Feodosia sights excursion. What to do and where to walk in Feodosia: interesting places, museums, attractions. Aivazovsky Art Gallery

What is so captivating about this place? Even the Greeks, who sailed here many centuries ago, probably would not have been able to answer this question unequivocally. After long journey this land seemed to them a blessed gift from heaven. That is why they called this place Feodosia: translated this word means “given by God.” The city grew, prospered and gradually became a major trading port, the harbor of which could accommodate up to 100 ships. From here grain, salt, fish and leather were transported to all corners of the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, little evidence of those times has survived. Except that the local history museum displays interesting archaeological finds, and in the Money Museum (there is one in the city) you can see ancient coins that were minted in Feodosia.

Beautiful Feodosia

Several names of one city

More is known about another stage in the history of Feodosia. In the 13th century, the Genoese sailed here. With the typical enthusiasm of the inhabitants of the Apennine “boot,” they set about building the port. But first they decided to give the city a new name - Kafa (translated as “mistress of the seas”). Their business was successful, and by the end of the 14th century the city became the largest not only in Crimea, but throughout Eastern Europe.

A clear proof of the wealth of Feodosia of those times is the Genoese fortress. Today it is in the shadow of its more famous Sudak “namesake”, and this, frankly, is not very fair. Once upon a time, the Genoese fortress was several times larger than its “rival” in size: two lines of fortifications, more than 30 towers, a length of about 5 km! During the period of Turkish rule, a huge slave market was located here. According to one legend, it was in Kef (the name of the city is already in the Turkish manner) that the beautiful Roksolana was bought, who later became the beloved wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Nowadays, all that remains of the grandiose fortress are separate sections of the wall, a bridge, several towers, Turkish baths, medieval churches and, of course, a delightful sea panorama.

Kefe was Turkish until 1771, when Russian troops took the city and returned it to its original Greek name - Feodosia.

Resort surroundings

Good genius

In 1845, Ivan Aivazovsky was only 28 years old: he was rich, famous, favored by titles, the attention of the tsar and the aristocracy. There is no end to orders. And suddenly, unexpectedly for everyone, the artist decides to give up his luxurious life in St. Petersburg. And he leaves for provincial Feodosia. He simply can no longer live without Crimea, the Black Sea and his hometown. “My address is always in Feodosia,” wrote Aivazovsky.

For his small homeland, he became a real kind genius. The beginning of the construction of the port and the construction of the railway to the city is his merit. The water pipeline laid to Feodosia from the Subashsky spring, located on the territory of the artist’s estate, was his initiative.

In honor of the completion of the construction of this water artery, a colorful fountain in the oriental style, similar to the one in Bakhchisarai, was opened in the center of the city. Previously, a silver mug with the inscription “Drink to the health of Ivan Konstantinovich and his family” was attached to it.

Monument to Ivan Aivazovsky

But Aivazovsky’s main gift to his beloved city is an art gallery. In fact, he founded it back in 1880, adding a small hall to the mansion for his paintings. The gallery became the first mono-museum (of one artist) in Russia. Today it houses the world's largest collection of paintings by Aivazovsky - a total of 417 works. Among them is a huge canvas “Among the Waves” and, perhaps, his most mystical painting “On the Death of Alexander 3”, which was not shown to the public for more than 100 years. The personal belongings of Aivazovsky and his family are displayed in the safe room. Other halls display more than 11 thousand works of art on a marine theme by various authors.

“Among the Waves” by Aivazovsky

The National Art Gallery is located in two buildings: in the former house of Aivazovsky, which was dubbed “Villa Maestro” (Galereinaya Street, 2). And in the house of Aivazovsky’s sister (Galereynaya Street, 4).

And the ship is sailing

The same Gallery street... On the wall of house number 10, the attention of passers-by is attracted by the elegant bow of the brigantine. The bas-relief looks like it’s alive. True, it seems that it lacks scarlet sails. This is the Alexander Green Museum. It was opened in the house where the writer lived for five years and created his best works, including the novel “Running on the Waves.” The nautical theme is not limited only to the appearance; inside there is a symbolic ship with cabin rooms: “Clipper Room”, “Wandering Cabin”, “Rostral”, “Frigate Hold”, “Captain’s Cabin”. On the shelves next to books and photographs sit models of sailing ships, maps, navigational instruments, and large ocean shells.

The exception is Greene's office. They tried to recreate this office with maximum accuracy. The result is more of a literary museum, telling not so much about the life and everyday life of the writer, but about his work: books, heroes and, of course, the sea. The museum is open from 10.00 to 18.00. Break from 13.00 to 14.00. Closed: Monday, Tuesday.

The sea is wonderful, blue, gentle

Chekhov came to this city several times, he admired the Feodosia landscapes and wrote to friends that the sea here “...wonderful, blue and tender, like the hair of an innocent girl. You can live on its shores for a thousand years and not get bored..." How exactly it is said!

According to statistics, the water temperature off the coast of Feodosia is higher than that of Yalta and Alushta. The mountains surrounding the bay reliably protect the city from cold winds, so strong waves and storms practically never happen here. And one more feature - in the Gulf of Feodosia there is a natural circulation of water, due to which the sea is almost always clean and without sudden temperature changes. No wonder dolphins are frequent guests in the bay. There are not many tourists and the bustle inherent in Yalta. Maybe because of this there is enough space for everyone. Within the city there are more than a dozen beaches - wide, with a gentle entrance to the sea.

A port is like one city within another, with its own customs and rituals. Cranes like skyscrapers, ships mooring to the shore, small boats plying back and forth... How interesting it is to watch all this while walking along the embankment! Life here is vibrant both during the day and especially in the evening. Street performers give performances, musicians play familiar tunes, and artists offer their paintings. For the most part, these are, of course, seascapes in the style of Aivazovsky.

