Traveling with the Jones

This statue — of a Trojan War hero — stands as guardian of a palace named after him.

The palace overlooks the Ionian Sea and has impressive gardens and sculptures.   

What’s the name of the Palace?  What island is it located on in what country?

Hints about the Palace:

• It was built by an Austrian empress
• She was assassinated by an Italian anarchist
• The palace changed ownership multiple times
• It was featured in a James Bond movie as a casino.
• It’s now is a popular museum.

Be the first to post your answer in comments.

Check back on Wednesday for a post on the destination.

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One of Gibralter’s famous Barbary Apes at the top of The Rock.

A 7-minute cable car ride transports you to the top of “The Rock” of Gibraltar. Besides stunning views, the Rock is known for being home to Europe’s only Barbary Macaque population of tailless monkeys. Locally, the monkeys are referred to as Barbary Apes.

According to popular legend, Gibraltar will remain under British rule as long the Barbary Apes exist on Gibraltar.

The monkeys are featured in the popular Stieg Larsson novel, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest.

Read about our visit to Gibraltar here.

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Small fairytale castle Swallow’s Nest overhangs a cliff above the Black Sea, near Yalta, Ukraine.

Hovering precariously on the Aurora Cliff 130 feet above the Black Sea, Swallow’s Nest is a small Neo-Gothic castle designed by Russian architect Leonid Sherwood.

In 1911 Baron von Steinheil, a Baltic German noble who made his fortune developing Baku oilfields, bought the land and commissioned the building. Said to be homesick for his native country, von Steinheil patterned it after his memories of knight castles from the middle Ages.

Local legend claims von Steinheil built Swallow’s Nest as a surprise for his wife, naming it “Castle of Love”.   Unfortunately, von Steinheil’s wife was deathly afraid of heights and therefore never lived in the castle.

Another legend says the Baron built the castle for his mistress.

Perhaps all of these “legends” are just good stories made up by tour guides.

Regardless within two years, von Steinheil sold his “Castle of Love” in 1914, to  P. Shelaputin who planned to use the building as a restaurant.

A major earthquake

In 1927, the castle survived a serious earthquake.  While the building only suffered minor damage, the cliff on which it sets developed a large crack.   Swallow’s Nest was closed to the public for more than 40 years due to the damage it suffered in that quake.

In 1968, a concrete plate was added to stabilize the cliff and Swallow’s Nest was renovated.   A top-rated Italian restaurant opened in the building in 1975, which still operates today.

Swallow’s Nest hangs over the cliff above the Black Sea. Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg.

With a size of only 65ft by 33ft, the castle is compact.  It’s observation deck circles the building providing views of the Black Sea, Bear Mountains, and in the distance, the city of Yalta.

Getting to Swallow’s Nest

We visited the Swallow’s Nest, the Alupka Palace and other highlights of Yalta on a Black Sea cruise on Holland America’s ms Prinsendam.  Read about our visit here – Palaces, lazy lions and Massandra wine.

We enjoy discovering unique places.    What’s your favorite destination discovery?  Please share in comments.

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