Chrysokeras Palace

Chrysokeras Palace is a Mesogeian imperial residence located in the small town of Kaiservilla, a settlement located just outside Alexandropolis. The palace is one of three imperial palaces located in the village all of which situated on the Blachernai Imperial Park. The 1,500 room rococo palace has served as a summer residence of the Mesogeian monarchs for over 400 years.

History

In 1520, Emperor Manuel V, purchased the plains adjoining the Blachernai Castle and began the process of building a palace and a place for hunting. The Emperor filled the palace's grounds with pheasants, ducks, deer, and boar. While the pools were filled with fresh water fish brought from lakes and springs far from the capital. The original palace was completed in 1548.

During the next century successive emperors used the palace and its grounds for hunting and recreation. The palace's name means golden horn in the Greek language. In 1731 Theodora II commissioned the imperial court architect to expand the palace, she however found the palace outdated and inconvenient for housing the imperial court so she asked the court architect to demolish the palace and to replace it. The court architect replaced the old palace with a grand rococo style palace. The architect presented the palace to the Empress, her courtiers, and foreign ambassadors on 25 June 1735

Michael XIV, the longest lived emperor of Mesogeia was born at Chrysokeras and spent many years in the palace.

Palace interior

The palace's interior consists of lavishly furnished state rooms including the great hall, privy dining room, white dining room, portrait gallery, Constantine XIX drawing room, green drawing room, blue drawing room, the agate room, Chinese drawing room, amber room, with a palace chapel