Sea port

7 best beaches in Feodosia

"Golden Beach" The largest sandy beach in Crimea.
"Club-117". Youth Mecca. A real open-air entertainment complex where night discos are held. 117 km of Kerch highway.
"Scarlet Sails". One of the cleanest and most well-groomed in Feodosia. District "Near Reeds", about 10 minutes drive from the city.
"Bounty". Fine sand, smooth coastline without boulders, excellent infrastructure. Feodosia, near the station. Aivazovskaya.
"Pearl". Beautiful view. The length is about 1 km Feodosia, near the station. Aivazovskaya.
"Dynamo". Small, but cozy beach in the city. No loud music. Feodosia, area of the Dynamo stop.
"First City" City center, there is an entertainment center "Camelot" with an attraction " water world" The main embankment of Feodosia, entrance from General Gorbachev Street.

Golden Beach

For reference: entrance to almost all Feodosia beaches is free. They will only take money for Additional services: sun lounger, umbrella, shower, etc.

Genoese fortress

Have an idea for a trip

In Feodosia and its surroundings you can think of many exciting activities, for example:

Touch the holy places of Feodosia. First of all, visit the vicinity of the Genoese fortress, where medieval temples dating back to the 14th century have been preserved. After seeing the Church of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary (one of the oldest in the city), admire the elegant decoration of the Church of St. Catherine and visit the Armenian Church of St. Sergius, next to which Aivazovsky is buried. To get around you can use public transport. The ticket price is about 10 rubles.
Go on a hike through the “Venice of the Mountains” - this is the name of a beautiful corner near the village of Shchebetovka. Along the way you can admire the lake, taste grapes, swim in thermal spring and have a tea party by the fire. The route is not very difficult, duration - 6 hours. The cost of the excursion is about 350 rubles per person.
Sail to the peaks of the extinct Karadag volcano on a pleasure boat. From the sea, try to discern the figures of the king and queen, their retinue and throne in the outlines of the ancient mountains. Imitate Pushkin and try to sketch the Golden Gate. And don’t forget to throw a coin into the sea when you pass the famous arch. The duration of the walk is about 3 hours. Price range: 300–400 rubles.
Get into the car and drive to Old Crimea - once the capital of the Golden Horde. Study history through the monuments of that time: mosques, ruins of the mint, caravanserais, madrassas. Fans of Green's work can visit his museum and walk along the "Green Road", which the writer used to go to Koktebel to visit the poet Maximilian Voloshina. The distance from Feodosia to Old Crimea is about 20 km.
Go on an excursion to the Aivazovsky and Green museums. They are the calling card of Feodosia. There is a monument in front of the artist’s museum - a bronze Aivazovsky thoughtfully peers into the endless blue surface; he devoted his whole life to understanding the changeable soul of the sea. The Alexander Green Museum is located in the house where the writer lived for four years. Within the walls of his office, Greenland acquired visible features: Zurbagan, Suan, Pocket, Liss. “Imagination requires rigor...” - the dreamer Green always followed this rule, which is why the museum of this amazing romantic is laconic and bright. The museum is located 400 meters from railway station.

Neighborhoods of Feodosia

Greater Feodosia is a common name for several settlements. This includes Feodosia itself, as well as the villages of Koktebel, Kurortnoye, Ordzhonikidze, Beregovoye, and Primorskoye.

Resort

The village is nestled at the foot of the Kara-Dag volcano. Everything here is created for a romantic getaway - a beautiful pebble beach, a beautiful park, an embankment drowning in childbirth and mountain landscapes. You should take your children to the local dolphinarium.

Village Kurortnoye

Located on Cape Kiik-Atlama, which protects the valley from winds and storms. Local beaches are small but cozy. The incredibly clear sea attracts diving enthusiasts here. The eastern part of the village is more suitable for a relaxing holiday, but the western part is more suitable for an active holiday.

The place is famous primarily for its wide and long “Golden Beach”. A chain of cozy summer cafes stretches along the embankment, where you can have a tasty snack overlooking the sea.

Once upon a time, the first cosmonauts trained here, but now there is real beach relaxation. The resort is very calm and comfortable, there is everything here - from good hotels to Luna Park.

And finally, some urgent practical advice for those lucky ones who are planning to go on vacation to Feodosia.

Where to stay?

It is better to book inexpensive and comfortable accommodation in advance, because at the height of the season the best apartments and apartments are already sold out. By following the link https://edem-v-gosti.ru/rus/feodosiya/, you are guaranteed to choose a cozy room in a hotel, private sector or guest house. Here are the options with the best prices and the highest level of comfort.

Are you looking for housing in the very center of Feodosia? Inexpensive option- boutique hotel “U Sister”. A room for two - about 1,700 rubles per night.
Family trip? Then we can consider private boarding house"Brigantine", located on the "Golden Beach" (Beregovoye village). The average cost for two adults and a child is about 2,700 rubles per day without meals.
Vacationing with friends? An excellent choice is Robinson's Cabin. Nearby is the fashionable Club 117 beach. A room for two - about 2200 rubles per day.
A one-room apartment in Feodosia costs about 10,000 rubles per month and 1,300 per day.
You can stay with your own tent at the Golden Beach camping site.

Where to eat?

The art cafe "Mezzanine" invites you not only to have a snack, but also to touch poetry and music. Average bill - lunch 1800 rubles. Cafe "Gulsum" with oriental cuisine. The average bill is 1500 rubles.
The best coffee shop in the city is Black&White. You will be treated to dishes of Ukrainian cuisine at the Charochka u Kuma restaurant. Georgian specialties are served to guests at the Aragvi restaurant. Delicious budget lunches are offered at the Home-style Dining Room. Holiday budget - 3950 rubles per day. average price hotel accommodation 2760 rubles per day.

Our summer trip to hot Feodosia has come to an end. We are interested in hearing your impressions of visiting this Crimean city. Share your memories from a trip to which white-winged Yalta or other cities are no less interesting. What surprised you the most?

