The city of New Athos today is one of the most popular destinations for lovers of a good holiday. This resort is located on the Black Sea coast. It combines picturesque sea coast, ancient architecture and mountains.
The sights of New Athos are of historical and cultural value, which attracts tourists from all over the world. Everyone here can find something interesting for themselves.
Architecture
Let's take a closer look at this. Why is New Athos so remarkable? Abkhazia is a country with a rich history. This could not but affect the architectural image of the city. There are unique buildings that have been preserved here since ancient times. Some of them were almost completely destroyed and rebuilt from scratch. The restorers managed to keep them almost in their original form.
In the annals, the first mention of these places dates back to the III century. The city at that time was characterized by a developed commercial infrastructure. Right herewas the largest port on the Black Sea coast. The results of the excavations confirm that the culture of the locals was well developed. Somewhere in the 5th century, the Iberian fortress was built on the mountainside.
A couple of centuries later, a wall appeared here, which was supposed to protect the fortress from the conquerors. At different times, the city was owned by the Turks, Genoese, Byzantines. This period had a great influence on the architectural image of the city. At one time the city belonged to the Russians. During this time, a majestic monastery and chic gardens appeared here. They were created by monks who came here from the coast of Greece.
What to see in New Athos? Architectural monuments here are mainly represented by numerous religious buildings. Next, we will consider the most interesting and beautiful of them.
New Athos Monastery
What is its feature? This is the most famous attraction of New Athos. The temple complex includes the Panteleimon Cathedral. This is the largest temple in the whole country. Tourists are attracted by the beauty and significance of the building. Thousands of pilgrims come here every year. The building itself is beautiful and large. Bright walls and shiny domes, surrounded by the greenery of cypress forests, look very solemn. Tourists from all over the world come to admire the beauty and grandeur of the temple. Entrance to the monastery is free, the main thing is to follow the rules of conduct on the territory of religious buildings.
Anakopia Fortress
How does it attract tourists? Another interestingThe attraction of New Athos is the Anakopia fortress. This is the largest defensive structure of the city, which has survived to this day. It was reconstructed, but it was not possible to completely restore it. This does not spoil the view at all, but even gives the fortress sophistication and attractiveness. The ruins help to create an atmosphere of antiquity. You seem to be transported to the era of the founding of the city. It was from here that the history of New Athos began. The fortress attracts tourists not only for its historical value. Here is the famous well, which never runs out of water. In ancient times, the watchtower also served as a lookout point. It was from here that one could see the whole city, starting from the center and ending with the surroundings. Today, an observation deck is organized here.
Grotto of St. Simon the Canonite
What can you say about him? Another attraction of the city of New Athos is the cave of Simon Canonite. The walls in the gorge are cut down, they depict the faces of saints and other ritual images.
Nearby is one of the most important religious monuments. The temple is a majestic strict building made of white stone. They named it after a saint who could heal people. Unfortunately, many unique frescoes could not be restored. It currently hosts worship, religious ceremonies, baptisms and services.
Dranda Monastery
What other sights of New Athos are worth seeing? Of course, this is the Dranda Church of the Assumption of GodMothers. Local residents use it for services, rituals and worship. The cathedral attracts tourists due to its unusual architecture. The building has the shape of a polyhedron. It has interesting five-sided protrusions. The walls are made of red brick and finished with plaster. The building as a whole looks rather unusual, but at the same time restrained and modest.
Museums and sculptures
From the point of view of tourists, establishments with antique exhibits are no less interesting. What are they? Not far from the New Athos waterfall is the Museum of Local Lore. Here is a large collection of ancient archaeological finds that reflected the ancient life of the local population. Tourists may also be interested in the large collection of ancient weapons on display.
At the entrance to the famous New Athos cave, tourists are greeted by the Golden Fleece sculpture. This attraction gained great popularity due to the worldwide celebrity of this myth. Lovers of history and legends from all over the world come here to look at it.
