The magnificent structure created in the era of romanticism surprises and amazes modern man with the originality of architectural forms. An interesting style decision, an original layout, the greatest craftsmanship with which the walls and the entire decoration of the inner chambers are made, have been admiring several generations of connoisseurs of beauty.
Vorontsov Palace in Crimea is a most valuable monument of history and architecture. When creating it, the local landscape was so skillfully used that it seems that the structure is a continuation of nature itself.
M. S. Vorontsov - Russian statesman
Mikhail Semenovich was born in Russia in 1782, but a year later the boy was taken to England, where his father was sent as ambassador. The next meeting of the young count with his homeland took place after a long eighteen years. Vorontsov fell in love with the "good old" England - the family communicated closely with English society.
Arriving in Russia, the count tried to revive the memories of England. A nineteen-year-old young man was actively involved in the social and political life of the country - he participated in the Turkish and anti-Napoleonic wars. Marked with state awards for courage, distinguished himself with courage in the battles of Borodino and Smolensk. At thirty-three years, having received the rank of lieutenant general, he led the Paris Russian occupation corps. In 1888, he received the post of Governor-General of the Novorossiysk Territory, and then the Caucasus. In 1854 he was awarded the high rank of Field Marshal.
Service in the Novorossiysk Territory
When Crimea was annexed to Russia, the tsarist government generously distributed land to the famous military, officials at various levels, and noble nobles. But the complete impassability, the high cost of maintaining and transporting serfs here slowed down the development of the region. M. S. Vorontsov was a large landowner. In the south of Crimea he owned Massandra, Ai-Danil, Alupka, Gurzuf. He decided to turn his main estate in Alupka into a summer residence.
In 1824, he began large-scale construction in his estate and simultaneously paved the way from Simferopol to the South Bank. According to historians, 10, 000 soldiers worked at the construction site. In 1828, the construction of a large palace began, which ended ten years later, and finishing work continued until 1846.
To equip their Crimean possessions, Vorontsov begins a search for foreign architects, gardeners, builders of various specialties.
Architect Edward Blor
The Vorontsov Palace in Alupka was designed by the famous architect Eduard Blor at that time. In his youth, he devoted himself to the study and restoration of ancient monuments. He was later invited to the post of court architect George the Fourth, and then Queen Victoria. He is the author of Westminster Abbey, some elements of the facade of Buckingham Palace, large estates in Europe and Australia.
Vorontsov Palace in Alupka
On the west side is the main entrance to the palace. A feudal castle meets the entrant - monumental round watchtowers, completely blank walls. Visitors see this as a courtyard of outbuildings, a narrow and long medieval driveway that leads to the central building. Toothed high walls, windows-loopholes cause a feeling of impregnability. This impression is mitigated thanks to the openwork cast-iron bridge, on which serf musicians once walked to the dining room choirs.
The Vorontsov Palace in the Crimea becomes bright, filled with air, after you enter the front yard. Before the eyes of all entering, a magnificent landscape opens against the backdrop of the peak of Ai-Petri.
Architecture
The Vorontsov Palace in Alupka is designed in the style of the Tudors. This is the sixteenth-century English architectural style, the time of transition from Gothic to the era of luxury - the Renaissance. The mountainous terrain, the boundless expanse of the sea - a wonderful landscape that characterizes the Crimea. Vorontsov Palace, or rather, its northern facade, which faces Ai-Petri, is designed in the Gothic style. Flat roofs, towers, spiers resemble a medieval castle.
The Vorontsov Palace, the photo of which you see in this article, has a more festive and elegant southern facade. Its design used elements of oriental architecture. This is a deep niche that is framed by a double horseshoe-shaped arch. It is decorated with stucco reliefs. In order to further strengthen the eastern architecture of the portal, an inscription in Arabic is inscribed on its frieze. The Vorontsov Palace in Crimea has many elements of oriental architecture, albeit with English processing.
The Lion Terrace deserves special attention with a beautiful staircase, which is strictly guarded by six magnificent lions of white Carrara marble, made by Italian sculptor Giovanni Bonnani. They appeared in the palace in the year eighteen forty-eighth. This event marked the end of the construction of the palace. Today in the souvenir shop near the palace you can buy miniature copies of these animals.
The Vorontsov Palace in Crimea is built from Crimean volcanic rock - diabase, which in composition is very close to basalt. It was built by hereditary stone-cutters and masons manually, using a primitive tool. If you come to Crimea, Yalta must be in your tour schedule. Vorontsov Palace is a real monument of history and architecture, which everyone should see.
Interior design
A particularly festive and bright room of the Vorontsov Palace, no doubt, is the “Blue Living Room”. In the past, it housed a home theater. A magnificent white stucco pattern of shoots and flowers, completely covering the blue walls and ceiling, gives the room an unusual charm and sophistication. The massive oak door served as a kind of curtain. In 1863, an outstanding Russian artist M.S.Shchepkin performed at it.
The most spacious hall of the Vorontsov Palace is the Main Dining Room. It is decorated with carved wood, has a complex and delicate framing of doors, massive panel frames. The huge dining table is designed for 32 people. Chairs are made by Russian mahogany craftsmen according to English designs. The sideboard with a bathtub for cooling mahogany wines also looks exquisite. It was made in England. The main living room decoration is a decorative fountain. It is skillfully lined with majolica tiles and framed by diorite. Above the fountain is a small balcony on which serf musicians played. Ural craftsmen performed malachite candelabra for this living room.
Odessa: Vorontsov Palace
In the history of this southern hospitable city, Prince M. S. Vorontsov occupies a place of honor. During his service, the Governor-General of the Novorossiysk Territory is called the "golden age" of the city.
A harmonious combination of wealth and exquisite taste is the Vorontsov Palace. Odessa is very proud of this wonderful monument of history and architecture. In this luxurious building everything is thought out to the smallest detail. In everything, the Italian style is felt - in ornament and decoration, in the design of the palace with unique paintings. Once upon a time, at the place where the palace was built, there was a Turkish fortress. The construction was completed in 1827, the author of the project is the architect F.K. Boffo. The palace was built in the Empire style, which is distinguished by massiveness, pathos and a certain theatricality. During the reign of Vorontsov, this architectural direction conquered Odessa. Buildings with colonnades began to appear more and more often in the city, perfectly combined with the local landscape.
The Vorontsov Palace is the main building, with one side “looking” at the boulevard, a large outbuilding that is attached to the palace, a spacious courtyard that separates the residential part of the house from the stables, and the stables themselves.