This city has both historical and natural attractions. There are places to go and things to see.

We undeservedly bypassed Feodosia with our attention. On a cloudy November day, it did not seem very hospitable to us. This time, thanks to the hostess, where we lived in Feodosia, we had no doubts - this city is worth a closer look.

What to do and where to walk in Feodosia

To properly study this city, which this year turned not much, not a little - 2544 years old , we had two full days. But in one of them we walked around Feodosia itself, and in the other we went to explore its surroundings - Sunny Valley, Koktebel, New World…

Therefore, in fact, the article could be called this - what to see in Feodosia in 24 hours. But we are experienced tourists, we know how to properly distribute the load. And delegate authority. So we completed the task quite successfully.

Although it was not so simple. Over the 25 centuries of its existence, this city has managed to accumulate such a cultural layer that not every bird, as they say... The city was founded by the Greeks in the middle of the 6th century BC. They named the city Feodosia, which means “God-given” or “Gift of the gods.” Like many cities with a rich history and enviable geographical location, Feodosia was conquered, redeemed, and sometimes destroyed by foreigners more than once.

In the 4th century the city was already mentioned as Kaffa, a thriving trading port. In the 13th-15th centuries, Kaffa became powerful and widely famous city in Europe and the East, it is an important transit point on the Great Silk Road. Oriental fabrics, Chinese silks, oriental spices, English cloth, and Greek wines were brought here. The slave trade also flourished.

Then Kaffa was often called the pearl of the seas. Later, Türkiye, which captured it, will rename the city Kefa. In the 17th century, the Zaporozhye Cossacks took this main Turkish fortress. Only in the second half of the 18th century, Russia, having reached the shores of the Black Sea, returned the city its historical name - Feodosia.

Sights of Feodosia

So, waking up early in the morning at dawn, we rejoiced at the bright Crimean sun and a delicious breakfast at the hotel. It was at breakfast that we received from the hotel owner Lena a detailed plan of how we could quickly explore all the sights. The fact that the hotel is located in the city center, a 10-minute walk from the embankment, also played in our favor.

And you can even walk to many interesting historical places. In general, after breakfast we did just that - we went to walking in Feodosia. And after 10 minutes we were already out on Black Sea embankment in the Dacha Stamboli area.

Dacha-Palace Stamboli

My first impression was deceptive - through the crowns of the trees it seemed to me that I saw a mosque with a minaret. We come closer and read: the architectural monument “Dacha Stamboli”. We go into the courtyard to take a closer look at the interesting building.

At this time there is just excursion group, and fragments of the guide’s story reach us:

— Symmetrical architectural ensemble... was erected in 1914 for the Stamboli family of tobacco manufacturers... in 1916, the owners of the palace were forced to sell it. After the revolution, there was a sanatorium within the walls of the dacha; during the Great Patriotic War, the luxurious halls were used as a hospital. At that time, the estate survived only by chance: the retreating fascists wanted to blow up the palace, but did not have time... The changes taking place since the early 90s of the 20th century also affected this architectural monument. For several years the premises were occupied by a commercial bank. Then on the ground floor of the Stamboli dacha there was a cafe of the same name... You could see this mansion in various films...

By the way, the owner of the mansion himself, Joseph Stamboli, was an interesting person. In addition to being a wealthy manufacturer, he was also a member of the Feodosia Charitable Society, a generous city philanthropist. He decided to build this mansion as a wedding gift for his future wife. And, to put it mildly, he did not spare money for this: in total, he invested 1 million 100 thousand gold rubles in the construction of this miracle. For comparison - imperial palace in Livadia, built in 1911 according to the design of the architect Nikolai Petrovich Krasnov, cost the emperor himself 4 million gold rubles! Oh, cottages on Rublyovka cost the budget of a small African country! Will your descendants also admire you centuries later?

Can you imagine what a luxurious atmosphere there was inside before? Alas, the revolution was merciless to bourgeois excesses. We went inside for a while. There is no cafe or restaurant, as some even quite authoritative Internet resources write, now in Stamboli’s dacha. Today it is a museum with miraculously intact interiors and preserved exquisite exterior decoration. Although in need of restoration, it is still impressive in its beauty. We take a few photos and go back outside.

Ancient villas, estates, dachas in Feodosia

In general, there used to be many such exquisite villas in Feodosia, but only a few survived the war. These luxurious dachas and villas appeared in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the local port was modernized and a railway was built.

It was by this time that the development of Feodosia as a resort began. So by the beginning of the 20th century, Feodosia had the elegant appearance of a prosperous seaside town: next to the house of the artist Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky gorgeous ones appeared houses of local rich people - dachas “Flora”, “Victoria”, “Milos” .

Dacha "Milos" in Feodosia it was built over 2 years and was completed by 1911. Its main attraction is the plaster copies of ancient statues located along the main facade, and in the rotunda gazebo is the statue of Venus de Milo.

Now many of them clearly require at least light repairs. But on the other hand, after reconstruction, their original charm may disappear...

Landscapes of Aivazovsky

It was Aivazovsky who glorified Feodosia in his paintings. Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (Hovhannes Konstantinovich Gaivazovsky) was born in Feodosia (17) July 29, 1817. His father was an Armenian businessman from Crimea. The family was not rich, but Aivazovsky received a good education: he studied at the Simferopol gymnasium, and then at the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. After graduating from the Academy, the young artist traveled a lot, visited England, Spain, Germany, and later visited the Middle East, Africa, America (I’m interested in knowing how they used to manage, all these poor artists, to travel around Europe for years?)

Popularity came to Aivazovsky quite early. Which he himself actively contributed to, not forgetting to introduce his work to the residents of the city. He opened the first exhibition, which included about 50 works, right in his home in 1845. The tradition of exhibiting new paintings took root, and in 1880 the artist completed the construction of the gallery. She received her first guests on July 29, his birthday. The artist himself bequeathed this gallery to his native Feodosia, and in 1900, after his death, it passed to the city.

