The present-day building of Livadia Palace, made of white Inkerman stone, is the creation of Yalta architect Nikolai Krasnov, but both the palace and gardens incorporate features of Monighetti's original design - notably the small Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which was preserved during re-construction ordered by Nikolai II in 1904. On his first visit to his new palace, the Tsar wrote to his mother, the widowed Tsaritsa Maria Fyodorovna: "We can't find words to express our joy and satisfaction at having such a home, built exactly as we had wished. The architect Krasnov is an amazingly fine chap - just imagine, in a mere 16 months he's built the palace, the big suite and the new kitchens. What's more, together with our excellent gardener, he's laid out delightful gardens all around the new buildings so that this part of Livadia has gained much. The views in all directions are so beautiful, especially of Yalta and the sea. And there's so much light in the rooms now - you remember how dark it was in the old house..."
The imperial family spent the autumns of 1911 and 1913 and the springs of 1912 and 1914 in the palace, but did not return after the outbreak of the 1st World War.
