibition complex has been to the public.
| The Eastern entrance into Palace. |
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| The Italian courtyard of the Livadia Palace is reminiscent of Renaissance palaces. The palace premises are grouped around two courtyards. One of them, covered with a glass latern is executed in the Oriental style. It is faced with Arabian faience tiles and has a wall fountain, the paths being laid out with marble. The Italian courtyard is very expressive with an arcade resting on Doric columns. In the center, there is a small regular garden with a fountaine. The entrance to it is faced with forged railings made by masters from Urals, under the cruciform vaults there are“ Florentine laterns and marble benches which are made after Florentine patterns. |
| In gallery of Italian courtyard. |
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