Now in this museum, or rather in National Gallery named after I.K. Aivazovsky houses the world's largest collection of works by the great artist - 417 paintings. In total, he painted more than 6,000 paintings. These were mainly seascapes. And they worked out great for him! Remember his famous “The Ninth Wave”? When you look at this picture, it seems that you are about to be overwhelmed by a green wave...

In 1930, the residents of Feodosia erected a monument to the famous marine painter, who literally did not allow the city to dry up. Until 1888, Feodosia experienced an acute shortage of drinking water. Unable to remain indifferent to this problem any longer, Ivan Konstantinovich proposed to the City Duma to lay a water supply system from his estate in Subashi, which is 25 km away. from the city, and actually gave the Feodosians 500,000 liters of clean drinking water every day. At his own expense and according to his own design, he built an elegant architectural monument in memory of this - the “Aivazovsky Fountain”, which you can see in the city garden.

Aivazovsky also founded an art school in Feodosia. In total, there are now 4 painting schools in little Feodosia. So the grateful descendants continue the work of the Master and each depict the sea expanses and surrounding villages in their own way. The entire square and the embankment itself are filled with their works.

They draw well, by the way! Good, landscape of Feodosia Bay, which inspired Aivazovsky to write such paintings as “View of Feodosia”, “Moonlit Night. Bath in Feodosia", "Sunrise in Feodosia", hasn't changed much(in Feodosia there are no high-rise buildings made of glass and concrete, and the surrounding hills are almost untouched by civilization)…

And what spoils it, in my opinion, is the single-track railway, which runs along the very, very seashore, between old villas and new beaches, a kind of memorable detail of the Feodosian landscape.

Next to the trains, ships ply the Feodosia Bay. Remembering how in Sevastopol we very successfully took a boat trip along the city bays and saw a lot of interesting things (read more here:), we decide to repeat this experience. And we sail away on a light boat to admire Feodosia from the sea.

Boat trip in Feodosia

As in Sevastopol, the captain, who is also a guide, tells us in detail the history of this amazing city. First, we listen carefully: about the ship sunk in the bay (yes, in my opinion, there is one in every bay of Crimea), and about the Genoese fortress of Feodosia, and about the port facilities, and about the love of local landscapes of the artist Aivazovsky. All this floats right before my eyes:

And then the attention wanders slightly. Because the landscapes around really look like they came from the brush of a great Master:

Having moored to the shore, we feel a little hungry - and go in search of food:

Genoese fortress of Feodosia.

Having figured it out during boat trip distance to the fortress, we realized that it would be a bit far on foot. Therefore, after lunch we return to the hotel, take our car and drive to the ruins of the Genoese fortress. It was under the Genoese that Theodosia, or as it was then called Kafa, reached its greatest prosperity. Architectural monuments of that time are evidence of this flourishing.

The Genoese citadel in Feodosia is worse preserved than in neighboring Sudak. Actually, what remains of it is: a stone wall and two towers of the southern part of the central citadel, standing on Quarantine Hill; The Dock Tower and several more towers in various areas of the city: the Constantine Tower, the Round Tower.

We arrived just before the two southern towers on Quarantine Hill. But before going up to them, we visited another landmark of Feodosia.

Here, in the area of the Genoese citadel, directly opposite, there are three unique religious buildings at once - three temples, of which only one is active - the Temple of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. This is a very small and elegant church, surrounded by flowers and greenery, dating back to the 14th century, but, as some local historians believe, it is much older...

Actually, it wasn’t that important to us - what century it was. But the energy in her was very powerful. A place of prayer, we felt it.

And then we proceeded to the Genoese fortress itself. Over the many years of its existence, the fortress changed: it repeatedly repelled attacks from enemies - the Venetians, Tatars, during which it was destroyed or simply rebuilt by new owners... Over the years, the fortress lost its strategic role, moreover, its fortifications fell into complete disrepair under Turkish rule. In the 19th century, the city found itself literally under the ruins of fortifications, completely littered with stones, and even troops were brought in to dismantle them.

The southern towers - the tower of St. Clement and the tower of Crisco - and the wall between them are well preserved. But you won’t spend even half an hour examining them.

And the most amazing thing is that here, on the back side of the wall, there are ordinary modern buildings. Some of the residents of Feodosia, in fact, travel every day along the historical stones of the ancient citadel...

I don’t even know what emotions I had more from visiting the Feodosian Genoese fortress: surprise, regret or admiration. On the one hand, I wanted something more, for example, like in Sudak, on the other hand, it’s good that at least something was preserved. Well, and admiration for how they used to build - for centuries!

We return to the car. The next must-see place in Feodosia is Golden Beach.

Golden Beach in Feodosia

Golden Beach is a strip of land between the sea and the Kerch Highway. Stretching along the coast of the Feodosia Gulf - from the eastern outskirts Feodosia to the village of Primorsky, Golden Beach got its name due to a very obvious fact - golden-colored sand.

15 kilometers of bright red sand, which formed colorful dunes from golden shells and grains of sand smoothly polished by water - the residents of Feodosia inherited such beauty from nature.

This beach also attracts numerous tourists, for whom various hotels and boarding houses have been built here. Now, in September, it was not crowded here and therefore even more beautiful... We laid out a beach mat on the sand, took out fruits and sandwiches from a thermal bag and had a small picnic. Well, and a photo shoot, of course!

Catherine's Church.

Returning from Golden Beach along Fedko Street back to our hotel, we saw a gingerbread-looking church. Such a cute blue and white church. We decided to go into it. It turned out that this is the Temple of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine. So it’s not in vain, it’s not in vain that I was drawn there...

This temple was built in 1871 at the expense of the actual state councilor, professor V.I. Lapshina. The church is distinguished by an abundance of architectural details and decorations, and is brightly painted inside and out.

