Ukraine Travel and Tourism Specialists

Holidays and Tours to Crimea

The History Of Crimea

This peninsula on the southern edge of Ukraine between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov is divided into two parts. One is the steppe area, with huge open spaces and a dry, hot summer. The other is the coast, which has a subtropical climate. The natural boundary between the areas is the eye-catching Crimean Mountains, which contains a dormant volcano called Kara-Dag.

The Crimea was one of the most famous resorts in the Russian/Soviet empires since the 18th century. It remains a favorite resort of Ukrainians and Russians because of its warm sea, its clean air and its bright sun. Other reasons why it is popular include hot springs, mineral waters and the mud baths of Saky.

A series of invasions has made the art, architecture and other parts of culture what it is today.

The Scythians established established a kingdom in the steppes of Crimea in 4 BC. You can still see the ruins of the Sythian capital of Neapolis on the southern edge of Simpheropol, the present capital of Crimea.

Greek colonies united to form the Bosporan kingdom near the Scythian kingdom in 5 BC. The most important Greek colony was Chersonese, which was established where the present-day city of Sevastopol is located. You can still see ruins of the colony in Sevastopol, the second-largest city in the Crimea.

Chersonese became a vassal state of the Roman Empire about the time of Christ.

Christianity arrived in the Crimea in the third century. After forcing the Chersonese to accept it, Prince Volodimir began establishing Christianity throughout present-day Ukraine and into Russia.

Meanwhile, the German tribes known as the Goths conquered the Scythians in the 5th century.

Italian traders from the city-states of Venice and Genoa captured some of the coastal lands of the Crimea in the 13th century.

Later in the 13th century, the Mongols took the peninsula -- then named Tauricia -- and renamed it Kyrym, from which its present name is derived. The Crimea was the seat of the Mongol empire for two centuries.

After winning the Russo-Turkish War of 1768 - 1774, Russia annexed the Crimea. Russians, Ukrainians, Bulgarians and Germans flooded in to the area after that. In 1854 - 1855 the peninsula became the main theatre of the Crimean War between Russia, England and France.

"Lastochkino Gnezdo" (Swallow's Nest)

Everyone who visits Crimea dreams about visiting and admiring the beautiful scenery - the unique castle “Lastochkino Gnezdo” (Swallow’s Nest) restaurant on the lovely Crimean coastline. The castle was erected from the design by the famous architect A. Sherwood and is the place from where one can enjoy beautiful views of the Cliff of Parus (Sail), of Yalta, of Yalta Bay, of Ayu-Dag (the Bear Mountain). According to many visitors “Lastochkino Gnezdo”, is one of the best of the best restaurants in Crimea. This is a very approachable place on a very unapproachable Aurora Rock high above the Black Sea. Beside the Castle there is a modern market where one can find hand-made pieces of ceramics, juniper, wood, coral, shells, photographs, pictures and many other keepsakes, which will bring pleasant reminders of “Lastochkino Gnezdo”..

"Polyana Skazok" Museum (Meadow of Fairy Tales)

This open-air museum contains more than 200 sculptures that represent fairy tales. Crimean artists, wood carvers and stonecutters created the pieces. The fairy-tale museum is a branch of the local historical museum. The museum is about 5 kilometers from Yalta and is near the very popular Yalta Zoo. The zoo is privately owned and has many different species of animals with a total number of approximately 500 residents.

Palace of Livadiya

The summer home of the last of the Russian Tsars, Nikolai II, and in 1945 home to the Yalta Conference, where Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin met to re-draw the map of europe at the end of the war - the Livadia Palace breathes the history of the last 150 years.

The palace buildings and extensive gardens overlooking the sea and the bay of Yalta reflect the influence of the original architect, Ippolito Antonovich Monighetti, who was sent from Moscow to Livadia after the estate was bought for Tsar Alexander II in 1861.

The Genoese Fortress of Sudak and Noviy Svet

In terms of its importance and preservation the Genoese Fortress in Sudak is the most famous in the world and is second best only to those of Italian heritage. The fortress was built in 1371-1469 on the fortress hill. Every consul taking up his duties in the town considered it a great honor to leave memories by means of building some construction. This was the way the fortress had been built for centuries. If you look at the fortress walls and towers, a mosque and a consul's castle, you will learn about the Italian coat-of-arms.

The nearby village of Noviy Svet has been a center of champagne production since the 18th century.

The area between Sudak and Noviy Svet includes two lovely grottos. There are three lagoons in the area as well. The green, blue and dark-blue waters make it one of the most picturesque seascapes in this part of the world.

Nikitskiy Botanical Garden

This superb example of architectural landscaping is also the largest scientific-research establishment by area in southern Ukraine -- and a nature preserve. More than 28,000 species and hybrids of tropical plants have been assembled here.

The arboretum is one of the finest in the world. The trees and shrubs are planted in individual groups or picturesque clusters that blend into a single artistic design. There is also a wonderful rosarium and a special display of clematis and chrysanthemums.

A visit to Crimea is not complete without having visited these beautiful gardens.