Even in the present XXI century in our world there are still such places where you can feel all the majesty of nature, and its beauty is amazing. Crimea is called one of such places, and everyone who has been here, it shocks with its magnificent landscapes. But here, in the land of amazing natural treasures, there are places that have gained the greatest fame as the most amazing. One of these places is Fiolent Cape.
Cape Fiolent is located 15km from the center of Sevastopol towards Yalta and 10km from Balaklava. This is a beautiful corner of nature, where tourists who want to enjoy a vacation alone with nature away from dusty cities come. This is one of the best places on the South Coast of Crimea for those who want to enjoy tranquility, indulge in swimming in the purest water surrounded by impressive natural panoramas, to recover thanks to the miraculous combination of sea and mountain air.
Everyone who sees Fiolent for the first time, it impresses as much as nature can impress a person who is not indifferent to its beauty. And some because of the picture in front of the eye and takes the breath away: «popping out» of the water bizarre stone sculptures and sharp coastal cliffs from 50 to 200m high, steep cliffs and crystal clear sea. Such a landscape excites even not particularly impressionable people.
The steep peaks of Fiolent are the remains of a volcano that was active here 150 million years ago. In the coastal cliffs on both sides of the cape you can see lava flows, and in some places the volcanic rock is covered with inclusions of minerals (chalcedony, carnelian, jasper, etc.), hence the name of the beach located here — Jasper. In addition to stone monumental giants admiring Fiolent impresses and emerald sea water, and bizarre plants — derzhiderevo, ivy, juniper, lomonos. Just to be here and see all this beauty is already a wonderful vacation, but not only nature was the reason for the popularity of the cape among tourists.
On the cape is located the ancient Christian Monastery of St. George the Victorious, founded in 891 by Greek sailors. According to legend, the reason for the foundation of the monastery was the appearance of the Saint to sailors caught in a storm: responding to pleas for help, he appeared on one of the rocks overlooking the sea waters and calmed the storm. The sailors were saved and, having climbed the rock, found the icon of St. George on it, took it to the shore and set up a cave church in the rocky cliff. Today the monastery is open to tourists several days a week, and in the past it was visited by Pushkin, Aivazovsky, Golitsyn, and the crown princes Alexander I and Nicholas II.
The appearance of St. George the Victorious is not the only sacred legend associated with Cape Fiolent. According to legend, the Apostle Andrew the First-Called stepped on the Crimean land here. And if we turn to even more ancient legends, then according to the ancient Greek myth of Iphigenia, it was here that the goddess Artemis carried away a girl intended for sacrifice to become a priestess of the Virgin temple located here. The latter story gave the Cape its very first name — Parthenium (Virgin Cape), and today its echo is the Grotto of Diana (another name for Artemis).
Fiolent had other names: Felenk-Burun (Tiger Cape), Manastyr-Burun (Monastery Cape), Cape St. George. Well, the modern one is deciphered by several versions. According to one of them the word «Fiolent» Greeks described the «Divine Land», according to another so called the cape Genoese, putting in the word meaning «furious» because of the frequent sea disturbances in this place. Whatever it was in the past, today the name «Cape Fiolent» for those who have been here is synonymous with the words «stunning natural beauty, purest, inspiring».
For many who spend their holiday in Crimea, visiting Cape Fiolent with an excursion becomes an unforgettable experience, exciting and memorable. And even more pleasant emotions can be obtained if you stop to rest here. Relaxing sunbathing and swimming in the purest sea, visiting an ancient monastery, descending the 800-step ancient staircase to Jasper Beach, walking surrounded by stunning panoramas and the most incredible sunrises and sunsets — all this awaits you on Cape Fiolent. Staying in this place, which has been associated with the saints for centuries, will certainly energize and energize you.