# Likani Palace
- URL: https://explore-georgia.ge/en/places/likani-palace
- Type: place to visit
- Region: Samtskhe-Javakheti
- Coordinates: 41.836067, 43.39063

Likani Palace, also called the Romanov Palace, stands on the bank of the Mtkvari near Borjomi. It is built on an asymmetrical plan and set on a specially laid-out terrace; the decoration of its facades, each different from the others, reflects the architectural trends of its day. Its style is called Moorish, and the palace has a total area of 690 square metres. A large park with an orangery was laid out around it.

The palace keeps historical pieces: a table given to the Romanovs by Napoleon, an armchair given by the Shah of Iran, a walnut table made by Peter I with his own hands and a billiard table from the Romanov era. By some accounts there is also a Russian stove decorated with the animals of the Borjomi valley, and the arch of the central entrance is adorned with a porcelain parrot that turns in the draught. The Grand Duke's study was later used by Stalin; two nails, one in the table for his hat and one in the wall for his coat, are said to have been hammered in by Stalin himself. The walls of the butterfly bedroom are painted with butterflies, and a double-sided armchair is known as the "quarrelling couple". Part of the furniture is kept in the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia.

The look of the palace in the Romanov era is preserved in the colour photographs of Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky.

## History

The palace was built for Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich Romanov in 1892–1895. It was designed by Leon Benois, and the construction was directed by the Tbilisi architect L. Bielfeld. The grand-ducal estate at Borjomi covered 69,513 desyatinas. In 1898 a hydroelectric power station was built at Likani to light the palace, the first in the Russian Empire.

After Soviet power was established, the palace passed to the state and changed its function over the years. The first figures of the Soviet state often rested here, Joseph Stalin among them. In independent Georgia the palace became the summer residence of the president. In 2016 it was announced that the palace would be restored and reconstructed and turned into a museum; the works were to take up to three years, and the palace was to be closed in the meantime.

## Visit info

The palace is in Likani, about 0.9 kilometres from the centre of Borjomi. By some accounts it stands on the private grounds of the Borjomi Likani hotel and is not open to visitors. Check locally whether a visit is possible.

Likani is the end point of the Likani Valley Trail of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park (7 km, about 4 hours), which starts at the Likani ranger post (900 m). Horses can also be hired from local people in Likani, with a guide, for 60 lari a day or 30 lari an hour.

## Tips

To see the palace as it looked under the Romanovs, look at the colour photographs of Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky; part of its furniture can be seen in Tbilisi, in the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia. The Likani Valley Trail, known for untouched nature and views towards the Trialeti range, combines easily with a day in Borjomi.

## Safety

The palace is the summer residence of the president and, by some accounts, stands on private grounds: do not go in without permission, and follow the instructions of the guards. Before setting out on the Likani Valley Trail, registration at the visitor centre of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is required.

## Sources

- [Likani Palace — Georgian Wikipedia](https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/ლიკანის_სასახლე)
- [Likani Villa — English Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Likani_Villa)
- [Likani Palace — Russian Wikipedia](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Дворец_в_Ликани)
- [Borjomi — georgia.travel](https://georgia.travel/borjomi)
- [Romanov's Palace near Borjomi — Advantour](https://www.advantour.com/georgia/borjomi/romanovs-palace.htm)
- [Romanovs Palace in Likani to become a museum — Advantour](https://www.advantour.com/georgia/news/20160412-50.htm)
- [Likani Valley Trail — National Parks of Georgia](https://nationalparks.ge/ka/site/borjomi-kharagaulinp/tripsInner/24)
- [Likani Palace — Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16642125)

## This page in other languages

- [ქართული](https://explore-georgia.ge/ka/adgilebi/likanis-sasakhle)
- [Русский](https://explore-georgia.ge/ru/mesta/likanskii-dvorec)