30 attractions of Feodosia that may surprise you

On the southern coast of Crimea there is a cozy town of Feodosia. Despite its size, Feodosia can boast of its history. The city was founded in the 6th century BC.

Feodosia has everything for a comfortable holiday - clean beaches and healing mud. Here you can combine business with pleasure - relax by the sea and get acquainted with historical sights. As you understand, many interesting objects have been preserved in the city over its long life.

In just a couple of hours you can visit all the historical sights in Feodosia. If you want to learn more about the history of the city, it is best to book a tour. This way you will not only stroll through the historical center, but also visit the main symbol of the city - the Genoese fortress.

Sights of Feodosia

Feodosia is one of the oldest cities in Crimea, located on the southeastern coast of the Black Sea.
A bright kaleidoscope of peoples, cultures and events left a mark on the history of this quiet provincial resort, which became a “muse” for a whole galaxy of famous people of past centuries. In this article, you will learn about the best attractions that every traveler should visit in this ancient resort city.

Feodosia Art Gallery named after. I.K. Aivazovsky

Cinemas

Pioneer

"Pioneer" is the oldest cinema in the city . It offers 2 cozy cinema halls, the latest digital equipment, and screening of new products in 2D and 3D formats.

• Ticket prices start from 150 ₽ .
• Location : st. Chekhova, 3.

Crimea

The Crimea cinema is located in the very heart of the city , on the site of the Feodosia women's gymnasium, destroyed during the war years. The cinema contains 3 halls with modern equipment.

• The average cost of tickets is 350 ₽ .
• Location: Aivazovsky Ave., 1.

Towers and fortresses

As befits a maritime outpost, Feodosia is dotted with picturesque citadels and ruins of fortifications, the main one of which is the Genoese fortress, located in the southern part of the resort. From the once powerful fortification, 470 meters of stone walls, gate pylons and several medieval churches have been preserved, which can be viewed at any time, completely free of charge.

Genoese fortress Kafa

The main fortress of the prosperous trading city was crowned by 30 towers, built in the same style within walking distance of each other. The program of a city sightseeing tour most often includes three of them:

1. The Tower of St. Thomas
   , which rises on Mithridates Hill. Its former greatness is evidenced by the masonry of a semicircular bastion - a scarp, which protected the base of the tower, permanent buildings and a stone semi-cylindrical vault protruding from the ground.
2. Tower of St. Constantine
   , located near the railway station. The structure served as an arsenal, where stocks of weapons, stone balls, halberds, spears and swords were stored.
3. Consular (Round) Tower of Giovanni di Scaffa
   , which can be seen at the intersection of Tatarskaya and Tower streets. The spectacular building, decorated with intricate ornaments, is associated with the legend of countless treasures. It is believed that Khan Mamai himself, who was killed and buried here, buried a treasure under the fortress walls shortly before his death.

Tower of Giovanni di Scaffa

Active recreation for those who do not sit still

Fans of active travel and adventure will have plenty to do in Feodosia. During the 2021 holiday season, it will be possible to fly by helicopter. This service will be announced shortly. In addition, you can choose:

• Flight on a glider. Half an hour in the sky with an experienced instructor. Flights take place on Mount Klementyev;
• Horseback riding;
• Motorcycle trips. You will be given a modern, powerful motorcycle for rent. Departure takes place along a pre-agreed route. With stops and breathtaking photographs. The cost ranges from 1400 rubles;
• Diving. Costs about 2500 rubles. This includes the dive itself for 40 minutes, equipment, instructor work and departure on the boat.

You will certainly enjoy a jeep ride around the outskirts of Feodosia and beyond, and fishing enthusiasts will appreciate organized fishing in the open sea.

Religious buildings

With the change in the territorial affiliation of Feodosia, the dominant religion of its inhabitants also changed, which today can be traced through religious buildings, including:

1. Church of St. Sarkis
   , where Ivan Aivazovsky was baptized, married, had a funeral service and was buried. Today it is a functioning Armenian temple, which is worth a visit to touch its amazing history and stand at the grave of the famous marine painter.

Armenian Church of St. Sarkis
2. Mufti-Jami Mosque.

The Mufti-Jami Cathedral Friday Mosque with a turbe (tomb-mausoleum), a bathhouse, a twelve-sided dome and an octagonal minaret was built by the Feodosian Turks in the best traditions of Islamic architecture.

Externally, the temple echoes the religious buildings of Istanbul during the Ottoman Empire and combines Byzantine and Sultanic elements. This includes a domed roof, cast-iron columns with patterns, and a twelve-sided drum decorated with arched windows.

