THE LIVADIA PALACE | Crimea | Russia.
The summer home of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II. The imperial family spent the autumns of 1911 and 1913 and the springs of 1912 and 1914 in the palace, but did not return after the outbreak of the 1st World War. Their beautiful private apartments on the first floor of the palace are open to the public - Nicholas II’s private study including photos taken by the Tsar, a keen amateur photographer, the dining room, bedrooms and boudoir, the library - with a 1913 copy of the local society newspaper “Russkaya Riviera” - and poignantly, the classroom with a number of sketches by the Tsar’s daughters, Tatiana, Olga, Maria and Anastasia. The ground floor contains the more formal parts of the palace - the White Hall, 218 sq.m, where a full dress ball was held to mark the 16th birthday of the Tsar’s eldest daughter Olga, the state reception room, the English billiard-room in Tudor style, and Nicholas II’s state study. It also includes two particularly remarkable architectural achievements. The Italian courtyard is a wonderfully symmetrical combination of white limestone columns and balconies, enclosing a fountain ringed with palm trees and flowers. [video, info]
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