At the foot of Mount Ai-Petri above the city of Alupka majestically rises the Vorontsov Palace. He so beautifully blended into the Alupka landscape, the evergreen vegetation of the town and the mountain range, as if all this was born in a single dance at the same time.
This unique monument of architecture was built in the early nineteenth century for the military statesman Count M.S. Vorontsova. In the original layout reflects the era of Romanticism. The architect of the Vorontsov Palace, Eduard Blor, created a project that perfectly combines oriental splendor, Arabic charm and English style .
Architecture of the palace
The rear facade or the western part is similar to the villa of the English kings of the Renaissance. The feeling of inaccessibility is created by narrow loopholes, crenellated walls of coarse masonry and two massive towers.
The northern part is a sample of English Tudor architecture of the 16th century, with vertical protrusions and large windows. On one of the towers is still working hours, which beat every hour. They were made in London.
To get to the central entrance, you need to climb the monumental staircase, which is guarded by three pairs of lions of white marble. On the frieze of the deep niche of the facade, which is covered with stucco ornament, the inscription in Arabic "There is no winner except Allah!" Is the motto of the Grenadian caliphs. The southern facade is in Moorish style.
Interiors of the Vorontsov Palace
There are 150 rooms in the palace. The most interesting are the blue living room, the Chinese cabinet, the cotton room and the dining room . Each room is made in different styles. In the grand furniture of fine wood. Candelabras, vases, crystal products, malachite were specially made at Russian factories. Doors and panels are made of stained oak.
In the halls there are a lot of various rare things that made the Vorontsov Palace a museum. The museum collected over 11 thousand copies. The greatest value is represented by paintings by Russian artists, books, drawings, maps. In Shuvalov Corps, permanent exhibitions of paintings and graphics from museum funds are open.
Winter garden Vorontsov Palace
A distinctive passage between the blue room and the grand dining room is the winter garden of the Vorontsov Palace. At the present time, as at that time, the design of the winter garden looks like a gallery. Ficus-repens twigs along the walls, date palms and two high araucaria stand in the kadushki. Among the greenery you can see statues of marble. Along the southern wall are the sculptures of the owners of the Vorontsov Palace, which are executed very realistically.
The winter garden of the Vorontsov Palace is very light. Originally it was a loggia, which was later glazed, and on top a flashlight for better illumination.
Palace park
The Vorontsov Palace Park is divided into Upper Park and Bottom. In each of them there are walking alleys that are parallel to the coastline. In the park, the connection of architecture with Ancient Greece and Plato's garden is emphasized, the laurel, oaks, plane trees are planted.
In the Lower Park there are primitive fountains. Of greater interest is the Upper Park with its flower gardens, fountains and stone statues. Here you can see Moonstone, Small and Great chaos, feel the coolness under the shadow of the Olive grove. You can observe and feed swans on the lakes of the park, there are three of them: Troutnoe, Swan and Mirror, stroll along Platinum, Solnechnaya and Chestnut glades.
You can get to the Vorontsov Palace from the village of Alupki (a resort town 17 km from Yalta) or through Mishor, along the Yalta road, along the sea.
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