Among the many buildings in Taganrog stands out with its magnificence Alferaki palace with a huge hall with gilded ceilings, choirs for musicians, huge chandeliers, unique. Outside the building attracts the eyes of his unusually lush and rich architectural decor, with heavy moldings baroque high central columns, sharply defined portico, which before the revolution was placed the coat of arms Handrinyh.

Alferaki the courtyard was built in 1848 by the famous architect from St. Petersburg AI Shtakenshnaydera recognized at the time the authority in the palace architecture, commissioned by one of the richest landowners in Taganrog, homeowner, Nikolai Dmitrievich Alferaki.

Family Alferaki belonged to the large Greek diaspora southern Russia, the bulk of which is settled on the Black Sea and Azov coasts during the reign of Catherine the Great. The first came at the Taganrog land after the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774 Dmitry Ilyich Alferaki. He, as an officer, was allocated to the estate Azov Sea, named after his native village Lakodemonovkoy.

The family finished building the mansion in 1848. Later the house was built a grand hall almost 9 meters high, decorated with a fireplace, paintings, clocks massive marble sculptures. Built by the magnificence of the mansion interior and exterior painting and art really represented an palace. Happy family lived in the mansion for 30 years. Prince MG Golitsyn after staying in Taganrog in 1857 highlighted in the journal "Library for Reading" and the wealth of artistic elegance Alferaki home.

In the main two-story house on a host resident landowner Nikolai Alferaki and a large outbuilding - sons older Alferaki - Nikolai, Sergei, Michael and Achilles. They were not followers of the trading business of his father Achilles became a composer, Nikolai - famous traveler. No wonder that after his father's death, ND Alferaki, lavish lifestyle of children has led to the decline of the estate. In 70 years of home ownership has expanded to the entire quarter and became the property of the merchant Negroponte, who sold it in parts. The palace and gardens merchants for redemption by the Company "Commercial Meeting" - was the name of their club. In the hall of the club are often concerts with celebrities of the time. Former life since the inevitable card games vividly described by Anton Chekhov in Taganrog after staying in "The Ionich", "mask", "My Life."

After the 1917 revolution, the building housed different institutions, and in 1927 it was handed over to local history museum based in Taganrog AP Chekhov. It existed on the meager resources the museum needs a complete overhaul, and began in 1966. A renovation completed by November 1971, to transform it in a way that has disappeared from the ceiling moldings and art painting on biblical themes, to the store removed the mirror and sculptures - minimalism was not to detract from the main exhibition.

In the period of 1989-1996 held in the Palace's restoration work, which would largely restore the grandeur and architectural brilliance of the building, especially the famous bunk room, where to this day there are exhibitions, concerts, celebrating the landmark date in the history of the city, the solemn marriage . Since 1995, the exposition is open now, back the tradition of concerts and exhibitions, the museum once again became the center of cultural life in Taganrog.