In 1937, the Catherine Church was closed and a warehouse was built in it (who would doubt it...) Currently, it has been restored and is operational.

Directly opposite the church is the Feodosia city bus station. I don’t know if passengers come to the church to pray on the path before leaving. but in the church you can clearly hear loud announcements about the departure of the next bus. Which, on the one hand, amuses us, and on the other hand, makes us think that His ways are inscrutable...

Komsomolsky Park

Initially, we did not plan to walk in this park. But as we drove past, we decided to take an evening promenade, take stock of the day and make plans for tomorrow. We parked the car right in front of the park entrance. It seemed to me that there are no problems with parking in Feodosia. There are not as many cars as in Yalta. So, the park.

Probably, if it was looked after properly, the park would be very beautiful. Now general impression they spoiled abandoned flower beds, branches and leaves on paths that no one seemed to have swept for a very long time...

But what pleased me was that there were no noisy attractions that turn a walk through the park with a child into a quest “who will out-scream who”...

And I really liked the children's playground. It is stylized as the ruins of an ancient settlement with a stone telling the history of the city. Moreover, the stylization is so successful that the husband even doubted whether it was stylization?

This is how, walking in the rapidly gathering twilight along the alleys of Komsomolsky Park, we ended our tour of Feodosia.

I told you what we managed to see. What we didn’t have time to do was visit the museums of Feodosia. And there are a lot of them here:

But in general, we agreed: the city turned out to be more interesting than we had imagined until that day. And for inquisitive tourists, vacation here will not be reduced to lying on the beach. Even if it is a beautiful golden color...

I will definitely tell you about what we went to see in the vicinity of Feodosia the next day in upcoming articles. In order not to miss them, enter your email in this table.

The resort town of Feodosia is located on the eastern coast of Crimea. This is one of the most inexpensive resorts on the peninsula, although the sea there is wonderful: clean, warm, shallow. The endless Golden Beach with bright sand or pebbles in the center of the old city - the choice is yours. Many people compare the climate here with the Mediterranean (an average between subtropical and steppe); but compared to the southern coast of Crimea, there are still drier and hotter summers and colder winters. When Crimea blooms, the air in Feodosia is so fragrant that it cannot be described in words. In addition, it is also healing, as it combines sea, steppe and mountain.

A little about Feodosia

The history of the city goes back more than one thousand years; initially there were Greeks, then Italians (Genoese), then Turks - the Ottomans. They were all attracted by the convenient location at the intersection of many trade routes. The first colonies here were founded in ancient times by the ancient Greeks; it was the second largest city of the Bosporan kingdom; in the Middle Ages, here was one of the main trading posts of the Genoese, who were later expelled by the Turks; Today Feodosia is a multinational city with a centuries-old history. Every nation, every era has left its mark on the history and appearance of Feodosia - “given by God”, so the choice of what to see in Feodosia is huge.

This resort city is best suited for those who like to combine a beach holiday with a cultural and educational program. The sights of Feodosia cover the period from the 6th century BC, when the Greeks from Miletus first arrived here, and until our time - since 2015, Feodosia has had the honorary title of “City of Military Glory”.

The sights of Feodosia are indeed varied: here are the remains medieval fortress, and many places of worship: ancient Orthodox and Armenian churches, mosques; and unusual architectural monuments. But, perhaps, Feodosia can also be considered one of the main cultural centers of Crimea. Judge for yourself, the names of marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky and romantic writer Alexander Green, outstanding poetesses of the Silver Age Maria and Anastasia Tsvetaeva are inextricably linked with Feodosia. There are many museums in the city - literary, local history, art, but the main pride, of course, is the unique collection of paintings by I. Aivazovsky. The city regularly hosts exhibitions and festivals.

Here beautiful embankment, there are beautiful parks and squares, squares, and although, perhaps, in terms of grooming and modern comfort and entertainment, Feodosia is still a little behind Krasnodar resorts, but it has its own charm, some indescribable atmosphere of old Soviet films.

Various excursions are organized from Feodosia. Excursions around the surrounding area - just look at the frozen Karadag volcano (an unforgettable four-hour boat excursion); in the city itself - special open cars for tourists run around Feodosia, allowing them to quickly get acquainted with the main attractions.

In addition, as in any resort city, here in crowded places there are points where excursions around the peninsula are offered, usually one-day, but very informative. When we were on vacation for a week in Feodosia, we bought two one-day excursions: one to Sevastopol, the second to the South Coast (including Yalta, Vorontsov Palace, Nikitsky Botanical Garden and much more).

But sightseeing in Feodosia itself (including visiting museums, exhibitions, etc.) will take you a lot of time; you won’t get bored with idleness here.

So a beach holiday here can be pleasantly combined with cultural and educational leisure. To make it easier for you to decide on the choice of attractions, we offer, based on our own impressions, a rating of what to see in Feodosia first.

Sights of Feodosia

Feodosia embankment

Of course, the main place for relaxation and walks in any resort city is the embankment, and Feodosia is no exception. The local embankment is one of the most favorite places among vacationers. And not only because here you can walk with a view of the sea, buy souvenirs or sit in a cafe, but also because there is something to see here: for example, here are the famous old dachas of the richest people of Feodosia, including the Stamboli dacha or the dacha "Milos", decorated with antique statues. The length of the embankment is about three and a half kilometers; The embankment is quite wide, not cluttered with various kiosks and stalls, with many attractions.

Dacha Stamboli

The most recognizable building of Feodosia is its main calling card. Built in a pseudo-Moorish style at the beginning of the last century, it became a kind of symbol of vanity, as the richest merchants and manufacturers of the city competed with each other in the luxury of their houses and dachas. It was erected for the large tobacco manufacturer Stamboli; its luxurious design was supposed to demonstrate the wealth of this family. But after the revolution, the dacha was nationalized; today it houses a restaurant and a museum of underwater archeology. The condition of the building is not very good and requires renovation.

