Olga Pavilion

Sea island )

... 👑 .. in Mulhouse France

The Holguin Pavilion is a gift from Emperor Nicholas I to his daughter, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, on the day of her marriage to Prince Karl of Württemberg. The pavilion was built in the style of country villas on the island of Sicily, in the capital of which, Palermo, the issue of the marriage of the Grand Duchess was decided. The pavilion is a three-story tower with a terrace and stairs descending directly to the water. Once, boats, gondolas and a ferry moored here. The smooth walls of the pavilion are revived with bas-reliefs, balconies, niches with marble busts, original rain drains in the form of winged dragons. The tower, smooth winding paths with strawberries planted along them, trees, bushes of lilac, barberry, jasmine, lawns and flowers - the entire ensemble of the small island Holguin created a sense of serenity and peace. The illusion of the Garden of Eden, where a person is in harmony with himself, was supported by peacocks walking on the island. The interior decoration of the Olga Pavilion is quite restrained, but not without sophistication: modest stucco and picturesque ornaments, parquet floors, marble fireplaces. On the ground floor, the Dining Room, where the royal family arranged breakfasts and afternoon tea, during which they drank coffee, "ate tea." The Empress and Olga Nikolaevna preferred coffee, and Nikolai the First loved tea, and, according to Olga’s recollections, “... sometimes he ate pickled cucumber”. A round table near the fireplace is served with objects from the dowry of Olga Nikolaevna. These are bleached linen napkins, silverware, porcelain and silver tableware. The dowry, the list of which occupied dozens of pages, corresponded to the rank and dignity of the Russian Grand Duchess. Olga Nikolaevna was a real beauty, which is confirmed by the portrait painted in Palermo in 1846 by the artist P. Orlov. The happy days of rest in Sicily are reminded in the Dining Room by paintings with views of Italy. The landscapes of the "dreamland" are also adorned by the Cabinet of Olga Nikolaevna, designed without undue pomp - the daughters of Nicholas I were brought up in Spartan simplicity. On the desktop of the Cabinet are writing instruments, including a mosaic press depicting the Sicilian coat of arms. On a separate table is a box for needlework. The royal daughters embroidered well, in addition, they knew how to play music, they were taught drawing, singing, dancing, horseback riding. On the third floor of the pavilion is the Cabinet of Nicholas I, decorated more modestly than the interiors of his daughter, and decorated with a sculptural portrait of the emperor himself by Ivan Vitali, as well as engravings depicting the cities of Italy in which the father of the Grand Duchess visited.

Nice place, unusual history of the origin of the islands. Strict pavilion shopkeepers, lovely and knowledgeable guides. Charming peacocks. Suddenly see a Venetian handball at the end of the tour.

A beautifully restored pavilion belonging to the daughter of Nicholas 1. Sculpture and small forms were restored on the island. Earlier there were balls on the stage set on the surface of Olgin pond