Alupka is a resort town on the southern coast of Crimea. Alupka is
located right under Mount Ai-Petri, which is best viewed from the
luxurious landscape park surrounding the huge Vorontsov Palace, one
of the main Crimean attractions. In addition to the palace itself,
its rich museum exposition and the park, Alupka has an old Orthodox
church and a dozen pre-revolutionary villas, mostly used as
sanatoriums.
Alupka is a small, beautiful, very green resort
town with a permanent population of about 8 thousand people. The
city stretched along the seashore for 4 km, and its width is about
1.5 km. It is entirely located on the southern slope of the Crimean
Mountains (southwest of Mount Ai-Petri), the height difference of
the streets is from zero to 300 meters. Many streets are located in
steps along the slope, and those that go across have a very decent
slope. Roads in the city are narrow and full of sharp closed turns.
Almost half of the territory of Alupka is occupied by the
Vorontsov Palace with a park. Old Alupka is quite compact and is
located to the northwest of the park. The farther to the west, the
more chaotic the development is, there are even multi-storey
residential buildings (the microdistrict "New Houses" next to the
South Coast Highway). In the end, Alupka ends and Simeiz begins
almost immediately. In the east, the border of the city is even more
blurred: as soon as you move away from Vorontsovsky Park, you are
already in Miskhor.
There is no industry in the city - the
entire infrastructure is designed for health resorts and tourism.
The city also has workshops for aging wines of the Massandra
Production Association with a tasting room.
In Alupka,
daylight hours are noticeably shorter, as the evening sun sets
behind a mountain more than 1000 meters high and dusk quickly sets
in.
By car
You can come to Alupka along the South Coast
highway from Yalta (14 km) or Sevastopol (65 km). In addition, you can
come from Yalta along the old Sevastopol highway. There are few parking
spaces in Alupka. Cars are most often left either at the western
entrance to the park (at the end of Frunze Street) or at the eastern
one, but this, in fact, is still Miskhor, and you will have to walk
through the entire park for more than a kilometer to Alupka itself. Paid
parking is available next to the bus station. There are a lot of cars
even in the low season.
By bus
Minibuses from Yalta go to
Alupka with an interval of 15-20 minutes. They are of two types: No. 107
and 115 go along the "middle" road, i.e. along the old Sevastopol
highway, go around the Vorontsovsky park from above and come to the bus
station, and then go further to Simeiz or Katsiveli. Minibuses No. 32
and 102 go along the "lower" road, approaching the park from the east.
If you need to go to the city, the first option is more convenient. If
the park or the beach, then the second. In Yalta, all minibuses depart
from the bus station, with the exception of number 32, which follows
directly from the center (from the embankment).
Intercity routes
from the bus station are all passing: from Simeiz to Simferopol (every
two to three hours). Two flights from Sevastopol. It should be borne in
mind that even the buses indicated in the schedule may either not arrive
on time, or may not arrive at all. In addition, you can go to the South
Coast Highway (the "upper" road), where there will be Yalta-Sevastopol
buses and the like.
Bus station, st. Lenina, 4 (crossing of
Lenina street and Palace highway). ☎ +7 (3654) 72-21-90. 07:30 - 19:30.
E-tickets can be purchased on the carrier's website gosbus.ru.
Stop
"Vorontsov Palace". The final minibus going "lower" road. East entrance
to the park.
Stop "Alupka (nursery)", the intersection of the South
Coast Highway and Levitan Street. The stop of passing buses is located
to the west of the city, 2 km from the bus station. Convenient for those
who want to walk in the mountains. The rest should transfer to the city
bus number 10, which will take you to the bus station.
On the
ship
Currently (June 2016) maritime traffic along the southern coast
of Crimea has been terminated. The pier in Alupka is officially closed
due to an emergency condition.
City public transport is represented by the only ring bus route No. 1 (previously it was under No. 10).
1 Vorontsov Palace , Palace highway, 10 (in the park). ✉ ☎ +7 (3654)
72-22-81. Winter (until March): 9:00–18:00, in winter until 16:45,
ticket offices close 45 minutes before closing. Single ticket: 380
rubles, ceremonial halls: 270 rubles, Shuvalov building: 110 rubles,
sculpture of the Southern terraces: 50 rubles, photography 30 rubles
(2015). The palace was built from 1828 to 1848 for the summer residence
of Count M. S. Vorontsov, designed by the English architect Edward
Blore. It was the first palace on the southern coast of Crimea, almost
simultaneously with it the palace in Gaspra and, a little later, the
unpreserved royal palace in Oreanda were built, and all the rest were
built after the Crimean War. The initial project assumed a completely
ordinary building in the classicist style prevailing at that time, but
in 1831, when construction was already in full swing, Vorontsov
unexpectedly stops it and finds a new architect, Blore, who radically
changes the appearance of the palace. Having traveled a lot in Europe
and known for his love for England, Vorontsov decided to do something
hitherto unseen in Rus', as a result of which the northern facade of the
palace was decorated in the style of the English Renaissance, the walls
and towers in the western part are reminiscent of medieval castles, the
southern facade is made in oriental style , and the terrace in front of
it is decorated with sculptures of lions copied from the Medici villa in
Rome. It sounds absolutely crazy, but it looks great, and not only from
the position of the middle of the XIX century, but also from a modern
point of view, too.
