Balaklava Bay claims to be one of the 7 natural wonders of Ukraine for a reason. Narrow one and a half kilometer ribbon it goes into the land, separated from the sea by a small entrance. From the open sea the harbor is not visible at all. The water here is clear and clean, around the thickets of Crimean pine trees, rich underwater world. It is not surprising that the bay is chosen as a place of rest by drivers and yachtsmen from different parts of the world, whose yachts come to the bay late in the evening for rest, and in the morning they sail the Black Sea again.
When tired of relaxing on the beach tourist wants to be culturally enriched, he can safely go up to the Genoese fortress Cembalo. The Genoese erected it, settling in the bay in 1357, when ruling in these places Khan Tokhtamysh recognized the right of Genoa to own the coast of Crimea from Cembalo to Lusta (Alushta). The remains of the ancient fortress rise above Fortress Mountain like silent watchmen of Balaklava.
Balaklava has been a closed town for a long time. And for good reason. A top-secret submarine repair plant was located here. This strategic facility, the only one in the world on its scale, began construction in 1957, under the personal control of Beria. According to experts’ calculations, the facility could withstand a nuclear strike of the same strength as the five delivered to Hiroshima. The premises of the plant were cut out in the rock and covered with reinforced concrete. A combined underground water channel could accommodate seven submarines, where they were repaired.
Now the plant has become a branch of Museum of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and all tourists are free to tour the former top-secret Soviet facility.
By the way, in Europe a balaclava is a woolen mask hat that completely covers the face and is used by robbers or special forces. During the Crimean War of 1853-1856 there was a fierce winter. For the British troops, the center of which was in Balaclava, in England were developed and sent special protective helmets. They were nicknamed balaclavas.
Balaklava Bay is the perfect place of isolation from the outside world. You can stock up on essentials and groceries and you will be taken by boat to a wild beach located right among the rocks. Here you can feel like a real Robinson, because it will be almost impossible to get down from the mountains to you. Just don’t forget your phone so that you can contact the captain and get safely to the «big land».
The unique narrow bay surrounded by mountains has attracted people since time immemorial as a convenient place for settlement. The neighborhood of the sea allowed him to use all the benefits of seaside life, and the surrounding heights — to hide from the enemy. Water flowed down from the surrounding mountains, and the forests were full of animals. All these advantages were appreciated by the ancient inhabitants of Balaklava — the Taurians, and later the Greeks. Already in the VIII-VII centuries BC there was an early-Taurus settlement here, the history of Balaklava goes back to ancient times.
The town in the southeast of Sevastopol, whose name means Fish Nest (Balik-lav) in Turkish, is located on the shore of a curved picturesque bay resembling a ford. According to some scientists, the bay corresponds to the description of the port of the Lestrigonians, where the ancient Greek hero Odysseus allegedly got during his wanderings. Balaklava is a unique natural monuments capes Aya and Fiolent, and the romantic ruins of the Genoese fortress Cembalo (in 2002 here began to organize knight tournaments, opened a small museum) and mysterious ancient temples, shrouded in poetic legends. No less legends go about the immeasurable treasures of the English frigate «Black Prince», sunk during the Crimean War, in 1854. At the same time in the Battle of Balaklava the scions of the most aristocratic families of Great Britain perished.
The uniqueness of Balaklava Bay is obvious. Healing air, magical enchanting distance of the sea and bizarre rocks leave an indelible impression on everyone who has been here at least once.