Feodosia. Tourist guide.

@PANORAMA
By Iryna Pustynnikova(www.castles.com.ua)

When it comes to visiting Crimea, the majority of tourists go the southern coast of the peninsula to Yalta, Alushta or Foros. But the more experienced chose the calmer eastern part of the coast, which has its own pearls. For instance, Feodosia, which is over 2500 years old. At the crossroad of times and cultures, the city offers Armenian churches, fortress walls, Muslim mosques and a la-a-arge bonus: the Black Sea

According to legends, the rod of Hermes is hidden under the boundless caves of Feodosia’s Mitridat Mount and a mysterious golden horse is running from time to time. But even without legends there is much to see in Feodosia, founded by ancient Greeks in the middle of the 6^th century under the name of Cafa. The beach is the beach, but for a really marvellous week-end at this Black Sea resort, UkrainePlaces advises to see the following:

1. City Strongholds and Genoese Fortress

In the northern part of the city, on Karantynnyi Hill there is a Genoese fortress from the 13^thand 14^th centuries and large city strongholds with walls 12-metres high and 2.5-metres wide. In 1266, Genoese merchants obtained from the governor of the Golden Horde control of the Greek-Alanian village of Cafa. Thus a new trading post, the centre of the Italian Black Sea colonies on the coast, was born. Part of the fortress, the Citadel, is a palace within a palace. Here were the consul’s palace, the residence of the Catholic bishop, the treasury, court, warehouses and office for inspecting scales. Each merchant came here with his own scales in order to confuse the buyers.

At the end of the 18^th century, most of the buildings of the Citadel lost their function and were dismantled. The past is remembered only by the Climent and Krisco (Christ) Towers built in the 14^th century from big chunks of the fortress walls and entrance gate. The highlight of the city, the Constantine Tower (1382-1448) looms near the port.

Entry to the territory of the fortress is free.

2. Stamboli Villa

The most beautiful building of the city was built from 1909 to 1914. According to legend, its creator was the leader of the Vienna secession, Otto Wagner. The cottage in Moorish style was built on the order of tobacco manufacturer Josef Stamboli. It was an expensive (cost 1 100 000 roubles!) present to his beautiful wife in honour of the tenth anniversary of their marriage. The wonderful interiors from the beginning of the 20^th century remain today. In soviet times, the building was used as sanatorium, now it is a mini-hotel and a café.

Contacts: 47 Aivazovsky Ave., Feodosia, tel.: +38 06562 30082; e-mail: feokampari@rambler.ru

3. The Ivan Aivazovsky National Art Gallery

Feodosia is the native city of famous seascape painter Ivan Aivazovsky. He was born here in 1817 in a family of poor Armenian merchants. He worked here from 1848 to 1900 and was buried here (near the Surb-Sarkiz church).

Aivazovsky’s first ‘canvasses’ where the walls of neighbouring houses, on which he drew with charcoal. In 1845, the artist built a house with a big studio. Now it hosts a museum named after him, among whose visitors is famous writer Anton Chekhov. With the participation of the Aivazovsky archaeological museum foundation, a public library was opened in the city, a concert hall was built, and a sea trade port and railway from Simferopol where constructed.

The painter added a gallery to his studio in 1880. According per his will, the gallery became the property of the city. Over 12 000 seascapes are kept in them museum, 417 of them by Aivazovsky.

Contacts: 2 Galereina Str., tel.: +38 06562 30929.
Website of the gallery:www.aivazovsky.euro.rue-mail: gallery1880ika@mail.ru.
Open daily, except Wednesdays, from 9:00 to 20:00, on Tuesdays, from 10:00 to 14:00. Entry UAH20, children UAH10.

4. Ivan Aivazovsky Fountain

A fountain in Eastern style, designed by Aivazovsky, was built in the centre of the city in 1888. Drinking its water was free and over the tap there was a silver mug with the inscription: “Drink to Ivan Kostiantynovych and his family”. In 2007 the fountain got its own voice: classical music is played here.

5. Mufti-Jamy Mosque

During the passing centuries, Mufti-Jamy was a place of worship for Turks, Crimean Tartars and Armenians. The mosque was built following the Istanbul model, when Cafa belonged to Turkey. Near the mosque there is an octagonal minaret built from big charred lumps of limestone and ruins of Turkish baths. In 1975, after a long desolation, it was completely rebuilt by Crimean and Kyiv restorers. Now it is again a mosque where services are held every Friday.
Address: 6 Karaimska Str., Feodosia.

6. Armenian Churches

On the crossroad of Armenian and Karaimska churches, stands St. Sergiy’s Church (1363). The church is famous for the collection of khachkar cross-stones in its walls. In 1888, St. Sergiy church was damaged by fire and was restored from the funds of Ivan Aivazovskiy. This is the church where the artist was baptised here 1817, married his first wife, and had his funeral in 1900. The fortified Church of archangels Michael and Gabriel, built in 1408, is located at 11 Virmenska Str. on the way to the city strongholds. The church was built on the Roman model. St. George Church (32, Nakhimova Str.) once was an integral part of the St. George cloister from the 15^th century. According to legend, the church was built in the 13^th century. Now the sanctuary is maintained by the Armenian community of Feodosia.

7. Alexander Grin Literature and Memorial Museum

The most romantic novels and short stories of dreamer Alexander Grin (1880-1932) were written in Feodosia. The writer lived in the city from 1924 to 1930 and wrote here one of his most famous novels “She Who Runs on the Waves“. The house where the writer lived is easy to recognise by its Brigantine bas-relief. Near the entrance is an anchor, and museum rooms are decorated like holds of frigate, cabin of captain Ges, clipper cabin, and travellers’ cabin.

Contacts: 10 Galereina Str., tel.:+38 06562 31309, + 38 06562 32108. Open daily, except Mondays and Tuesdays, from 10:00 to 16:30. Entry UAH10, UAH5 for children.

FEODOSIA: USEFUL INFORMATION

Summer-2008 season highlights: June 27, the 10^th “By the Black Sea” International Art Festival; June 4^th to August 30^th, Amateur Theatre Groups Festival; July 18^th to 31^st, the 15^th International Chamber Music Festival “On a Visit to Aivazovsky”; July 27^th, Feodosia Day.

HOW TO GET TO FEODOSIA?

kiev flights Ukraine International Airlines offers up to two flights a day from Kyiv to Simferopol, as well as non-stop flights from Berlin to Simferopol and from Frankfurt to Simferopol. With your Panorama Club Card you can earn miles on all UIA flights and flights of our partner airlines: Air France (excluding the Kyiv-Paris route), Austrian Airlines, KLM, Swiss International Air Lines and TAP Portugal.