The interiors of the palace, of course, were not
inferior to its external appearance. They were partially damaged during
the war and the subsequent use of the palace as a sanatorium, but much
has been preserved, and this is one of the reasons to look inside.
Another exposition, which is allowed on separate tickets, is the
so-called Shuvalov building, where they show a collection of Russian
avant-garde paintings, especially St. Petersburg symbolist artists (a
gift from Professor V.N. Golubev). The third permanent exhibition is the
terrace with lions. In addition to the lions, you can see from it the
southern facade of the palace, where, for example, there is a “fountain
of tears” - a copy of the Bakhchisaray fountain. Temporary exhibitions
are held regularly.
✦ Vorontsovsky park. The arrangement of the park
took no less time than the construction of the palace, and the result
was just as grandiose. The construction of the park was led by the
German gardener Karl Kebach. Through his efforts and the labor of
Vorontsov's serfs in Alupka, they collected about 200 species of exotic
trees and shrubs, including plants from the countries of the
Mediterranean, North and South America, and East Asia. Ponds and small
waterfalls are equipped on the streams flowing from the mountains, paths
are laid everywhere - the park is very beautiful and also convenient for
walking. Open 24/7, admission is free.
2 Big chaos. The glade, on
which huge boulders are scattered, is an impressive sight. There is also
a small chaos, but it is more modest.
3 Trout and swan lakes. In the
northern part of the park there are several interconnected ponds with a
stone bottom. Fish and swans swim in clear water. Very beautiful.
4
Aivazovsky Rock. It is believed that it was here that the artist liked
to look at the sea and paint his famous landscapes. A path was even cut
through the stones, allowing you to comfortably approach the water
itself.
5 Church of Michael the Archangel, st. Lenina, 4 (above the
bus station). The first Orthodox church in Alupka was built in 1841 at
the direction of Count Vorontsov. By the way, he financed the
construction of the mosque (now destroyed) to maintain good neighborly
relations with the Tatars who lived in this area. By the end of the 19th
century, when the mosque was still intact, the church began to collapse
due to landslides, so it was dismantled in 1903-08. built a new one in
the neo-Russian style with numerous kokoshniks.
Also in Alupka, there
are about two dozen pre-revolutionary houses (mostly private, built as
mansions or summer cottages), many of which have turned into sanatorium
buildings and stand in a closed area, and therefore are inaccessible. To
explore old Alupka, take a walk along Frunze and Rosa Luxembourg streets
to the northwest of the Vorontsov Palace, as well as along Yalta, which
runs above the park.
Tasting room "Massandra", st. Palace highway, 9. ☎ +7 (3654)
72-11-98, +7 (978) 853-05-08. Tours start at 11:00, 12:00, 14:30, 15:30,
16:30. Tasting starts at 11:30, 12:30, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00. In 1820,
Vorontsov founded the oldest wine cellar in the Crimea in Alupka. During
the Soviet years, a winery worked here. Now tasting rooms are located in
its place, but wine cellars continue to be used for aging Massandra
vintage wines.
Museum-apartment of A. I. Kuindzhi (in the very center
of the city). The house in which the artist lived and worked is now a
museum, his paintings and personal belongings are on display, the
atmosphere of that time has been preserved.
Art Museum Ya.A.Basov,
st. Brothers Govyrinyh, 15. Dedicated to the work of the famous Crimean
artist Ya. Basov. His paintings are exhibited, mainly landscapes of
Simferopol, Bakhchisarai, Gurzuf and Yalta, many seascapes.
Museum of
Amet Khan Sultan , st. Yaltinskaya, 22-A (from Yalta - fixed-route taxi
No. 107, No. 115, stop "Pozharka"). ✉ ☎ +7 (978) 867-71-53. Tue-Sun
10:00 – 19:00. The museum is dedicated to the twice Hero of the Soviet
Union pilot Amet Khan Sultan, who was born in Alupka. In addition to the
exposition dedicated to him, there is also an exposition about the
participation of the Crimean Tatars, natives of Alupka, in the Great
Patriotic War.