Aivazovsky Art Gallery

Feodosia is the birthplace of the world famous marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky. Here a lot is connected with his name, and these places themselves were repeatedly depicted by the artist on his canvases. If you want to see the most complete collection of paintings by a unique artist (it is believed that since he, no one else knew how to paint the sea element), including “The Chesme Battle”, “Rainbow”, his Venetian seascapes, be sure to go to this museum. True, you will not see “The Ninth Wave” there, stored in the Russian Museum, although many will claim that they saw this picture there.
http://feogallery.org/

Armenian Church of Surb Sarkis and Aivazovsky’s grave

Another landmark of Feodosia associated with Aivazovsky is the old Armenian Church of St. Sergius (Surb Sarkis), on the territory of which the great artist is buried. The church building was built back in the 14th century in the traditional style for Armenian churches, but was badly damaged by fire; Aivazovsky allocated funds for its restoration and donated several valuable icons. The artist was buried here, and the monument over his grave was created by the famous sculptor from Italy Biogioli.

Temple of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

One of the oldest buildings in the city is a small, modest-looking Orthodox church dedicated to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. The temple is located in a very picturesque and unique place - at the foot of Quarantine Hill, directly opposite the surviving wall of the Genoese citadel of Kafa. The sea is very close. In summer, the temple is literally buried in flowers. The exact date of its construction is unknown; it may have been built in the 14th century, but it is possible that it was earlier. Outwardly it resembles Armenian temples. Nearby there are several more ancient churches and a monument to the traveler Afanasy Nikitin, who landed here when returning from his trip to India.

Church dedicated to St. St. George the Victorious

A small, inconspicuous stone building in the vicinity of the Genoese fortress and the Temple of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God is another of the most ancient buildings that have survived on the territory of modern Feodosia, a Church dedicated to St. St. George the Victorious. It was a Greek Orthodox church and was once part of a large monastery, which was mentioned in Byzantine sources as early as the 14th century. The building is currently under reconstruction, so visitors are not allowed into it.

Church of the Great Martyr Dmitry of Thessalonica

In the area of the Old Town there is another temple that simply cannot be ignored - the Temple of the Great Martyr Dmitry of Thessaloniki. This is truly one of the pearls of Feodosia. Despite its very modest appearance and size, this is a completely unique church, since it has preserved frescoes XIV century. These frescoes were presumably painted by Theophanes the Greek himself. It is known for certain that Theophanes the Greek was in the Cafe and painted several temples, perhaps this one too. Unfortunately, the frescoes have been very poorly preserved to this day.

Aivazovsky Fountain

As you understand, in Feodosia a lot is connected with the name of Aivazovsky, and not only because it is his hometown, which he glorified with his work, but also because he tirelessly helped his city. So, in 1887, at the height of a terribly dry summer, city residents were in dire need of fresh water. The artist donated a source of fresh water to the city, which belonged to him; from this source, at the expense of the artist-philanthropist, a water supply system was built and a fountain was built, which provided drinking water to the residents of this part of the city. The fountain was built in oriental style, and is also one of the city’s hallmarks.

Mufti-Jami Mosque

Feodosia is a city whose appearance is reflected not only by the trends of different nationalities, peoples, but also by religions. There are Orthodox, Greek, Armenian churches, and a mosque. Previously, in Feodosia, during the era of Ottoman rule, there were several mosques, today only one remains of the medieval Turkish heritage - the Mufti-Jami Mosque, built in the 17th century. To date, this is the main mosque of the city, as well as the only complete monument of Ottoman architecture in Feodosia that has survived to this day.

Feodosia Museum of Local Lore

In the city center, between the Aivazovsky Museum and the Astoria Hotel, which is hard to miss, there is a beautiful ancient building that houses a local history museum with a rich collection of antiquities. By the way, this is one of the oldest archaeological museums in Europe. The basis of his collection at the beginning of the 19th century was archaeological antiquities and artifacts, which were bought from black archaeologists and private collectors by S.M. Bronevsky - in today's language, the mayor of Feodosia. By the way, the building that houses the collection today was built with, guess whose funds? That's right: Aivazovsky. Currently, the collection (over 70 thousand exhibits) includes, in addition to archaeological antiquities, ethnographic materials, valuable documents, etc.

Museum of Marina and Anastasia Tsvetaev

Not only did famous cultural and artistic figures live in Feodosia, but many also came here on vacation. The Tsvetaeva sisters often visited Feodosia, making friends with the famous native of these places, Maximilian Voloshin, as well as with the descendants of Aivazovsky. An amazing chamber museum, consisting of two small rooms, which contain everything that connected the Tsvetaevs and Feodosia. The unique atmosphere of the Silver Age, not yet overshadowed by future cataclysms and tragedies in the lives of Maria and Anastasia Tsvetaev themselves, is conveyed very sincerely, warmly, and subtly.

Train Station

If you came to Feodosia by train (and even if not), you couldn’t help but notice the building of the railway station in a classical style. It was built in 1955, and previously there was a 19th century building in its place, destroyed during the war. The station building is remarkable, firstly, because its location is unusual - right in the city center, not far from the beach (by the way, the railway runs along the embankment), and secondly, because the filming of the beloved Soviet comedy film " Sportloto - 82". The station was built with the participation of Aivazovsky. In the art gallery you can see a painting by him, which depicts the station and the first train in Feodosia, as Aivazovsky saw them, i.e. the painting was painted before construction.

Golden Beach of Feodosia

Since Feodosia is still resort town, and the main goal of tourists coming here is the sea, then one cannot fail to mention another attraction of Feodosia - the golden beach, stretching from Feodosia to the village of Beregovoe. In the central part of the city, the beach is pebbly and rocky, but on the Golden Beach there is sand, and it has an unusual golden hue. Actually, this is where its name comes from. There are no such golden sandy beaches in Crimea anymore.

