Dacha Stamboli in Feodosia
A luxury villa on the Black Sea coast was built by a tobacco magnate in 1914. Dacha Stamboli in Feodosia is simply a masterpiece of architectural thought. The richest Karaite Joseph Stamboli spared no expense: at that time the construction of the mansion cost him a million gold rubles. The tycoon presented a huge house with a total area of 1,500 square meters and a gorgeous sea view to his wife Rachel on the occasion of their 10th wedding anniversary.
It looks like a four-tiered minaret-style tower. Oriental motifs can be traced in the entire appearance of the villa: pointed domes with spiers, terraces, arches, high windows. Bright colors and elaborate ornaments on the walls give a fabulous flavor.
Another feature of the interior of Dacha Stamboli is the multitude of tobacco symbols. The tycoon, as it were, emphasized the work of his whole life. The house has several smoking rooms with fireplaces, and in the design of the halls, on the facade and even in the drawing of a wrought-iron fence, you can see tobacco leaves.
History
It took five years to build the Stamboli dacha. But the family lived in their luxurious estate for only three years and sold it on the eve of the October Revolution.
At various times, the building was used for specific needs. There was the headquarters of the interim government, sanatoriums, during the war – a German hospital.
Since 1990, the history of Dacha Stamboli is even sadder. In the former mansion of the tobacco magnate, there was a drug treatment clinic, where, among other things, heavy smokers were treated.
And in 2013, a center for underwater archeology was “registered” at the dacha. We must pay tribute, enthusiasts engaged in the extraction of artifacts, saved the palace from devastation. Until now, on the second floor of the Stamboli mansion, there is a museum with exhibits raised from the bottom of the Black Sea.
What sights to see
Dacha Stamboli was created in the Art Nouveau style, but the interior surprisingly combines Turkish, Gothic and Victorian motives. These bold ideas were brought to life by the most famous architect of that time – Oscar Wegener, who became famous thanks to the construction of the Massandra Palace of Alexander III.
Now in the courtyard you will see a fountain with figurines of angels and a winter garden. And inside – the remnants of former luxury. The marble staircase is decorated with gilded railings, the ceilings are stucco, the floor is covered with patterned parquet. The palace is being gradually restored, so that the eastern fairy tale in Feodosia is gradually reviving.
The mansion is located not far from the Komsomolsky Park, so after Dacha Stamboli you can also walk here.
Dacha Stamboli at different times of the year
In spring, the two-storey cottage is buried in greenery, in the courtyard near the fountain with angels it is cozy, in the winter garden it is fresh. Without even entering the room, the guests freeze in delight from the architectural touches. At this time, the oriental style, interspersed with Gothic fragments, is somehow perceived differently, and the pretentiousness of the castle does not contrast so much with the dull surrounding modern buildings.
In summer, the windows of the main gallery of Dacha Stamboli offer beautiful views of the modern embankment of Feodosia and the endless Black Sea.
In autumn, when the soft rays of the sun peep into the spacious windows of the building, an unusual play of partial shade takes place on the Stamboli estate. The asymmetry that can be seen everywhere is emphasized even more and creates a special contrast in the palace. At this time, the Moorish charm inherent in medieval castles will amaze you.
Winter in Feodosia will be a little more comfortable if you visit such “warm places” as Dacha Stamboli. The fairy tale of the East reigns within the walls of the palace, even when the temperature outside is freezing.
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