Bank "RNCB", str. Rosy Luxemburg, 30. ☎ 8 (800) 100-90-85. Mon–Fri
9:00–18:00. There is an ATM.
"Genbank", ul. M. F. Frunze im. Kirova,
7. ☎ 8 (800) 333-55-45. Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00. The ATM is at my address.
Frunze, 1 i str. Yaltinskaya, 1.
ATM bank "Russia", ul. Lenina, 15.
Sosedi store, str. Zapadnaya, 22. An ATM bank "RNCB" has been installed.
"Allo" store, str. Kalinina, 37. ATM bank "RNCB" has been installed
1 Restaurant Karamba, st. Frunze, 10. ☎ +7 (3654) 72-32-83. European
cuisine, not too expensive.
2 Cafe "Veterok-2002", st. Lenina, 2. ☎
+7 (3654) 72-49-44.
3 Cafe-dining room "Magnolia", st. Park Descent
6. ☎ +7 (3654) 72-22-90. Large dining room with a good selection of
food. High quality and tasty.
4 Hotel-restaurant Nadezhda, Palace
Highway, 1. ☎ +7 (3654) 72-19-06. Hot dishes 150-300 rubles. May 2015
edit
5 "Nostalzhi" restaurant, st. Frunze, 1b. 10:00 - 24:00. Outdoor
cafe, live music.
6 Restaurant “Khutor Dikanka”, st. Lenina, 1. ☎ +7
(3654) 72-19-06. Ukrainian cuisine, dumplings in sour cream and donuts.
7 Cafe-confectionery "Chocolate House", st. Ulyanov, 7. ☎ +7 (3654)
32-13-14.
Sanatoriums and boarding houses
1 Children's sanatorium "Alupka",
st. Yaltinskaya, 5. ☎ +7 (3654) 72-11-51. Climatic sanatorium for the
treatment of children 7-15 years old with respiratory diseases.
2
Center for Medical Rehabilitation and Sanatorium Treatment "Alupkinsky"
Moscow Region, st. Amet-Khan Sultan, 31. ☎ +7 (3654) 72-25-51, +7 (3654)
72-17-51. From 1375 rubles / person, including accommodation, 3 meals a
day and treatment of a therapeutic profile. Profile - treatment of the
respiratory system. In standard rooms: shower, toilet, washbasin, TV,
refrigerator, loggia. Own, pebble beach with a length of 100 meters.
3 Recreation center to them. Repin, st. R. Luxembourg, 22. ☎ +7 (3654)
72-10-07.
4. Sanatorium "Mountain Sun", Palace Highway, 4. ☎ +7
(3654) 72-12-61. The sanatorium specializes in the treatment of the
upper respiratory tract and the treatment of tuberculosis.
5 Sanatorium "Health", st. Brothers Gavyrinykh, 20 (on the territory of
the land plot of the State Children's Sanatorium named after A.A.
Bobrov). ☎ +7 (3654) 72-22-78.
6 Medical and health complex "Green
Cape", st. Lenina, 60. ☎ +7 (3654) 72-68-38.
7 Boarding house
"Zlatoust", Palace highway, 28. ☎ +7 (3654) 72-34-80.
8 Villa
Oneiro, st. Western, 6. ☎ +7 (3654) 72-69-82, +7 (918) 665-70-34. From
1400 rub.
9 Sanatorium "Pedgorny", Svobody Highway, 11. ☎ +7 (3654)
72-22-07.
10 Boarding house "Sergey", Sevastopol highway, 31. Double
2280-7500 rub.
11 Sanatorium "Solnechny", st. Frunze, 19. ☎ +7 (3654)
72-12-61.
12 Sanatorium "Yuzhnoberezhny", st. Lenina, 29. ☎ +7 (3654)
72-53-04. The profile is general somatic.
The settlement arose as an ancient Greek colony called "Alepochori" - "fox village" (from the ancient Greek "alepo" - "fox", "chorion" - "village, village"), although the first mentions in documents are found only from the 10th century. In the documents of the 10th century, the village is referred to as Alubika, Alopeka, later - Alupka (Greek Αλούπκα).
Alupka is a seaside climatic resort on the southern coast of Crimea,
located on the southern slope of the Crimean Mountains, near the foot of
Mount Ai-Petri. It is located in the Crimean sub-Mediterranean
ecoregion. The southernmost city in the region. The average annual air
temperature is +13.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is about 500 mm.
The average temperature in January-February is +4…+6°С, in August
+26°С. The number of sunny hours per year is 2300, relative humidity is
70%. The swimming season lasts from May to October (the average water
temperature in summer is +22…+27°С).
