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Romanovs in Crimea

History of Russian Tsars and the whole Russia is tightly connected to Crimea. Russian Empress Catherine the Great (Catherine II) named Crimea “the precious pearl of our crown”.  The most significant cultural and economic rise commenced in Crimea when Catherine II manifested her will to annex Crimea to the Territory of Russian Empire (1783).  Naval fortress Sevastopol was founded as a base for Russian Black Sea fleet a few months afterwards.

 Alexander I Romanov was the first Russian Tsar who owned land in Crimea. He purchased South Crimean manor Oreanda near Yalta (1825). Built for tsar’s family, a nice Neo-Greek style palace Oreanda had been a cozy nest for Romanovs till early 1880th when it was destroyed in a fire.  Livadia became another favorite summer residence for the Romanovs. Chased by Bolsheviks, the Romanovs left Crimea for abroad a few  years after October revolution (1920).

Since the time of Alexander I, all Russian emperors and their family members came to the South Crimea for rest and health improvement.  Romanov dynasty owned many real estates of South Crimea. Romanov’s manors  Livadia, Massandra, Dulber, Chair, Ai-Todor, Khraks, Kichkine and others  survived World War II and nowadays serve as public museums or resort hotels. Palace architecture of Aristocratic manors in Crimea is not restricted to one style.  Italian Renaissance is combined here with Byzantine, Oriental, and Gothic motifs.

Romanovs in Crimea – History of Livadia Palace

300-anniversary of the house of Romanovs

Romanovs and History of tourism in Crimea

Romanovs in Sevastopol - video

Romanovs in Crimea - Photo archive