Massandra is a townlet in the Yalta region of Crimea. Occupying the spot of an ancient Greek settlement, Massandra was acquired by Counts Potocki in 1783.

In the mid-19th century, it passed to Prince Vorontsov Jr, whose father was the governor of New Russia. Enraptured by a picturesque setting, Vorontsov in 1881 engaged a team of French architects to design for him a château in the Louis XIII style. He died the following year and construction work was suspended until 1889, when the messuage was purchased by Alexander III of Russia. The tsar asked architect Maximilian Messmacher to finish the palace for his own use but he did not live to see it completed in 1900. During the Soviet years, the palace was employed by Joseph Stalin as his dacha.Today, Massandra is known for its agricultural production, namely fortified wines.

The Palace of Alexander III in Massandra is one of the best architectural constructions on the southern coast of the Crimea, dating from the second half of the XIX century. An architectural and arts museum has recently been unveiled in the Palace. Designed as an imitation of a romantic castle on the Loire River, the Palace with its bright looks was to reflect and merge harmoniously with the southern nature.

In Massandra abundant ornamentation, details of a Renaissance style and newly born art nouveau style can be found. However, the dominant feature is its baroque style.The exquisite decoration of the rooms is admired by all. All the architectural works executed on Massandra Palace are noted for their spectacular quality of workmanship and artistic taste.

The palace is also known as Stalin's Dacha. Surrounded by a nice little park with a fountain and set like Versailles, this charming summer palace once received the Russian Imperial family of Romanov.

Your guided visit to the Palace will allow you to admire its beautiful interior, furniture, art pieces and memorabilia of all sorts - photos, documents, letters - all carefully arranged. Stroll around the lovely palace garden and enjoy the views. Upon reboarding the motor coach, you will be taken through some of the narrow, winding streets of the new part of the town. This affords you an opportunity to watch the local people going about their daily business.

Massandra has one of the best architectural monuments of the South Coast of the Crimea, the palace of Emperor Alexander III. Count Vorontsov started palace construction close to John the Baptist’s Beheading Church in 1881. The palace in Luis XIII style was designed by a French architect Bushar.

In 1882 due to the death of Count Vorotsov the construction works of Massandra Palace were stopped till 1889, when Massandra estate of the Vorontsovs together with unfinished palace were bought for Emperor Alexander III. The Palace ensemble construction works were continued from 1892 till 1900 under design of professor Mesmakher.

A lot of changes were made to decorate façade in modernist style, interior and park layout were subject to change, as well. Architect Vegener supervised the construction works. But Alexander III didn’t manage to live there, as he died in Small Livadia Palace in 1894. During the Soviet time this marvelous architectural monument was a top secret facility. The ex-USSR Communist Party leaders and members of government stayed for holidays in the czar’s palace that became a state summer residence. Currently the palace is a tourist attraction.

The park of 6 hectares and the palace comprise a unique park and palace complex.
 

To Massandra palace man can drive from Yalta by trolleybus to the stop "Upper Massandra", a rock with a sculpture of an eagle to go on a road branching from the highway to the north, and pass it on to the palace.

You can get there by direct flight to Simferopol or through Kiev or Odessa.