Dadiani Palace in Zugdidi is the historical residence of Mingrelian rulers from the Dadiani clan, located in the Georgian city of Zugdidi. Erected in 1873-1878 for Princess Catherine Dadiani, the palace was designed by architect Edgar J. Rice and made in the style of the Vorontsov Palace in Alupka. The second palace was built in the 1880s for her son according to the design of Leonid Vasilyev.
Today, part of the palace complex is occupied by a historical museum, founded in 1849 on the initiative of the ruler of Megrelia, David Dadiani. The museum stores about 41,000 exhibits, including rare examples of Georgian national culture, including antique masks, 12th-century icons, European military weapons and works of Western European masters. A special feature of the collection is one of the three death masks of Napoleon, brought to Megrelia by Prince Achille Murat.
The Zugdidi Botanical Garden with an area of 26.4 hectares, founded by Ekaterina Alexandrovna Chavchavadze-Dadiani, is located around the palace. The garden was decorated with plants brought from Europe.
The Dadiani Palace and its museum are of significant interest to historians, cultural experts and tourists who want to get acquainted with the rich history of Georgia and its cultural heritage. A visit to the complex allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of past centuries, appreciate the architecture and variety of exhibitions, and also stroll along the picturesque alleys of the botanical garden.