Even after several major restorations, the mosque has not lost its original attractiveness and is still used for worship today. You can visit here on any day of the week, except Friday lunchtime, when obligatory prayer is performed at Mufti-Jami.

3. Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

located a couple of minutes walk from the Genoese fortress. Also known as the Quarantine Church, the Church of John the Baptist, the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, or simply the Iveron Mother of God.

The massive square-shaped stone structure with loophole windows attracts tourists not only because of its atypical architecture for Orthodox churches. Under the dome of the church, ancient frescoes with the face of the Lord have been preserved, and in the altar there are images of the Savior surrounded by 12 apostles.

Mufti-Jami Mosque

Dacha Stamboli

Former Stamboli Palace
This masterpiece is included in the excursions of all guidebooks to Feodosia. Stamboli's dacha is named after its owner - the tobacco "king" of the city, Joseph Stamboli. It was built in 1914, at that time the mansion in the oriental style with features of neo-Moorish style, eclecticism and modernism was the most “progressive” and attracted many looks.

According to legend, the spirit of the “tobacco king” himself still lives in the dacha. And, if he likes the travelers, he appears in the image of a stately gentleman in a European suit jacket.

The history of the dacha is significant for many events.

1. Just a couple of years after construction, the dacha was sold.
2. After the Revolution, the villa was converted into a sanatorium, and during the war it was used as a hospital.
3. Retreating from Feodosia, the Nazis wanted to blow up the dacha so as not to leave even a trace of it. However, the object was saved and today people can enjoy the incomparable skill of the builders.

The dacha is a real “jewel” that successfully combines many styles. The minaret and fountains, flowers and wall paintings, the unique shape of the windows and the amazing stone fence with carvings make an indelible impression.

Today, Stamboli's dacha has become a hotel where very wealthy tourists stay. It’s easy to find – every resident of Feodosia knows the dacha.

Museums

There are a dozen and a half museums in Feodosia that are of interest to history buffs and connoisseurs of beauty. These include houses where celebrities lived and worked, and unique exhibitions: for example, rare coins, paragliders and underwater archaeological finds.

The most visited of them:

• the Marina and Anastasia Tsvetaev Museum, the exhibition of which introduces visitors to the Feodosia period of the life of the Tsvetaev sisters;
• the Museum of Marine Painting (or the Aivazovsky Art Gallery), where more than 400 paintings by the famous artist are presented;
• the A. Green Museum, located in the house where the creator of “Scarlet Sails” wrote a number of works, including the novel “Running on the Waves”;
• the Museum of Antiquities, which is considered one of the oldest museum institutions in Europe;
• the hang gliding museum (the only one in the CIS), which houses a collection of aircraft from different periods of the development of aeronautics;
• a money museum, the exhibition of which includes over 30 thousand coins and 1000 paper banknotes;
• Museum of Fish and Fisheries, where more than 5 thousand exhibits related to fishing are accumulated.

Alexander Green Museum

Where to go with children - popular entertainment

It is wrong to think that only pensioners choose to holiday in Feodosia. This is an excellent opportunity for a family holiday with children. Because in the city you can not only relax on the beach, but also spend time in places such as:

1. Embankment. In the summer there is an ice cream parlor, car rental, trampolines, and attractions;
2. Hang Gliding Museum. It is unique in that it has working hang gliders in its arsenal. The “training sessions” will give rides to older kids. Located on Kuibysheva Street, building 1;
3. The Monetary Museum has been opened on Kuibyshev Street, where you can see the currency of different eras;
4. Komsomolsky Park. You can not only take a calm walk, but also engage in a kind of children's extreme sport. Rope town - that’s what this attraction is called, under the guidance of specialists who will be on hand for the little Olympians;
5. Cinema "Crimea" in the city center.

If you want to attend a performance, then go to the village of Kurortnoye, which is not far from Feodosia. There is a dolphinarium here. Where you also have the opportunity to swim with dolphins.

Architectural objects

The polyphonic urban planning ensemble of Feodosia was formed under the influence of many cultures, peoples and dynasties that left their mark on the history of the city. For example, the Ilyinsky lighthouse, which rises at the tip of the Tepe-Oba ridge, appeared several centuries BC. e. thanks to the Greeks. Today, there is a museum next to the navigation tower, which can be accessed with permission from the Coast Guard.

