Livadia (White) Palace, Yalta

The grand Livadia Palace was created as a summer palace for Tsar Nikolas II. It was designed in the Italian Renaissance style by architect N. Krasnov (1864 - 1939). It was built on the site of the old palace and took seventeen months to build (from April 1910 - September 1911).

Modern technologies were used to build the palace. No expenses were spared and besides Inkerman stone, the architect used all kinds of expensive material to create this beautiful White Palace. Its main entrance was designed in the form of a protruded portico and decorated with Carrera marble. The other portico was built in Arabian style and both are in their original form.

The Livadia Palace is of course known for a significant and historic event of the Second World War which took place here - the Yalta Conference. The Heads of the three allied powers of the anti-Hitler coalition comprising the USSR, USA and Great Britain met at the Palace from February 4 - 11, 1945 to negotiate on how post-war Europe was to be carved up.

Delegates of the allied States participating in the Conference stayed in three palaces in Southern Crimea. The U.S. delegation stayed at the Livadia Palace, the British delegation was at the Alupka Palace whilst the USSR delegation was accommodated at the Koreiz Palace. Imagine the electrifying mood of the place during those 8 days!

This impressive Palace is filled with pictures and mementos that tell of the lives of the Romanovs and their eventual demise and of the great 1945 Yalta meeting. If time permits, there is also a beautiful garden and pathway that stretches for 7 km and takes you to Swallow's Nest.