Pieces of the past

Sevastopol Chersonese tavrichesky photo

The ancient city of Chersonese. I wanted to visit him as soon as I arrived. On my second trip, I returned to it again. Chersonesos, first Greek, then Roman, Byzantine, Italian, Tatar and then Russian, clearly shows the importance of the Crimea for the peoples of the Black Sea. As part of European culture, and generally as a place to live, the city fell into decay with the fall of the Byzantine Empire. Attempts by the Italians to return the city to its former greatness were stopped by the Golden Horde. The city was burned and looted.

Sevastopol city street photo

Chersonese tavrichesky bell

Chersonesos excavations

Chersonesos ruins

Chersonesos ruins

By walking through the ancient city, I imagined how people lived thousands of years before me. They left home wineries and cellars, the foundations of dwellings and the remains of temples, first pagan, then Christian. You can see with your own eyes how the city has changed over thousands of years.

Chersonesos ruins

In Chersonese also an ancient open-air theater excavated by archaeologists, which is still in operation. It shows the drama or comedy, like many centuries ago.

Chersonesos Theater photo

The bright sun, the sea breeze and out-of-city silence makes one think about eternity and what you things will leave after you in our world.

Chersonesos Crimea photo

View in the vicinity of Sevastopol

Sevastopol vineyards

Crimea is land of vineyards. As soon as I left the city, I immediately saw from the bus window vineyards spread out in all directions. It was especially pleasant for me, after the arid steppe from homeland. Although grapes are also growing in my small homeland, the wine is sourish and cannot be compared with the southern one.

Sevastopol vineyards

After Sevastopol, I visited the nearest satellite towns: Balaclava and Inkerman.

bay balaclava crimea

Balaclava in the past was a closed military city, now it is a tourist place. In Balaclava, the ruins of an ancient Italian fortress are preserved. From the top of the rock, the fortress silently looks at the yachts of the new owners of life.

Balaclava Embankment photo
Balaclava Embankment photo
balaclava street photo
types of balaclava Crimea

Balaclava here is more like the European coastal towns.

flowering poppies Crimea
balaclava photo promenade

The Italians built a fortress on a rock, from which both the town and the open sea are clearly visible. For many centuries, only towers and a donjon remained on it, which was located at the very top and can be seen from everywhere.

balaclava photo fortress

mountains balaclava crimea

The most unusual place of Balaclava is the base of submarines, penetrating the rock through. Now the underground palaces are too small for modern submarines. Here it becomes clear why the city was closed.

Balaclava Submarine Museum photo

The second satellite town of Sevastopol is Inkerman (“cave fortress” in Turkish). All the times I got to Sevastopol, passing Inkerman. Remark: the fortress was built by the Byzantine Empire, but with the advent of the Turks and the Horde, it fell into disrepair, and the city disappeared for many centuries.

Kalamite Fortress in Inkerman

Apart from the fortress, I came to look at the eponymous winery. And also went on excursions and tastings. Wine cellars organized in the old adits, where there was once mined stone. I must say at once that Crimea is considered north in comparison with Italian and French winemaking, and I do not advise you to compare it. There is a cold winter.

Inkerman Winery
winery sevastopol inkerman

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