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A quiet tranquillity breezes through the arched columns which support the Imperial Palace called Livadia. Nestled on a cliff outside the town of Yalta in the Crimea and overlooking the beautiful Black Sea, this Italian Renaissance style mansion made of white limestone, was the place czar Nicholas II once described as a sanctuary.
Rebuilt from its original wood state in a hybrid Tatar-villa style, Livadia was a personal possession of the Romanov family, unlike Peterhof and the Winter Palace which belonged to the Russian state. However due to extremely damp and unsanitary conditions, the first Livadia was torn down after Nicholas II caught typhoid fever there and almost died as a result. In its place, Nicholas and Alexandra constructed a fairytale summer palace which occupied the exact site of the original: overlooking the Black Sea.
The 'new' Palace was completed in 1911; not only was it quite a bit larger than the original, it was extremely expensive to build. It had the latest technological developments and for itâs time, state of the art sanitation facilities. The Palace proved to be extraordinarily impressive due to its beautiful design. Consequently, it was furnished in a style of luxury beyond compare. Its interiors were clad with rare and expensive woods, delicate wall coverings, fabrics and plush carpets. And like the Alexander Palace, Livadia also had an enormous Imperial garage built near the Palace to house Nicholas' rapidly expanding collection of cars and limousines.To be sure, Livadia has a history as rich as those whoâve walked its halls, danced in its ballrooms, slept in its beds, while in the distance waves crashed ever so gently against the mountain of rock which supported the elegant compound. Yet, most of all the white palace was the refuge for the Imperial Russian family during those cold dreary winters of Moscow and St. Petersburg. It was also a summer haven to which the family retreated long before czar Nicholas was crowned "Emperor of all the Russias".
During the reign of Nicholas II, it was no wonder that those who were invited to visit the Imperial family in such a setting, would recall a much more relaxed emperor and empress who preferred to live quietly there. For it was at Livadia, they were able to unwind from their royal duties, living rather informally. A walk through one of the many delicate gardens rich with flowers which the czarina herself treasured, was common practice for the children to partake with their father. The czar of course being a lover of the outdoors, sought his time at Livadia to take advantage of the tennis, horseback riding, swimming, hiking, boating and picnics the peaceful area offered. In fact, he could often be found attempting to chase butterflies or such things with any one of the children, particularly grand duchess Marie, who had an affinity for small creatures.Yet in 1894 life at Livadia was temporarily different from the rather carefree days of czar Nicholas' rule. For it was here at Livadia that then emperor of Russia, Nicholas' father, Alexander III, became deathly ill. Sensing the worst, the young czarevich sent for his love, Alix of Hesse to join him as he stood at his father's bedside.
The Hessian princess traveled by train to be with her fiancee, but due to the family's deep concern for their czar, proper attention was not given to her arrival and the young royal was due to fend for herself most of the trip without the usual formalities so given to a princess of her stature.
Nevertheless, there was extreme joy when she wired mid-way through her journey to her beloved that she requested the ceremony of her conversion to the orthodox religion occur at Livadia during her visit. Czarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich could not have been more pleased. He wrote in his diary his delight, "My God what a joy to meet her in my country and to have her near. Half my fears and sadness have disappeared." However, when Alix finally did arrive she was greeted by a family facing imminent doom. Immediately, the dying czar received the young couple, Nicholas and Alexandra, in full dress uniform and offered them his blessing for their marriage. Ten days later on November 1st at the age of forty-nine, Alexander III was dead. "God, God, what a day," wrote czarevich Nicholas. "The Lord has called to him our adored , our dear, our tenderly loved Papa. My head turns, it isnât possible to believe it. All day we rested upstairs near him. His respiration became difficult, suddenly it became extreme unction; soon light trembling began and the end followed quickly. Father John remained with him an hour at the bedside, holding his head. It was the death of a saint, Lord assist us in these difficult days. Poor dear Mama."
An altar was erected on the lawn of Livadia in the days to follow as a tribute to the Alexander III. Later the palace was draped in black and the Imperial summer retreat was invaded with priests and visiting monarchs who had come to pay their respects as the orthodox ceremonies of death continued. A week later the emperor's coffin left Livadia draped in purple for the official ceremonies to follow in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Because of the significant events which had occurred at Livadia binding the Imperial family more closely together, the palace would long remain a place they could come to for recovery and renewal of strength. In fact, Easter, the most significant holiday in Russian orthodoxy was always celebrated at Livadia with much fan fair and splendor. It became a festivity of joy where Nicholas and Alexandra gave the entire staff the traditional three kiss blessing, welcome and joy. Young people would stand in line to receive tiny offerings from the czarina and the grand duchess. Easter eggs of exquisite sizes, painted with intricate detail and patience were passed out to courtiers. Then of course the more traditional Faberge eggs were gifted among family members as priceless favor of this special time. All incorporated around fantastic feasts and prayer.
Still, at Livadia extravagant parties were somewhat uncommon, although the sixteenth birthday of grand duchess Olga proved to be quite the contrary. The emperor and empress gave a full dress ball in honor of the day. Olga glowed as she received her first set of jewels (a diamond ring and necklace consisting of thirty-two diamonds and pearls) from her parents prior to the gala event. She wore them proudly on the dance floor where dressed in a pink ballgown, she twirled in the arms of her father on the floor of the grand state dining room. Afterwards, a sumptuous dinner was served, followed by more dancing in the garden moonlight. This was a glorious time for grand duchess Olga and one she would always remember fondly.
For the Imperial family Livadia proved to be a time for living. It was a place they hoped to go when under house arrest after the czars abdication. Unfortunately, they we sent to Siberia, later executed never to see their white palace again. In 1945 Livadia was the site for the Yalta conference. Today it is a well known tourist object on the Crimea.
