Thanks to @axeman & @xpilar for once again organizing this awesome contest through which we all learn new things and places
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The Conservatory of San Souci is the last and largest palatial building built in the San Souci Park. It is an impressive example of the buildings erected by Frederick William IV, 'The Romantic of the Throne'. The imposing structure with its plant halls and central palace, sculptures, fountains, arcades and terraces evokes a sense of southern architecture in Potsdam and manifests Frederick William IV's love for Italy in tangible form.
The ensemble was created in the years between 1851 and 1864. During the long construction phase, the architects Ludwig Persius, August Stühler and Ludwig Ferdinand Hesse were busy with the plans, although the king contributed a number of designs.
In addition to the side plant halls, which today still serve as winter storage for frost-sensitive tube plants, the over 300m long building was also used to house royal apartments and servants' quarters. The factory halls are among the largest indoor special event venues (1,000 people per hall) in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.
The central part of the three-winged palatial complex comprises the impressive Raphael Hall with an interesting collection of more than fifty 19th-century copies of Raphael's paintings, including such well-known works as the Sistine Madonna and the Transfiguration. Red silk wall coverings add to the opulence and magnificence of the paintings in their gilded frames. Of particular note is the malachite room in the guest suites, lavishly decorated with sculptures, gilded decor and objets d'art.