The first mention of the city dates back to 960 (the time of
Byzantine and Khazar rule in the Crimea). In the XIV-XV centuries in
Alupka there was a stronghold of Lupiko (Lupico) of the Captaincy of
Gothia of the Genoese colonies. In the XII-XIII century, on Mount
Krestovaya above the city, there was a rather large settlement of
Alupka-Isar, but it was not established whether it was connected with
Alupka proper. In 1475-1774, Alupka was the crown possession of the
Ottoman sultans. After the annexation of Crimea to Russia in 1784,
Alupka belonged to Prince Grigory Potemkin. According to the
administrative division, after the creation of the Taurida province on
October 8 (20), 1802, Alupka was included in the Mahuldur volost of the
Simferopol district. According to the Statement of all the villages in
the Simferopol district, consisting of showing in which volost how many
households and souls ... dated October 9, 1805, in the village of Alupka
there were 37 households and 223 residents, exclusively Crimean Tatars.
Since 1823, Alupka passed into the possession of Mikhail Vorontsov, who
built a palace here, as well as a church and a mosque. After the reform
of the volost division of 1829, Alupka, according to the Statement of
State Volosts of the Tauride Province of 1829, was transferred to the
Alushta volost. By personal decree of Nicholas I of March 23 (old
style), 1838, on April 15, a new Yalta district was formed and the
village was transferred to the Derekoy volost. In the "List of populated
places of the Tauride province according to the data of 1864", compiled
according to the results of the VIII revision of 1864, Alupka (Alubka)
is recorded - a Russian owner's estate with 14 courtyards, 35
inhabitants, an Orthodox church and a palace and Alupka (Alubka) - a
state-owned Tatar village with 37 courtyards, 187 residents and a
mosque, both by the nameless river. In 1886, in the village of Alupka
near the Khostobash and Shonhai rivers, according to the directory
"Volosti and the most important villages of European Russia", 294 people
lived in 44 households, there was a mosque, an Orthodox church (the
first church was destroyed by a landslide, the second was under
construction), 2 shops , 4 bakeries and a bustle. According to the
"Memorial book of the Tauride province of 1889", according to the
results of the X revision of 1887, there were 97 households and 426
inhabitants in the village of Alupka. Artists Ivan Shishkin, Vasily
Surikov, Konstantin Bogaevsky, battle painter Nikolai Samokish worked in
Alupka and its environs. One of the highest cliffs with a viewing
platform is named after the marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky.
At
the beginning of the 20th century, Alupka became a popular resort. In
the 1920s and 1930s, the infrastructure of the settlement was
systematically created, and resort facilities were built. After the
Civil War, 22 health resorts were organized in Alupka. Over the years,
Fyodor Chaliapin, Maxim Gorky, Valery Bryusov, Ivan Bunin, Mikhail
Kotsyubinsky, Lesya Ukrainka, Sergei Rachmaninov and others were treated
and rested here. According to the Statistical handbook of the Tauride
province. Part II-I. Statistical essay, issue eight Yalta district,
1915, in the town of Alupka, Derekoy volost, Yalta district, there were
352 households with a Tatar population of 239 registered residents and
3367 "outsiders".
According to the List of settlements of the
Crimean ASSR according to the All-Union census on December 17, 1926, in
the resort of Alupka, the center of the Alupka village council of the
Yalta region, there were 881 households, of which 772 were non-peasant,
the population was 2950 people, of which 1445 were Russians, 222
Ukrainians, 903 Crimean Tatars, 148 Greeks, 82 Jews, 34 Armenians, 24
Belarusians, 13 Poles, 11 Germans, 7 Latvians, 2 Bulgarians, Czechs and
Estonians 54 are recorded in the “other” column, there were Greek,
Russian and Tatar schools. In 1938, Alupka received the status of a city
. According to 1941 data, 24 health resorts of various profiles, 3
schools, a hospital and other institutions worked in it.
In Alupka there are health resorts: a sanatorium of the Ministry of
Defense of Russia (respiratory treatment); children's sanatorium
"Alupka"; sanatorium for mother and child "Yuzhnoberezhny" (general
somatic profile); children's sanatorium A. Bobrov, which treats bone
tuberculosis in children.
Other enterprises and institutions:
production association "Massandra" (workshops for aging strong wines
such as "Madera", "Port wine red", production and tasting), forestry.
The city has two general education and one children's music school, a republican sanatorium boarding school (respiratory treatment); a polyclinic, a city center of culture, a base for industrial and artistic practice for students of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts; two libraries, museums.
There are religious communities in the city: two Christian ones - Orthodox and Evangelical Christians-Baptists and one Muslim community. One of the attractions of Alupka is the Church of the Holy Archangel Michael, built in 1906.