The main structure of the Dadiani Palace in its present form is credited to the
English architect Edwin Race (b. 1819), who was active in Georgia throughout the 19th century. The building is primarily in
neo-Gothic style but also incorporates elements of Georgian, Russian, Islamic, and
Tudor architecture. The first exhibition at the palace displayed archaeological excavations of the ancient city of Nakalakevi, which was prepared by
Megrelian prince David Dadiani, and took place in 1840. Three palaces form the modern museum complex, parts of which are also Blachernae Virgin Church and
Zugdidi Botanical Garden. 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
Bordokhan – mother of queen
Tamar of Georgia, manuscripts from 13th – 14th centuries, miniatures, memorial relics of
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
Prince Charles Louise Napoléon Achille Murat (1847-1895), grandson of Napoleon's sister
Caroline Bonaparte. The palace was fully transformed into a museum on May 1, 1921, at the initiative of Georgian ethnographer and geologist
Akaki Chanturia. == Archaeological collection ==