Alferaki Palace

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Alferaki Palace is a mansion in Taganrog, Russia, originally the home of rich merchant Nikolay Alferaki. It was built in 1848 by the architect Andrei Stackenschneider in the downtown Taganrog on Frunze Street (formerly Katolicheskaya). The building is decorated with a portal featuring four Corinthian columns and stucco moulding in baroque style. Inside was created suite of rooms, and a spaceous hall with ceiling-painting.

1 History
2 Views of the palace
3 Museum collection
4 See also
5 External links
6 References

[edit] History

The first owners of the palace were Nikos Alferakis, who was born in Taganrog and his family. Mikhail Shchepkin stayed In Alferaki Palace in July 1863. In 1870s after the Alferaki family went bankrupt, the palace was sold to the Greek merchant Negroponte. Its garden was sold to merchant community. It re-opened as Commercial Assembly. Anton Chekhov (as a student of The Boys Gymnasium) visited concerts given at the commercial club's in 1876, and later mentioned the palace in his novels Ionych, Mask and My life.

From February to April 1918 the mansion became the headquarters of the Soviet Workers' council of Taganrog.

Later during occupation in 1918 it housed German war hospital, and in 1919 – Anton Ivanovich Denikin's staff.

After establishment of Soviet power in Taganrog, the building accommodated various institution, after 1927 it housed the Museum of Regional Studies (founded in 1898 by Anton Chekhov).

Alferaki Palace was renovated in 1991-1996 and is now open to public as Museum of Regional Studies, though more commonly known under the name Alferaki Palace.

The spacy hall with amazing acoustics is also used by the Municipality in the official ceremonies, especially the annual ceremony of honoring the best school graduates by the Mayor of Taganrog.

[edit] Views of the palace

Alferaki palace and Katolicheskaya street (photo of the 1900s).	Commercial Assembly in the former Alferaki's mansion, early 20th century	Photo of the late 19th century.	Photo taken in 2002.
Photo taken in 2004.	Photo taken in 2006.	Gates into the Alferaki Palace yard (from Ulitsa Frunze), photo taken in 2006.

[edit] Museum collection

The basis of museum collections is formed with funds related to famous historical or artistic personalities, including authentic personal belongings of the Russian tsars Alexander I of Russia and Peter I of Russia, playwright and poet Nestor Kukolnik, the founder of Russian heraldry Alexander Lakier, the great actress Faina Ranevskaya, author of children's books Ivan Vasilenko, romantic composer Achilles Alferaki, general Paul von Rennenkampf and many more.

The project of the Saint Trinity fortress and seaport of Taganrog (established by Austrian engineer Baron Ernst Friedrich von Borgsdorf).	Medal given by Peter I of Russia to the architect of Taganrog's haven, Matthew Simon in 1709.	Portrait of Yelizaveta Alexeevna (fragment, slightly cropped), born Louise of Baden, spouse of Alexander I of Russia.	Portrait of Mayor-General Alexandre Remi, friend of Mikhail Lermontov
Portrait of Ioannis Varvakis attributed to Vladimir Borovikovsky	authentic belongings of the czar Alexander I of Russia from the former Alexander I Palace in Taganrog, now exhibited at the Alferaki Palace.	authentic belongings of the czar Alexander I of Russia from the former Alexander I Palace in Taganrog, now exhibited at the Alferaki Palace.	Books by Alexander Lakier, founder of the Russian Heraldry.
a 14-th century Buddha statue brought by Russian General Paul von Rennenkampf to Taganrog in 1917.	Anna Marly memorabilia (incl. authentic Légion d'Honneur (1985) and a golden medal (1988)) offered by the French singer to the Alferaki Palace in 2002.	Archeological exposition of Ancient Greek city Cremna	The portraits of Nikos and Lubov Alferakis in their youth years, from the former private collection of Anna Marly.