House-Museum of A.S. Greena

The most romantic story in Russian literature is the story of the meeting between Assol and Captain Gray, who sailed to her under scarlet sails, - was written by Alexander Green, who lived in Feodosia for five years. The house where he lived today houses a literary museum. Almost half of all of A. Green’s works were written in Feodosia, and his famous novel “Running on the Waves” was also completed here. One of the walls of the museum building is decorated with an unusual bas-relief with the bow of a ship; The museum often hosts exhibitions, literary festivals, seminars and lectures.

Morsad Park on the site of the largest slave market

A fairly famous place in Feodosia is the Sailor's Park or Morsad, which is notable for the fact that it is located on the territory where in the Middle Ages there was a slave market, the largest in the Northern Black Sea region. And they traded here only one product - slaves captured by the Crimean Khanate and the Ottomans in neighboring lands - the Moscow State, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Caucasus. Currently, there is a park on this site, which is dedicated to all the sailors who lived in Feodosia and defended the city. A wonderful, calm place for a walk, decorated with wooden sculptures - again with a marine theme: pirates, busty mermaids.

Tower of Constantine

In addition to the western wall of the citadel of the once impressive Genoese fortress, there are several other surviving towers of that time in Feodosia. One of the most famous is the Tower of Constantine with stone battlements. Impressive and formidable, it once stood on the very shore, but after the construction of the railway and port the sea “moved” by 100 meters, and it turned out that the tower now stands within the city, surrounded by houses. By the way, this particular tower is depicted on the city’s coat of arms, so it can rightfully claim to be one of the symbols of Feodosia. Behind last years There were several troubles with the tower: its walls and battlements partially collapsed. Its restoration is planned for the near future.

Monument to the soldiers of the heroic Kerch-Feodosia landing

Feodosia has recently been given the honorary title of city of military glory. Indeed, during the Great Patriotic War there were fierce battles here; The most famous operation was the Kerch-Feodosia operation in December 1941. Then the landing party in the Gulf of Feodosia, in a swift and sudden attack, liberated the city from the Germans. In memory of these events, a Monument to the soldiers of the heroic Kerch-Feodosia landing was erected on Paratroopers Square in the city center - two soldiers on a pedestal. At first it was planned to erect the monument in the sea, as if soldiers were coming ashore, but then they changed their minds, and the monument took its place in 1944. Previously, there was a monument in the form of a naval gun at this place.

Money Museum

In addition to art and literary museums in Feodosia there are also unusual museum- museum of money. It is located a few steps from Paratroopers Square in an old green building. The museum is truly unusual. It is worth saying that it arose back in 1801, becoming the first such museum in Russia, and in Crimea it remains the only one of its kind today. It was founded by the famous numismatist G. Galera, whose collection became the basis of the museum. Emperor Nicholas the First was also here, who made a simply luxurious, imperial gift to the museum - two antique coins: one was a gold coin of King Lysimachus, and the second was a silver coin of Philip of Macedon. since Kafa was large at one time trading city, coins from all over the world were discovered here. The exhibition is arranged in chronological order, from which you can learn the history of money from ancient times to the present day.

Dacha Stamboli is rightfully considered the pearl of Feodosia and one of the most beautiful architectural monuments Crimea. Built on a hill in a magnificent Moorish style, it was for many years one of the most prominent buildings in the city.

A variety of motifs and textures in decoration, various turrets, covered galleries and terraces give the building an oriental flavor and sophistication. All this beauty was created between 1909 and 1914 by order of the local tobacco manufacturer Stamboli. The dacha was a gift to his wife for the 10th anniversary of their marriage.

This is a two-story stone structure with a four-tier tower, topped with two domes and miniature turrets - minarets. The alternation of domes and towers of different heights creates a unique, recognizable silhouette. Marble and sandstone are harmoniously combined in the interior and exterior decoration; embossing is adjacent to stucco and wood carvings. Elements of classicism were used in the design of the lobby and greenhouse. The marble fountain in the winter garden has something in common with the famous Bakhchisarai fountain.

The interior of the dacha has preserved antique inlaid parquet flooring made of valuable wood, heavy patterned doors, magnificent stucco molding, and a massive white marble staircase leading to the second floor.

The dacha is surrounded by a small park; in its cozy courtyard there is a fountain in the summer.

Waterpark Koktebel

Waterpark Koktebel is located on the South-Eastern coast of Crimea. It was opened in August 2007 in order to give its festive atmosphere to guests and local residents of the peninsula.

Its area occupies 4.43 hectares, on which there are 7 swimming pools and 24 slides, including 12 for children. Attractions for kids are stylized as fairy-tale characters. The design of the water park clearly reflects the authors’ desire to recreate the atmosphere of pirate romanticism. No wonder the talisman-symbol entertainment center became the famous parrot Silver. This elegant bird invites tourists to go in search of unforgettable adventures in a world of clean water, fun and sun.

Waterpark Koktebel can accommodate about 3,000 people per day. There is something for everyone here to suit their liking. Fans of extreme pastimes can quickly slide down, experiencing dizzying falls and ascents on the most extreme slides with a descent speed of up to 14 m/s. For the comfort of guests of the Water Park, a guarded parking lot is provided. The safety of tourists is ensured by a specialized security service and the latest video surveillance system.

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Monument to Afanasy Nikitin

There are only three monuments to the Russian traveler Afanasy Nikitin in the world: in Tver, where he was from, in India, where fate took him, and in Feodosia, where he first set foot on native land after many years of wandering. These three monuments seemed to form a ring - the path of travel of Afanasy Nikitin.

In July 2008, in the area of the Old Town of Feodosia, opposite the building of the Iverskaya Church, a monument to the Tver merchant, who opened the route to India before Vasco de Gama, was unveiled. Nikitin arrived in Kafa (the old name of Feodosia) on November 14, 1474. They say that it was in the Church of the Iveron Mother of God that he served a prayer service for a happy return to his homeland. At that time, there was a Russian trading compound in the city. Almost the last trade caravan, which left Cafa in the spring of 1475, was getting ready to set off for Rus'. While waiting for fellow travelers, Afanasy Nikitin spent more than four months here: late autumn, winter and early spring of 1475. There is every reason to believe that the famous “Walking across Three Seas” was written in the Cafe.

