There are not many places on Earth like Crimea. Here, traces of many civilizations have survived to this day: the remains of Scythian and Sarmatian settlements, beautiful fortresses of the Genoese, Muslim mosques and, of course, the majestic ruins of ancient settlements.
The ancient Greeks and Romans played an important role in the history of the peninsula, they were the first to grow vines and roses in the Crimea, the first to build cobbled tracts in the Crimea.
The ruins of the magnificent cities of Chersonesos and Panticapaeum are still one of the main attractions of the peninsula.
Chersonesos was built on the southwestern coast of Crimea by immigrants from Greece. This city has been a cultural, economic and political center for two millennia.
For several centuries this inaccessible city has been abandoned, the Turks removed magnificent columns from its territory, the locals dismantled its walls, extracting a magnificent stone for construction.
But what has survived to this day is amazing.
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The first excavations on the territory of Chersonesos were carried out in the 19th century. Since then, the remains of majestic temples, city squares and Greek settlements have been found.
Soon the territory of Tauric Chersonesos received the status of a reserve. Largely due to this, magnificent examples of antique architecture and sculpture, stunning frescoes, amphorae and household items have survived to this day.
By the way, scientists have established that there were more than 50 churches on the territory of Chersonesos.
Today, the settlement of Chersonesos Tauride is not only a magnificent open-air museum, but also one of the largest scientific archaeological and historical bases.
Excavations are carried out here to this day, and archaeologists have long gone beyond the city walls of Chersonesos, and are exploring its surroundings.
On the Kerch Peninsula there are picturesque ruins of the ancient capital of the mighty Bosporus state, the city of Panticapaeum.
As a capital, this beautiful city has existed for just under a thousand years. During the heyday of the Bosporus state, the territory of Panticapaeum was about one hundred hectares.
Today, excavations are underway on the territory of the settlement and in its vicinity, but tourists are not allowed to enter everywhere.
The city was located at the foot and on the slopes of Mount Mithridates and was surrounded by a high defensive wall. An acropolis with public buildings and temples was erected on the top of the mountain.
The slopes of the mountain were decorated with artificial terraces on which there were residential buildings. The streets of the city were at different levels and were connected by stairs.
At the bottom of the Kerch Strait, archaeologists discovered the sunken remains of the large port of Acre, it was here, according to legend, that the great ancient Greek hero Achilles was born.
In the vicinity of the settlement, a necropolis was built, the majestic Tsar's mound. This monumental building can be confidently called a true masterpiece of world architecture.
Inside the mound is a long corridor lined with slabs and the burial chamber of the tomb. By the way, the amphitheater of the city of Panticapaeum is perfectly visible from the camera of the Tsarskoye Kurgan.