Salkhino Palace (Region of Samegrelo)
The Dadiani Princes Palace in Salkhino (Georgian: სალხინოს სასახლე) – The summer residence of the Dadiani princely family in Salkhino, is a magnificent architectural structure, personifying the wealth and luxury of the era, a vivid manifestation of the power and prestige of the Dadiani. Since the second half of the 19th century, thanks to the efforts of Georgian and French nobles – the Dadianis and the Murats, the Salkhino summer residence in Martvili became the center of cultural and political life. Magnificent receptions were held here, theatrical performances and musical concerts were played out in honor of honored guests from other countries. The doors of the Palace were opened only for the highest echelons of society, and it served as a symbol of holiness and dazzling wealth. The summer residence of Salkhino occupies a special place, being not only the site of important historical events, but also a testimony to magnificent architecture.
The layout of the palace with a basement and cellar on the ground floor, oak columns and arches decorated with beautiful ornaments, fully justifies the name “Salkhino”, which means “Festive”. Among the fancy alleys surrounded by groves of plane trees and boxwood, the Salkhino palace stands out with its two-story stone building and a cozy park for relaxation. In the large palace hall on the ground floor, a qvevri was dug in and a massive, very richly decorated fireplace with a seated statue of the God of wine Bacchus. The walls were decorated with chestnut and oak panels. The palace is surrounded by a garden designed by the Italian designer Zeb Lambert. Adjacent to the garden is a wine cellar – one of the main attractions of the palace, which has survived to this day. The summer residence of Salkhino is one of the few places in Georgia where they grow a rare variety of grapes Ojaleshi (Georgian: ოჯალეში) and make wine of the same name.
Salkhino village (Georgian: სოფელი სალხინო), Martvili Municipality (Georgian: მარტვილის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
