Description of the attraction
On the Black Sea coast, just west of Yalta, at the very foot of the legendary Mount Koshka, there is the resort village of Simeiz. The founder of the Simeiz estate is the famous industrialist I. A. Maltsev, who, together with his brothers at the end of the 19th century, founded the resort village and turned it into one of the most comfortable and prestigious aristocratic Crimean resorts.
Particular attention is drawn to a number of unique villas that have survived to this day - Villa Xenia, Villa Cameo, Villa Dream, Villa Swan, Villa Miro-Mare and others.
Villa Xenia is one of the most memorable architectural monuments of Simeiz and together with Villa Dream has long been the resort's hallmark. Villa Ksenia was built at the beginning of the 20th century for Countess V. A. Chuykevich, the famous architect Ya. P. Semenov, and the front facade of the building was designed by the famous master of architecture N. P. Krasnov.
The villa successfully combines the Northern Art Nouveau style with some Gothic elements, as evidenced by the cone-shaped high spiers, elongated narrow windows and smooth gray plaster imitating the medieval style. However, for all its severity, Villa Ksenia is decorated with numerous terraces, light large windows and loggias, which brought a little southern charm and playfulness to the building, so its original design is so reminiscent of a cozy and elegant Swiss chalet. On a small plot of the villa, the gatehouse, two residential buildings designed for 28 rooms, a restaurant, a leisure hall, shops and an observation deck were located.
Villa Ksenia is located almost in the very heart of Simeiz and is perfectly visible from any part of the village. This is a wonderful creation of great masters with a sad and tragic fate. The owners of the estate, after several years of its heyday, prudently decide to sell the villa to Mr. M. B. Solovovo, because there are big changes ahead. After the revolution, many guests and residents of Simeiz emigrated from the country, and after the nationalization of the property, the villa Ksenia was first turned into a hotel boarding house, and later into communal apartments.
Villa Ksenia is now privately owned and is an almost abandoned building, the restoration of which is not being done by anyone. Filmmakers quite often use the exterior and interior of Villa Ksenia when filming films, and the locals nicknamed the villa "Haunted House".
Not far from Villa Ksenia, there is another famous building - Villa Dream. The complete architectural opposite of Xenia, these two villas complement each other wonderfully harmoniously against the backdrop of boxwood lawns and tall cypress trees.