Sculptor Valery Zamekhovsky nurtured the idea of creating a monument for more than 20 years. Cast in cast iron, Nikitin stands on a small pedestal, facing the temple. His figure, dressed in a traditional Russian costume, is solid and reveals a strong nature in him. It is about such people in Rus' that people have long spoken of “a strong man.” The monument fits surprisingly well into the overall composition of the old Feodosia district of Karantin.

The opening of the gallery dates back to 1880. The first exhibition hall was built by Aivazovsky himself in his hometown of Feodosia. From the very first canvases fame came to his paintings! Aivazovsky bequeathed his unique gallery hometown. According to his will, the museum became a state museum in 1922. Today, many famous artists and nuggets of our time hold their exhibitions in the museum.

The main asset of the museum, of course, is the paintings of Aivazovsky himself: there are 417 works here. In addition to the works of the great marine painter, there are also portraits of Aivazovsky and members of his family, a photographic archive and important documents. And the safe room contains valuable belongings of the artist’s family, some of which have never been exhibited anywhere before.

The exhibits clearly convey the style of the era in which the artist lived, and tell a rather extraordinary story about the work and life of Aivazovsky. One of the exhibits is of particular value - an easel with a notebook, the cover of which is engraved with the landscape of Aivazovsky’s painting “The Great Raid in Kronstadt”. The artist's household items and unique decorative mugs from the Imperial Porcelain Factory are displayed in cube showcases. And in the horizontal showcases they shine Greeting Cards, presented to the artist and richly decorated with jewelry.

In the building next to the gallery there is another museum that is worth a visit - the House of the Artist's Sister, which houses some of Aivazovsky's paintings, as well as works by his contemporaries.

Museum of Marina and Anastasia Tsvetaev

A wonderful literary and art museum dedicated to Marina and Anastasia Tsvetaev has recently opened in Feodosia. Grateful admirers of their work put their hearts and souls into creating an exhibition telling about the sisters’ stay in this city.

The Marina and Anastasia Tsvetaev Museum in Feodosia was opened in July 2009 in a house on Korobkova Street. A. Tsvetaeva, the younger sister of the great poetess, lived here in 1913-14. Marina Ivanovna herself, with her husband and daughter, lived nearby at the same time, on the street. Annenskaya (now Schmidt street). As A. Tsvetaeva later wrote about her famous sister, in her small house in Feodosia, “Marina was happy with her amazing husband, with her amazing little daughter - in those pre-war years.” The sisters constantly visited each other; the poet Maximilian Voloshin often came to them from Koktebel.

In the house-museum of the Tsvetaev sisters, the furnishings of the late 19th - early 20th centuries have been recreated, but there are few original things that belonged to the Tsvetaevs on display. This is an authentic furniture set (sofa, armchair and table) produced by the Odessa artel in 1904, which presumably could have been used by the sisters, a stereoscope and a handle from the gate of A. Tsvetaeva’s house. In total, more than a thousand exhibits were collected.

The museum often hosts literary and musical evenings for poetry lovers. The city, dearly loved by the Tsvetaev sisters, today carefully preserves their memory.

Greene Museum

The Alexander Stepanovich Green Memorial Museum was opened on July 9, 1970 in the house where the writer lived from 1924 to 1929. The unusually creative and romantic atmosphere of Feodosia at that time helped the birth of his new literary plots, in which a fairy tale borders on real life, and the most incredible wishes come true. The writer’s best books were written here: “Running on the Waves”, “The Golden Chain”, “Road to Nowhere”.

The creators of the museum turned it into a symbolic sailing ship with cabin rooms with sonorous names: “Frigate Hold”, “Clipper Room”, “Rostral”, “Captain’s Cabin”. Only one room - Green's study - was restored in the form it had during the writer's lifetime.

In other rooms, next to the usual exhibits - books, photographs, manuscripts - there are models of sailing ships, marine instruments, maps, sesal rope weaves, and a ship's bell. Such an unusual, at first glance, combination helps to clearly and visibly convey the unique character of A.S. Green’s work, to tell not only about his life, but also to imagine the world of his heroes.

The Greenovsky Museum is a museum of Creativity, a museum for caring people who believe in fairy tales and Assol, waiting for its captain Gray. The museum has turned into a literary and artistic center of the city, attracting young artists and already famous masters of painting, graphics, and artistic photography.

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Cape St. Elijah

Behind the ruins of the Genoese fortress, in the ancient city area called Karantin, a narrow path begins leading to the steep Cape Ilya - the extreme western tip of the Feodosian Gulf.

The western part of the bay has long posed a threat to shipping: the rocky and unpredictable Cape Ilya was fraught with danger. During autumn-winter storms, ships often died here, breaking on rocks. In February 1899, the light on the lighthouse built here was lit for the first time, and Cape St. Elijah acquired navigational significance. The lighthouse owes its existence to E.N. Rukavishnikova, who donated funds for construction. In this way, she thanked the city for curing her son of tuberculosis: the sea air of Feodosia benefited the young man, and the disease subsided. Since then, the lighthouse has faithfully served sailors for many years. You can't get inside the lighthouse, but you can wander around its surroundings.

Under the clay ledges of Cape Ilya, generously covered with a blanket of steppe grasses, stretches a narrow strip of pebble beach with miniature coves, amazingly clear water and a rocky bottom overgrown with algae. The water is so clear that even from the top of the cape you can see every stone on the bottom. From the beaches of these coves a detailed panorama of the entire Feodosian Gulf opens up from the city center to the village of Primorsky and further to Cape Chauda.

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