Feodosia

Feodosia is a cultural, industrial, tourist health resort centre of the South-Eastern Crimea. The city stretches flat across a seaside plain with ultra-wide streets and brightly painted Russian classical buildings.

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The Greeks claimed Theodosia ("Given by God") in the 6th century BC and turned it into a major centre for grain exports. The Huns destroyed the city in the 4th century and Feodosia was then ruled by the Khazar Kaganate. The Genoese arrived in the 13th century and made Kaffa (Feodosia) their capital and it became soon the centre of trade for the Black Sea. The city monopolized trade in the Black Sea area and became the main port and administrative center for the Genoese settlements in the Black Sea area.

In 1475 the Crimean Tatars conquered the city for the Turks who nicknamed it Little Istanbul. Like Yevpatoria in the west, Feodosia was vital to the Turkish slave trade and during the 17th century the Zaporizhyan Cossacks made repeated attacks on the city to free Ukrainian captives. After occupation the Russian declared Feodosia a free trade zone which made it a very cosmopolitan town of merchants.

The main attraction in Feodosia is Aivazovsky Art Gallery that has superb display of paintings by Aivazovsky (Armenian artist), honorary member of 5 European Academies of Art, the creator of 6,000 canvases. His genius lay in his ability to paint water and his seascapes have become a standard technique and emotion in mastering the most difficult natural element. Feodosia seascape collection is the largest in the world. Aivazovsky was born here and returned to live here even in his fame and wealth. His own investment "made" the town what it is today and he is honored in several museums, frequent statues and plaques.

Aivazovsky's Art Gallery in Feodosia became the first public gallery in Ukraine (1880). It has the biggest in the world collection of Ivan Aivazovsky paintings - 417 marine pictures.

Aivazovsky's Art Gallery

Aivazovsky's Art Gallery

Aivazovsky's marine picture

Today Feodosia is the city of rich historical heritage - it has more than 160 historical, cultural and architectural monuments.
Towers of Genoese fortress are still standing in random spots throughout the city.

Genoese Fortress

Genoese Fortress

Towers of Genoese fortress

What else to visit in Feodosia:

Feodosia Money Museum

Feodosia Hang Gliding Museum The hang gliding museum is the first museum of its kind and is still the only one in Europe.

Alexander Green Museum one of the famous Soviet writers. He was the writer of unreality, feelings and emotions. The main theme of all the books of Alexander Green was the sea. It is no wonder, that the writer decided to lodge in Feodosiya, as this Crimean city has both dramatic skylines of mountain ridges and a beautiful coastline.

Alexander Green Museum

Alexander Green Museum

Alexander Green Museum

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