An ancient city, which is an open-air museum, a unique corner of the Crimea with a whole range of different therapeutic factors, one of the most famous resorts in Ukraine — all this is Evpatoria. Back in the Soviet years, recreation in Evpatoria became extremely popular, and this fame does not subside to this day. Tourists with the most different interests like to rest here — and those who like to relax, laze on the beaches and swim in the sea, and those who are looking for entertainment and fun, and fans of active recreation, and those who want to get acquainted with interesting objects of our planet — the sights of Evpatoria are extremely diverse, and their list is quite wide.
The city is located 65 km northwest of Simferopol on the coast of the Kalamitsky Bay of the Black Sea. Nature has generously awarded these lands — there is everything for human recovery and excellent recreation, including the warmest clean shallow waters of the bay and sandy beaches. As well as located 20 km south of her city Saki, Evpatoria is famous not only for its proximity to the sea, but also lakes and lymans scattered everywhere in the vicinity, with therapeutic mud and brine, relieving many ailments. The city is rich in mineral springs, and the unique combination of steppe and seaside climate makes healing local air, turning Evpatoria into a natural inhalation, stay in which revitalizes the body and normalizes all its physiological functions. These invaluable for every person striving for health and longevity, opportunities, people appreciated thousands of years ago.
The first settlement in what is now Evpatoria founded by the ancient Greeks at the end of VI century BC They call it Kerkinitida, which in translation from Greek means «Beloved by the Gods», «Capital of the World». This city, which eventually became part of the Chersonese state, existed until the 2nd century BC. — It flourished for five centuries until it was invaded by the Scythians. The latter were avenged: the Pontic king Mithridates VI Eupator liberated not only Kerkinitida, sending his best warriors led by the commander Diophantos to help, but also other Chersonesite fortifications captured by the Scythians, and also captured Scythian fortresses, including the capital — Neapol Scythian, the ruins of which can be seen in Simferopol. But the inhabitants of Kerkinitida never returned to the ruined city.
A new stage in the life of the city begins in 1475, when the Ottomans, who captured the Crimean coast, erected here a powerful fortification called Gözlev («house with an eye»). Over time, it became a large trading city, the center of the slave trade, the only port of the Crimean Khanate, the richest and one of the most significant cities of Krym. Today’s main sights of the city have been preserved from this period — the largest in Crimea Juma-Jami Mosque (Khan-Jami), which was built by the outstanding architect Khoja Sinan (he also built the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul), Tekiye Dervishes — a monastery of Muslim monks-askets, Turkish baths, ancient water pipeline «kyarizi». Tourists interested in history will be interested not only in these buildings themselves, but also in the Old Town, the layout of which has remained unchanged since the XV century. Walking along its narrow picturesque streets, vividly illustrating the medieval period of Evpatoria’s life, you can see houses that are up to 500 years old!
Ottoman rule in Evpatoria is interrupted with joining Crimea to Russia, and Catherine II gives Kozlov (so transformed the name of Gozleva in Russian) the present name in honor of not once came to the rescue of the inhabitants of Kerkinitida king Mithridates VI Evpator. The new stage gives birth to new city treasures — the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the Armenian Church of Surb Nikogayos, Karaite kenasses are built, the port and the city embankment and many other sights of Evpatoria are erected, especially for acquaintance with which today tourists, vacationing in other parts of Crimea come.
As a resort, Evpatoria begins to gain popularity under Soviet rule, and since then for many people it remains one of the most favorite cities in the Crimea. For all who spend their vacation in Evpatoria, this time is remembered for a long time. One — because it is here, as it is believed, the most romantic atmosphere in the Crimea and happens most resort novels, others — because of the many interesting places and objects, the third — due to the fact that it was possible to recover and gain strength, forget about long-standing ailments that did not give rest. For everyone stay in Evpatoria becomes time of happiness, wonderful mood and real rest!