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{{Infobox museum
| name             = Dadiani Palace
| native_name      = დადიანების სასახლე
| native_name_lang = ka
| image            = ზუგდიდის დადიანების სასახლე და მუზეუმი.jpg
| imagesize        = 
| caption          = The palace of [[Ekaterine Chavchavadze|Princess Ekaterine]], the main structure of the complex. 
| alt              = 
| map_type         = Georgia Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti#Georgia
| map_caption      = 
| map_alt          = 
| map_relief         = yes
| coordinates      = {{coord|42|30|44|N|41|52|27|E|region:GE|display=inline,title}}
| established      = 1840
| dissolved        = 
| location         = Palace of Princess Ekaterine Chavchavadze-Dadiani,<br />2, [[Zviad Gamsakhurdia]] str., [[Zugdidi]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
| type             = [[Art museum]], [[Design]]/[[Textile]] Museum, [[Historic site]]
| collection       = 41,000
| visitors         = 
| director         = 
| president        = 
| curator          = 
| publictransit    = 
| network          = 
| website          = {{URL|http://www.georgianmuseums.ge/}}
}}
'''Dadiani Palace''' ({{lang-ka|დადიანების სასახლეთა ისტორიულ-არქიტექტურული მუზეუმი}}) is a complex of former princely residences in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. Located in [[Zugdidi]], [[Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti]] region of western Georgia, it currently serves as a museum.<ref name="dp">{{cite book |title=Dadiani Palaces – History and Architecture Museum Guide |author-link= Lili Beraia|author=Giorgi Kalandia |year= 2010|publisher= Dadiani Palaces History and Architecture Museum|location=Zugdidi |isbn= 978-9941-0-1991-3|page=7 }}</ref> Formerly a seat of the Georgian [[House of Dadiani]], it is considered to be one of the most eminent princely residences in the [[Caucasus]].<ref name="dp"/> Constructed in the 17th century and renovated in the 19th, the palace is a [[Neo-Gothic architecture|Neo Gothic]] building.<ref>Tim Burford {{google books|TRXGB7SJjVQC|Georgia (2011)|page=9}}</ref>

The main structure of the complex is known as the Queen's Palace, since it belonged to the [[Ekaterine Dadiani|Queen Regent of Mingrelia]].

==History==
The main structure of the Dadiani Palace in its present form is credited to the [[England|English]] architect Edwin Race (b. 1819), who was active in Georgia throughout the 19th century.<ref>T. Gersamia. [https://www.georgianart.ge/index.php/ka/2010-12-03-16-26-26/287-2022-01-07-09-40-34.html არქიტექტორი ედვინ რაისი], The [[George Chubinashvili]] National Research Center for Georgian Art History and Heritage Preservation: 21 Oct 2024</ref> The building is primarily in [[neo-Gothic]] style but also incorporates elements of Georgian, Russian, Islamic, and [[Tudor architecture]].<ref>T. Gersamia. [https://www.georgianart.ge/index.php/ka/2010-12-03-16-26-26/287-2022-01-07-09-40-34.html არქიტექტორი ედვინ რაისი], The [[George Chubinashvili]] National Research Center for Georgian Art History and Heritage Preservation: 21 Oct 2024</ref> 

The first exhibition at the palace displayed archaeological excavations of the ancient city of Nakalakevi, which was prepared by [[Samegrelo|Megrelian]] [[Dadiani|prince]] [[David Dadiani]], and took place in 1840.<ref name="dp"/> Three palaces form the modern museum complex, parts of which are also Blachernae Virgin Church and [[Zugdidi Botanical Garden]].<ref name="dp"/> The Dadiani Palaces History and Architecture Museum houses some exhibits of natural cultural heritage of Georgia – Tagiloni treasure materials, Mother of God holy vesture, the icon of queen [[Burdukhan of Alania|Bordokhan]] – mother of queen [[Tamar of Georgia]], manuscripts from 13th – 14th centuries, miniatures, memorial relics of [[House of Dadiani|Dadiani dynasty]], and objects connected to emperor of [[France]] [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] – brought to the palace by the husband of [[David Dadiani]]'s daughter [[Salome Dadiani]], prince [[Achille Murat|Prince Charles Louise Napoléon Achille Murat]] (1847-1895), grandson of Napoleon's sister [[Caroline Bonaparte]].<ref name="dp"/>

The palace was fully transformed into a museum on May 1, 1921, at the initiative of Georgian ethnographer and geologist [[Akaki Chanturia]].

== Archaeological collection ==
{{Multiple image
| caption_align = center
| total_width   = 315
| image1        = Akaki Chanturia.jpg
| width1        = 
| height1       = 
| alt1          = <!-- Alt text should be provided. See MOS:ALT -->
| link1         = Akaki Chanturia
| caption1      = [[Akaki Chanturia]], the founder of the Museum
| image2        = David Dadiani.jpg
| width2        = 
| height2       = 
| alt2          = <!-- Alt text should be provided. See MOS:ALT -->
| link2         = David Dadiani
| caption2      = [[David Dadiani]], Prince of Mingrelia
}}

In early 1848, the prince of Samegrelo, [[David Dadiani]], showed guests the archaeological and numismatic collection from Nokalakevi, an archaeological site in Samegrelo. Some of the exhibits were found by Dadiani himself, and some were purchased by him from settlers in his domain. The most important archaeological dig by [[David Dadiani]] was at [[Nokalakevi]] – known in antiquity as Archeopolis.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Dadiani Palaces Museum}}
* {{official|http://www.georgianmuseums.ge/}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Museums established in 1840]]
[[Category:1840 in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Museums in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Palaces in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti]]
[[Category:Immovable Cultural Monuments of National Significance of Georgia]]