Ilyinsky lighthouse

Feodosia owes the appearance of several elegant residences in the city to representatives of the Karaite dynasty, including:

1. Dacha Milos
   was built in the style of ancient Greek and neoclassical architecture. The main decoration of the ancient estate is copies of ancient statues, including the famous Venus de Milo.
2. Dacha Victoria
   was built in the medieval Spanish-Moorish style. It belonged to a Karaite family named Crimea, today it is used as a sanatorium and resort institution.
3. Stamboli's dacha
   is a symbol of Feodosia. An elegant seaside villa is surrounded by fountains and a walking garden, dominated by evergreen cypress trees. Nowadays, a museum of underwater archeology has been opened in the premises of the mansion, which the Feodosians call the “Crimean Atlantis”.

Dacha Stamboli

Water parks

There are no water parks in the city itself, but after spending a little time on the trip you can visit one of the best water amusement parks in Crimea - Koktebel. On the southern coast, it is considered the largest. A huge number of slides for adults and children, swimming pools, and hot tubs provide an opportunity to have fun with the whole family.

Waterpark Koktebel

Particularly popular is the “Family Rafting” attraction, in which the descent from the slide takes place on a raft. There are also shops, lockers, a medical center, showers, locker rooms and toilets on the territory. The prices are quite reasonable, an adult ticket for the whole day is 1200 rubles.

All water parks of Crimea are here

Monuments and Monuments

Among the two dozen memorials located in the city, the greatest interest for tourists is:

1. Monument to Aivazovsky

. A laconic bronze monument to the famous native of Feodosia was erected in 1930. Almost a century later, it “warmly welcomes” visitors to the art gallery, which bears the name of the marine painter.

Monument to Aivazovsky
2. Monument

Russian traveler
Afanasy Nikitin
. The sculptural work is located opposite the Church of the Iveron Mother of God. According to legend, the author of “Walking Across Three Seas” offered prayers in the church in gratitude for his safe return to his native land.

Monument to Afanasy Nikitin
3. Stele “Knights of the Sea Depths”

located on Platanovaya Alley, in the historical part of the city. Dedicated to the sailors who took part in the Crimean and Great Patriotic Wars.

4. Monument to the Feodosian landing

installed in honor of the largest amphibious landing operation during the Second World War. It is located on the Paratroopers embankment, where the fiercest battles for the city took place.

Monument to the Feodosian landing

Fountains

A story about the sights of Feodosia would be incomplete without mentioning the fountains, which occupy a sacred place in the resort’s infrastructure. The most attractive of them:

1. Aivazovsky Fountain

– built according to the artist’s design in 1888. The elegant reservoir, reminiscent of a lean-to pagoda, produced up to 50 thousand buckets of the purest water coming from the Subash springs, owned by the marine painter’s wife.

Aivazovsky Fountain
2. Fountain “To the Good Genius”

, which is located at the entrance to Jubilee Park. Opened in memory of the Aivazovsky family, who did a lot for the development of the city.

3. “Fountain of Love”

installed in front of Alexander Green's house. The three-meter bronze statue depicts two lovers hiding under an umbrella from the summer rain, not noticing either the downpour or the people around. The most romantic and photographed place in the city is located on Museum Square, next to the “Kissing Places” sign.

Fountain of Lovers (resource https://topparki.ru/)

Excursions - which ones are worth visiting?

Guided car tour

The program of an individual excursion for groups of up to 6 people includes an introduction to the Genoese fortress and key attractions: the Aivazovsky Gallery, the Aivazovsky Fountain, the Jubilee Park and the “Good Genius” fountain, the Walk of Fame, the ancient Armenian temple of St. Sarkis, the Mufti-Jami Mosque, as well as visiting the best viewpoints: Mithridates Hill and Tepe-Oba Mountain.

• The cost of the tour is 5850 ₽ , duration is 4.5 hours.

Walking tour

An individual walking tour introduces guests to Feodosia with its rich history and formation . As part of the excursion, tourists will see luxurious dachas, palaces of the 19th-20th centuries, elegant mansions, learn about the life and work of Aivazovsky and will definitely unravel the tangle of eras in the Old Town.

• The cost of the tour is 4490 ₽ , the number of participants is up to 7 people.
• The duration of the excursion is 3.5 hours.

Private Wine Tour

An 8-hour individual excursion involves getting to know the picturesque nature of Feodosia and its surroundings. The journey combines historical artifacts, magnificent views of the area and... wine! The tour program includes a visit to the Frog spring, the village of New World, the Genoese fortress and wines.

• The cost of the tour is 2000 ₽ per person.
• Additional expenses: 700 ₽ per person in the house of champagne wines, 300 ₽ per person in the cellars of the winery, 350 ₽ - tasting of 10 brands of wine.

What attraction of Feodosia is a must-see? The Karadag Nature Reserve is one of the most beautiful and secluded places in all of Crimea, so if you are nearby, you should definitely go there on an excursion!