This palace was built specifically for Sir Thomas Gresham, who founded the London Stock Exchange. The building turned out to be very fashionable for those times; it clearly stood out from the general development of Budapest. Its style can be defined as Secession. In Budapest, such buildings can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Today, it houses a hotel of the “Four Seasons” chain. But it is worth noting that the current owners have made every effort to fully preserve the architecture of the palace and even its interiors.
The windows of “Gresham Palace” overlook an old bridge connecting the banks of the Danube. In the evenings, the palace is illuminated by hundreds of lights, thanks to which it takes on a beautiful pearly gray оттенок. Above the central entrance rises a bas-relief depicting Thomas Gresham.
If you step inside, the first thing that catches your eye is the elegant wrought-iron gate depicting a bird resembling a peacock (one of the distinctive symbols of Secession). A few more steps, and above your head opens a stunning glass dome — a marvel of engineering thought from the last century. The floor, covered with white ceramic tiles, has miraculously survived since the time the palace was built. The staircases, decorated with intricate cast-iron railings, lead to equally amazing apartments, through which you can walk as if through a museum.
