Alushta Sights and Attractions
Alushta has a very rich history. The fortress of Aluston was built in the VI century by the order of Roman (Byzantine) Emperor Justinian I. In the medieval times Alusta was an important beach stronghold for the states owning Crimea: Roman Empire, Khazar Kaganate, the Theodore Princedom. The fortress of Alusta was an apple of discord for the Genoeses and the princedom of Theodore, as it had a quay that had been constructed by Byzantines. After the dynasty of Osmans conquered the southern Crimea, Alushta lost its marine significance and turned into an ordinary coastal village. However at a culmination point of war between Russia and Turkey for Crimea Alushta was chosen as the place of landing of the Turkish army. The troops were crashed by the V.P. Musin-Pushkin corps beside the village of Shuma to the north from Alushta. V.P. Musin-Pushkin was badly wounded, but at that moment lieutenant colonel M.I. Kutuzov distinguished himself, as he lead the Moscow legion battalion that was directing the main attack. A monument to Kutuzov in honor of those events was erected by a spring along the Alushta-Simferopol highway.
The popularity of Alushta as a resort grew in the XIX – early XX century. It acquired the status of town in 1902. At the same time the famous outskirts of Alushta, now part of the town named “Professor’s Corner” began to develop. A lot of movies were made near Alushta: “The Hearts of the Three”, “The Caucasian Captive”, “Ships Assail Bastions” and many other.
The Sights of Alushta – A Depository of Fascinating Places to See
Where can one go at loose moments after the beach, for a sightseeing tour or just to have a walk with a girlfriend or pals? What is to be seen in Alushta? Where can one spend an unforgettable day with children and family? What places of interest of Alushta can be shown to your friend from another town? What can be seen in one day, in two or three days? Where can one take a child? Let us try to answer these questions. The key places of interest in Alushta are considered to be the Rotunda on the Alushta embankment, the Aluston fortress, the Funa fortress, Professor’s Corner, Alushta Aquarium, Waterpark Mindalnaya Roscha (Almond Grove), the Stacheev dacha, the mountains of Demerdzhi and Castel, the Valley of Ghosts, the Pavilion of Winds, the Crimea in Miniature park, Lighthouse Church, Museum of Sea Accidents, Crimea Sanctuary, Cosmas and Damian Monastery, palace and park complex of princess Gagarina (now the Utios resort), the famous manicure-treated Aivazovsky park at Partenit and many other.
Waterpark Mindalnaya Roscha (Almond Grove)
Thousands of tourists and guests of Alushta strive to visit the water park before anything else. The area of the water park is 2 hectares. The water park includes 6 swimming pools, 14 water slides, 4 head platforms, a suntan area and a VIP-area. There are a lot of waterfalls, fountains, stream channels, Jacuzzi and other amusements.
Alushta Aquarium
Another place to see in Alushta is the Alushta Aquarium. It is the largest museum with live marine animals in Ukraine. The first showroom reminds of a Crimean cave with an outdoor swimming pool in the center. Here fish of the Black and Azov seas are exhibited. In the second and in the third showrooms one can see exotic and freshwater fish from all over the world. Crocodiles and water turtles are also there. In the forth showroom you will see an amazing world of bright fish of the Red sea, Pacific basin and whitetip reef sharks!
Church-Lighthouse and Museum of Sea Accidents
At the Malorechenskoye village there is a unique, one of its kind memorial complex devoted to those lost in the sea, including a Museum of Sea Accidents and the Church of St. Nicholas Mirlikiysky. It is the tallest church in Crimea. The lighthouse church rises 54 meters above the sea. Its walls are decorated with wall-paintings, mosaic, ship anchors and chains. A beacon light is installed under the central cross. On the brink of the precipice there is a popular Pavilion in the form of a “Flying Dutchman” with a captain’s bridge and sails. Almost half of the Crimean Southern Coastline can be seen from that point. At the base of the church there is a museum of sea accidents over 1000 square meters in area. The roar of sea and semidarkness make you feel yourself in an underwater realm.
The Pavilion of Winds
One of the popular sights of Alushta is the Pavilion of Winds buit in 1956 on the Shagan-Kaya mountain right on the brink of abyss. The height of the columns of the pavilion is about 4 meters, on the floor of the pavilion a rose of winds is inlaid with mosaic. A wonderful picturesque panoramic view of Hurzuph, Partenit and Aiu-Dag mountain opens from the pavilion. To get to the Pavilion of Winds from Hurzuph you can follow the road through the Partizansky settlement or just walk about 1.5 kilometers from the Hurzuph Saddle passage.
The Demerdzhi Mountain
One cannot miss to see yet another place of interest in Alushta – the mountain of Demerdzhi (The Turkish for the Blacksmith Mountain). Demerdzhi is one of the most beautiful and mysterious Crimean mountains. It is situated not far from Alushta. At the root of the mountain on a rocky hill there are remains of a medieval fortress of Founa. On the western slope of the mountain of Demerdzhi you will find the famous Valley of Ghosts. Also there is a “Ekaterina’s Head” rock named so after the Russian Empress Ekaterina II. The rock resembling a human profile with a proudly turned up collar is clearly seen from the Simferopol-Yalta highway.
The Valley of Ghosts
The Valley of Ghosts is another unique point of interest in Alushta. Unlike other Crimean mountains Demerdzhi is distinct in multiple impregnations of boulders of hard rock shingles set by calciferous cement. Leaking into the depth of rock the water reacts with the carbon dioxide in soil and acquires the properties of a weak acid corroding the mountain breed. Under the influence of erosion caused by weathering the chalkstone decays and bares fantastic sculptures made of harder breeds. It may be columns, mushrooms, columns with caps, animal shapes. The largest sculpture is almost 25 meters high. When clouds fly over Demerdzhi, in the morning mist mysterious silhouettes burst upon you view and then disappear. It is a real catch for photographers! Don’t forget additional batteries and capacious memory cards. The best time for this tour is at the sunrise!