Gaspra is one of the most beautiful corners of the Crimea. It has long been known as a great place to relax, so during the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th, several luxurious summer palaces were built in the resort and its environs. These and other sights of Gaspra (Crimea) are of great interest, as evidenced by the numerous reviews of tourists.
Swallow's Nest
The photo of this unique structure, located on top of the Aurora Rock, is familiar to millions of people around the world. The Swallow's Nest Palace is a visiting card not only of Gaspra, but also of the Crimea, and is recognized as a cultural object of federal significance. There are romantic legends about it, and everyone who comes to the resort definitely wants to admire the sea view from its balcony. Although you can get to Lastochkino Gnezda by public transport, many tourists prefer a boat trip ona boat departing from the berth of the Y alta embankment named after Lenin.
For several years now, a museum has been operating in the palace with a constantly changing exposition, and various cultural events are regularly held there (ticket price - 100 rubles for children and 200 rubles for adults).
Palace of Countess Panina
Since the 1830s, Crimea has become a place where all the highest Russian aristocracy sought to come for summer vacations. At the same time, many nobles were especially attracted to Gaspra. The sights of the resort, built during this period, were later turned into sanatoriums for workers. Among them is Yasnaya Polyana. Initially, the palace was called "Gaspra" and was built for Alexander Nikolaevich Golitsyn, who dreamed of spending the last years of his life in the Crimea after his retirement. The construction was carried out by the architect Viljamo Gunt, who gave the structure the features inherent in European romanticism. He decorated the palace with crenellated towers entwined with ivy, and later laid out a luxurious park around it. At the end of the 19th century, the Gaspra estate was managed by Countess Sofia Panina, who began to rent it out for the summer. One of its famous guests was Leo Tolstoy, who spent almost a year in Gaspra, working on Hadji Murad. Later, a sanatorium called "Yasnaya Polyana" was opened in the palace (address: Sevastopol highway, 52).
Yusupov Palace
Those who are interested in the sights of Gaspra and its surroundings should definitely visit the neighboring village of Koreiz. There is the Yusupov Palace, which at the beginning of the last centurybelonged to the governor-general of Moscow. The structure in the form of a powerful fortress was built in the Neo-Romanesque style with features of the Italian Baroque. The palace is decorated with sculptures of heroes of Roman and ancient Greek myths, as well as lions installed at the entrances and on the stairs. The estate is also known for the fact that in 1945 the Soviet government delegation headed by Stalin was placed there, which took part in the Y alta Conference.
Dulber Palace
Gaspra, whose sights are known far beyond Crimea, is an excellent starting point for visiting interesting sites located on the southern coast of Crimea. For example, you should definitely visit the Dulber Palace, which is located in the neighboring village of Koreiz (Alupkinskoye Highway St., 19). It is a luxurious complex consisting of several buildings in the Moorish style. It was built in 1895-1897 according to sketches brought from travels in the Maghreb by Prince Peter Nikolayevich Romanov. During the Soviet period, a sanatorium was opened in the palace and another building was completed in the same architectural style as the main buildings of Dyulber.
Roman fortress of Charax
What kind of events took place in ancient times on the territory that Gaspra occupies today! The sights of the resort testify that once this section of the Crimean coast was of great interest to the Romans. In particular, under the emperor Vespasian, the soldiers of the 9th Claudian legion built the fortress of Charax on the territory of modern Gaspra withtwo rows of impregnable walls and several towers. According to historians, the permanent Roman garrison stationed there consisted of 500 soldiers. In addition, the fortress had a lighthouse that served as a guide for military and merchant ships, baths, an altar of Jupiter and nymphs - a sanctuary dedicated to water deities.
In 1865, a new one was built on the site of the Roman lighthouse, which still exists today.
Park and Palace Charax
Next to the ruins of a Roman fortress at the beginning of the 20th century, Grand Duke G. M. Romanov built a dacha. So Gaspra, the sights of which by that time already attracted guests from St. Petersburg and Moscow, received another decoration. The Kharaks dacha-palace was badly damaged during the war, but was restored, albeit with great changes. Fortunately, the park has been perfectly preserved, the decoration of which is a juniper grove and an arbor, consisting of twelve marble columns surrounding the fountain. It is believed that it was built in 1882 and was part of a palace, a copy of the atrium of a house excavated in Pompeii, which has not survived.
Sun trail
It has long been known that rest in Gaspra, the sights of which are described above, is especially indicated for people with lung diseases. The fact is that at the beginning of the 19th century, on the orders of Nicholas II, a 7 km long path was laid and equipped, connecting the village with the Livadia Palace. It was intended for walks of members of the royal family and was decorated with sculptures and signs. Due to the absence of elevation difference, the Sunny Path has a healing value, therefore, after the revolution, next toa sanatorium was opened there, where various diseases, including respiratory diseases, are treated today.
Livadia Palace
This significant attraction is located seven kilometers from the resort of Gaspra, on the territory of the village of the same name (address: Baturin St., 44a). The palace is known as the venue for the Y alta Conference, which determined the structure of post-war Europe. The Livadia estate became the summer residence of the Russian tsars in 1861. Half a century later, a luxurious palace was built there.
Today, in addition to it, in Livadia you can see the Suite Corps, the palace Holy Cross Church, the residence of Baron Frederiks, as well as a picturesque park with gazebos and fountains.
Taurian necropolis
Dolmens and ancient burial places are found in many parts of the Crimean peninsula. These include the Taurus necropolises near Gaspra. Researchers believe that they belong to the 5th-1st centuries BC. They consist of 4 slabs dug into the ground and form the walls of the tomb with an earthen floor. From above, the crypts with an area of 1 x 1 m and a height of 1.5 m are covered with another slab. 3 burial grounds can be seen in the vicinity of the Tsarskaya (Solar) trail. Another necropolis is located on the territory of Gaspra itself.
Gaspra: attractions and activities by the sea
Everyone who comes to the resort definitely wants to see the main natural monument of these places - the Parus rock. There is no exact information about when it appeared. However, it can be seen on one of the paintings by Carlo Bossoli, which dates back to the middle of the 19th century. The rock is located on Cape Ai-Todor, has a height of 20 meters and outlines resembling the sail of a huge ship.
In addition to sightseeing, on the coast of Gaspra, tourists can relax on the municipal beach and the beach of the Marat sanatorium. For a certain amount, you can go to the fenced area of the Parus sanatorium. In this case, the fee will include the use of sun loungers and toilets, as well as a special elevator.
Among the entertainment that Gaspra offers (you already know the sights, photos and description of the resort), diving can be noted. Moreover, those who have already scuba-dived off its shores usually hope to find artifacts from the Roman and late periods. After all, hundreds of military and merchant ships, including those loaded with weapons, utensils and household items, have been wrecked near Cape Ai-Todor for many centuries.
Gaspra attractions: reviews
As with any other resort, the opinions of tourists about the rest on the southern coast of Crimea can be heard very different. However, if we are talking about the sights of Gaspra, then there are practically no negative reviews. And this is not surprising, since the most beautiful country palaces of the royal family and high-ranking nobles are located in the village and its environs. True, some guests note that, for example, some parts of the Sunny Path are blocked by fences, and local residents violated the beauty of the landscapes by trampling in the parktrails. The rubbish that is scattered near many historical and cultural monuments also causes criticism.
As for positive reviews, tourists are very pleased with the convenient location of most of the attractions of Gaspra, Koreiz, Semeiz and their environs.
Now that you know the sights of Gaspra with a description, you can create an interesting excursion program for yourself and make your stay at this resort even more enjoyable and educational.