The sculpture "Eagle Torturing a Snake" is also very popular. Previously, it was located near the Navoathon waterfall. Now she has been moved to a park near a pond with black swans.
The sculpture "Mermaid" is interesting because it is hidden by the jets of the waterfall. It will be quite difficult to see it in its entirety.
A few words about nature
In addition to architectural and cultural values, naturalsights of New Athos. They must be included in the tourist route. Without a doubt, it is worth visiting the Iverskaya mountain. Anakopia fortress is located on its top. Here you can find the entrance to the New Athos cave. For tourists, this is one of the most remarkable natural attractions of Abkhazia. You can climb to the top either on foot or on horseback. A stunning panorama of the Black Sea coast opens from above.
On the Iverskaya mountain there is also a huge cave almost 2 km long. Its huge grottoes with bizarre stalactites and underground galleries are simply amazing. How to get here if you are going to New Athos? Guided tours of the cave are held regularly. There is even a special train that runs from where you can see everything.
Another amazing natural attraction awaits you near the church of St. Simon the Canonite. The New Athos waterfall is one of the best natural monuments. However, it is worth noting that the dam was created by human hands. It was built by the monks of the monastery to use the water from the floodplain of the river. Due to the lack of outflow, it became swampy. After the construction of this dam, the New Athos waterfall became one of the most interesting places in Abkhazia.
Psyrihinsky nature reserve is perfect for walking with children. Here you can just take a walk and enjoy the beauty of nature and fresh air.
Other interesting sights
What else is interesting in New Athos? There are several unique places here,which are definitely worth a visit if you are planning a vacation in Abkhazia.
Here are some of them:
- Stalin's dacha: in New Athos there was a personal plot of the leader. Although the house is small, its decoration is very rich. The interior is finished in various types of wood. The area surrounding the house is also of interest. Olive trees, eucalyptus trees and roses of various varieties grow here.
- Seaside Park: near the New Athos Monastery there is a unique nature reserve. In it, in addition to many rare trees, benches and sculptures, there are several artificial reservoirs. In them, the monks were engaged in fish breeding. The ponds and the park are famous for their unique black swans.
- Embankment of the city of New Athos: reviews of vacationers confirm that this is one of the best walking areas on the Black Sea coast. It is perfect for slow walks. Palm trees grow along the cobbled long street. It offers a gorgeous view of the sea.
- Grotto of Agia: this is a holy place, on the walls of which you can see drawings dating from different eras. Many of them have a religious meaning. The length of the corridor is approximately 7 meters. The researchers were not able to fully uncover the meaning of all the images, but there are some similarities.
Infrastructure
New Athos (Abkhazia) today is quite a popular tourist destination. All conditions are created here for a comfortable stay. The city is equipped with all the necessary infrastructure: there are cafes, restaurants, hotels, andentertainment establishments. Most hotels are located near cultural and historical sites.
New Athos is a great place to travel. The city has absorbed everything: here you will find numerous architectural monuments and natural attractions. You can walk around the ancient shrines, take part in exciting excursions, and in your free time relax on the sea.
Map of attractions
Abkhazia is great for traveling. But in order to rationally use your time, you need to decide in advance what sights of New Athos you still want to see. To do this, you can look at photos of architectural monuments with their description before the trip, as well as make an approximate route using the map.
Reviews of tourists
What can the city of New Athos offer tourists as entertainment? Museums, parks, nature reserves, restaurants - there is just enough here. Mostly people come here for a measured peaceful rest. It is here that you can restore your nervous system from constant city stress. A mild climate, sunbathing and swimming in the sea will help you get new strength for the year ahead. Reviews of tourists confirm this. Of course, someone may not like that there are no nightclubs and discos here. But most tourists visiting New Athos don't need to.
Conclusion
New Athos is a small resort town locatedin Abkhazia. It has everything you need for a good holiday: attractions, beautiful nature and the coast. In addition, there are many religious shrines. Pilgrims from all countries come here to see these places with their own eyes.
