Balaklava

In the name of the town are two words of Turki original: “balik” (fish) and “uva” (nest). Here come together mountains, cliffs and sea. Unbelievable blue water in a bay which seems like a lake, ancient towers and made in cliffs stairs… Balaklava was inhabited from the ancient time. Greeks called it Symbolon (bay of symbol, foreshadow). People think that Homer described this bay in tenth song of “Odyssey”. Genoese named Balaklava Tsembalo, Tsembaldo, Chembalo. Name Chembalo still save behind the ruins of fortresses which are overlooked over Balaklava.

Inimitable narrow bay surrounded by mountains from old times attracted man as a comfortable place for settlement. Neighboring with sea let him use all benefits of marine life and surrounded mountains helped shelter from the enemy. From the neighboring mountains flow the water, in forest were a lot of animals. All these prosperities were appreciated by dwellers of Balaklava – Taurus, later Greeks. In VIII-VII B.C. here was early Taurus settlement.

Balaklava is places which were sang of Alexander Pushkin and Adam Mitskevich, Valeriy Brusov and Alexander Kuprin…
To see Balaklava in full, to feel its beauty, it is better to climb on the Utes (Fortress Mountain) on the east coast and its suburbs are plain to see.

Far, on the south-east from Balaklava, you can see cape Ayya (saint) – behind which is South Coast of Crimea. Over the cape Ayya is overlooked cliff Kokiya-kaya with rest of the castle Kokiya-Isar (X-XIII centuries). Strengthening includes defense wall, chapel and other constructions. Near the cape Ayya is mountain Spiliya (cave) or Ascety which connected with the legend about living here hermit-ascetic. Between Spiliya and Fortress Mountain where are pieces of Genoese fortress Chembalo, end of to the sea Shaytan-dere (Devil Clough). Unbelievable beauty is impressed all who once risked to go down to its tiny sandy beach. West Shaytan-dere follows small bay, which sometimes is called Ershinaya, east – Micro-yalo (small coast) which is named by inhabitants as Silver beach. Further goes Megalo-yalo (big coast) – Golden beach.
Between Golden beach and cape Ayya is situated picturesque district Ayazma. While visiting this place you can see a part of save round construction, residential constructions, foundation of a small temple – pieces of the settlement of X-XV centuries. A part of Ayazma with its cozy bays and convenient beaches have folk name Fig. It is confirmed that one of the cliffs has a form of this south plant.

Arm from the flank of the mountain Ascety to the Balaklava bay is named Kafelo-vrisi (head of the source). Here are open burial ground I-IV centuries, which took valley between west slope of the mountain Kafelo-vrisi and Chembalo and also flat top of Kafelo-vrisi.

Left from the entrance in Balaklava bay jut out in the sea West cape, where cliff Motil is overlooked. West is Vasilieva arm received its name from the chapel Saint Vasiliy.

From Balaklava on the North West is spreading fruitful Balaklava valley. Part of this valley, which is close to the town, is called Golden arm.

Balaklava is a place of rare, inimitable beauty. Here come together mountains, cliffs and sea. Unbelievable blue water in a bay which seems like a lake, ancient towers and made in cliffs stairs…