Stalin's dacha, Zelenaya Roscha, dates from 1937. It is an amazing place, built to accommodate a small, private man who caused death and misery to millions of Russians. Tours are in Russian but the patriotic guides (ours was ex-KGB) speak some English. From Sochi take any Adler-bound bus and get off at the Zelenaya Roscha stop. Alternatively, take a taxi from Sochi (R400). It's a fair walk uphill to the dacha, so be prepared.
Visitors can see Stalin’s private rooms (some original furniture remains), the movie theatre where he checked every film before public release, and his billiards room. Stalin was a lousy player – he played only those he could beat or who were wily enough to lose. The Stalin portraits on the walls were added after his death, although the mirrors are mostly originals.
The depth of the water in Stalin’s swimming pool (just 1.5m) and the height of the stair treads, sofas, chairs, tables, bed and even billiards table were fixed to accommodate his small stature (165cm). Security was extremely tight: a guard every 15m around the dacha, a secret lift and tunnel down to the sea, and buildings painted green to camouflage them within the forest.
There is also a waxwork figure of Stalin smoking his favourite pipe. Visitors have been known to swear they can smell pipe tobacco while in its presence.
