Ukrainian city of Feodosia
is One of the Oldest Cities in Europe.

Brief Area History .

The city of Feodosia (Theodosia) was founded in the 6th century BC by Greek colonists from Miletos. The name of the city means "Given by God". At that time when it was founded, the Eternal City of Rome was about 500 years old. Athens, the capital of Greece, founded in the 8th-9th century, is 250-300 years younger then Rome.

During nine centuries Feodosia remained a minor village under the domination of the Khazars, the Byzantine Empire, the Kipchaks, and the Mongol Golden Horde. In the late 13th century traders from Genoa purchased the town from the ruling Golden Horde. They called it Kaffa and made a flourishing trading, port, and administrative center of Genoese settlements around the Black Sea area.

Kaffa became an influential political and trade force in the Black Sea area, and one of Europe's biggest slave markets. In 1475 the town was seized by the Ottoman commander Gedik Ahmet Pasha. The Turks renamed it to Kefe and made the town a major Turkish port on the Black Sea.

The expanding Russian Empire conquered the hole Crimean Peninsula in 1783. The original name Feodosia (a Slavic adaptation of the Greek name) was returned to the city.

But once a major trade center city was destroyed and lost its significance. Only at the end of the 19th century when the rail road connected Jankoy and Feodosia, city became a major Black Sea port and trade center again.

The city today.

Modern Feodosia is an administrative center of the south-eastern Crimea with a population of about 87, 000 people. Besides the city itself it includes smaller towns Koktebel, Kurortnoe, Ordgonikidze, Primorsky, and others. A good East Crimea map can be found at Krym.Sarov.Info (new window opens).

Russian writer K.Paustovsky wrote about Eastern Crimea: "It was full of bloom and calm. You won't find similar nature at any other Crimean part like in this special isolated country. This part of Crimean Peninsula really looks like it is much older than the rest of Crimea.

There are a lot of old fortresses, ancient monasteries and churches, interesting archeological, art, and literature museums. This part of Crimea has unique nature and scenery. Combination of steppe and sea climate, high quality mineral waters, healing mud and salt lakes, experienced personal and good equipped medical facilities make this area a favorite place for health rehabilitation and family rest.

But the major city's attraction is the Black Sea. This area has about 15 km of the best in Crimea sand beaches. If you really would like to enjoy swimming, don't go to the city beaches. They are for lazy people - overcrowded and not very clean. It is much better idea to live somewhere city outskirts close to the real beaches. You can always take a bus or a taxi ride to the city embankment or downtown.

Both of them are very interesting places to spend time after swimming. What can be seen there? Feodosia is the city where the famous Russian seascape painter Ivan Aivazovsky lived and worked all his life. The Aivazovsky Picture Gallery has about 400 pieces of his work. Museum building and the art works Ivan Aivazovsky donated to his favorite city.

Not too far from the Picture Gallery the House-Museum of the famous cult writer Alexander Grin is located. "Scarlet Sails" is his the most famous novel. Alexander Grin created that special somewhat unrealistic romantic world of ideal feelings and emotions which brought up a few generations of young people. Don't go there until you read at least his "Scarlet Sails".

The city embankment is the most visited place in Feodosia. You can't miss it: music, flows of people who hurry nowhere, numerous artists with their pictures, souvenirs, sculptures arranged on the shelves and tables, people posing for artists, musicians, singers. A lot of excitement. But generally it is a quiet and relaxing city unlike Big Yalta.

The Koktebel settlement located not too far from Feodosia is famous for its cultural traditions, bright and informal bohemian public, and unique nature of Kara-Dag Preserve. Koktebel has always been a place which attracted famous poets, artists, hippies, gliders, and naturists. More about Koktebel and Feodosia can be found at the Black Sea City page.

To get to Feodosia.

The city is one of a very few in Crimea which has a railroad. Certainly it is necessary for the port city. But from the other side... you will realize what I am talking about once you see it. Nevertheless, there are direct trains from Moscow, Kiev, St. Petersburg, Minsk, Dnepropetrovsk,Kharkov, Sumy, and Lugansk. There is a suburb train (eklectrichka) from Jankoy.

The closest airport is located near Kerch. But it doesn't have too many flights. It is better idea to arrive in Simferopol and take a bus or marshrutka to the place. It will cost you about $4-5. More comfortable taxi ride will cost you about $20 in June-July and $35-40 in August.

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