Vorontsov Palace (Youth Palace) – (Tbilisi City)
Vorontsov Palace (Georgian: ვორონცოვის (ახალგაზრდობის) სასახლე) – A luxurious Renaissance building is a beautiful architectural monument not only on Rustaveli Avenue, but in the entire city. Rebuilt in 1868 under the government of Count Vorontsov, the palace embodied in its architecture and interior decoration the historical grandeur and significance of the progressive royal governor in the life of Georgia. The magnificent elegance of the figured white building with a suite of arched windows makes an indelible impression on everyone who sees it for the first time. The interior decoration simply plunges into emotional shock with the beauty of the interiors and the luxurious richness of their design: gold decorations, the original design of unusual chandeliers, exquisite furniture, elegant lamps – everything causes admiration. The main facade of the palace overlooks the central avenue of the city, and from the west and south it is surrounded by a large garden.
The first building was constructed in 1802 and was significantly different from the current appearance of the palace, which has been repeatedly rebuilt. With the appointment of the Russian Emperor Mikhail Vorontsov as Viceroy of the Caucasus, the architectural appearance of the palace underwent radical changes. The palace was often the site of political, economic, cultural changes and important decisions in Georgia and neighboring Transcaucasian countries. In 1918, in this historic building in Tbilisi, then recognized as the administrative center of the Transcaucasian republics, the governments of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan declared the independence of their countries. Until 1937, the building was occupied by the Government of Soviet Georgia. Then the Palace of Pioneers was located in the building. Guided tours are available in a number of the surviving interiors, including the marble and mirror halls of the palace and Mikhail Vorontsov’s office. Currently, the palace is officially called the “National Palace of Student Youth of Georgia” (Georgian: საქართველოს მოსწავლე ახალგაზრდობის ეროვნული სასახლე ).
6, Rustaveli Avenue (Georgian: რუსთაველის პროსპექტი 6), Tbilisi Municipality (Georgian: თბილისის მუნიციპალიტეტი)