Vorontsov Palace, located in Odessa on the Primorsky Boulevard, is the monument of architecture of the early XIX century. It was built on the edge of the seaside hill, on the place of the former Turkish fortress Hadzhibey in 1827 by architect F.K. Baffo in the Empire style. The palace has always attracted the attention of residents and visitors of the city. In 1837 it was visited by the famous poet V. A. Zhukovsky, who admired the beauty of the building and the rich library, which was later donated to the University of Odessa, where it is located for today under the name of “Vorontsov Fund”.

Vorontsovsky Dvorets (Vorontsov Palace) - built in 1827 in classical Russian style, this palace was once the residence of Count Vorontsov, who served as Pushkin's guardian while the poet lived and worked (he was employed as a civil servant) here in exile. Pushkin considered Vorontsov to be a harsh chaperone and taskmaster, describing him as a "vandal, a cad, and a petty egoist," in letters to the writer Ivan Turgenev. The flamboyant Pushkin - known for his philandering - had an affair with Vorontsov's wife (perhaps history's most definitive case of "poetic justice"). Vorontsov was Governor of Novorossiisk (New Russia), a region that surrounded Odessa. His palace became the headquarters of the Odessa Soviet (a sort of city hall) after the Bolshevik Revolution, and later was restored to and became the Palace of Pioneers. Located at the far northeastern end of Primorsky Bulvar.

Vorontsov chose to build his city palace on the spot where the former governor general Richelieu's humble house had once stood. Vorontsov was so impressed with Boffo's work, that he contracted Boffo to design the Potemkin Stairs. In 1906 it became an engineering school. During this time, next to the former palace was Lloyd's Travel Agency where the city's elite could purchase tickets for their trips abroad.

In 1917 it was the headquarters of the Soviet Red Guards, and in March 1917 the first Soviet of Workers' and Sailors' Deputies met in the building. In 1936 the Vorontsov Palace was acquired by the Young Pioneers, and renamed the Children's Palace. The present day palace is only the front part of the original structure, the less valuable part of the complex, the Orlov wing was torn down. The Orlov wing was mainly apartments and outbuildings--nicknamed the "Orlovsky outhouse", it stretched from today's Mother-in-Law's Bridge. In the second-half of the 20th century, the palace has had two fires. In 1994 sculptor Mikhail Reva built a fountain called "Day and Night" in the courtyard. Unfortunately, the fountain hasn't had any water since 1999.

Vorontsov Palace is located on the edge of the earth cliff. The ornament and decoration of the palace are not worse than of the palaces of Italy at that time. Just after the construction the building was surrounded with the garden and greenhouses. The stables, located opposite the main entrance, were adjacent to the main building and there was attached a large wing at right angle to the building, which has been preserved to this day. Also, the eyes of modern tourist cannot miss the Vorontsov fountain and iron grating that surrounded the garden and which in 50 years of XX century was sent for scrap metal.

In the XIX century, during the Crimean war, Vorontsov Palace was badly damaged: the ships of the Anglo-French squadron fired on it. When Count Vorontsov was informed about the bombing of the city, he pointed to hide rare books from its library, the main treasures of the palace.
During the Civil War the interior of the palace suffered greatly: there was the headquarters of the Red Guards, there were always held the meetings, and demonstrations and rallies were held on its territory.
At the beginning of XX century there was located the chess club in the Vorontsov Palace, in 1936 there was opened the Palace of Pioneers. When the Pioneer organization collapsed, the Palace was handed over to officials.

The building that we see today is only the front part of the original structure. The Orlov wing comprising mainly apartments and outbuildings and considered the less valuable part of the complex, was torn down. On the front, Tony noticed some Arabic inscriptions, but due to the lack of English translation, we were not able to make out its significance. On the seafront side of the palace, an elegant white rock colonnade in the shape of an arc forms part of the Palace structure. This Grecian-looking colonnade comprises ten pairs of Tuscan pillars and from here you have a panoramic view of the port area. This must be a popular wedding photography location and when we were there a young couple arrived in their horse and carriage.

Mikhail Semenovich Vorontsov comes from a family best remembered for their influence on the development of Russian culture and history after the palace revolution of 1741. When Empress Elisabeth ascended to the throne, the Vorontsovs served as chancellors, viceroys, field marshals, senators, and ambassadors, among many other positions. In the 18th century Mikhail Illarionovich became chancellor and his niece, Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova (nee Vorontsova) was director of the Imperial Academy of Sciences as well as president and founder of the Russian Academy. Her brother Alexander was chancellor at the beginning of the 19th century and their nephew, Mikhail Semenovich, was later viceroy of the Caucasus.

When Mikhail was young, his father chose to carry out his diplomatic duties in England and Venice so that his children could have the best of education. Mikhail himself was an exceptional individual who played an active part in the development of Odessa. Of aristocratic background, he could have had his pick of the highest positions at court and in the army when he returned to Russia, yet he asked to be appointed a mere lieutenant and went to the frontline to fight in the real war. He is believed to have been on the battlefield practically without a break for about twenty years. His successes at battles won him many promotions and imperial awards, culminating in Tsar Nicholas elevating him to the rank of Prince in recognition of his services during the Caucasus campaign and of the imperial debt owed him.

In 1936 the palace became the children’s palace for young pioneers. After the war, it was named in memory of sixteen-year-old Young Communist League member Yakov Gordienko. When we were there the place was deserted, but for a resident band practising their very loud Western music.