Cities of such a class as Feodosia, not only in Ukraine, but also throughout Europe will be found only a few. Judge for yourself — a luxurious city on the shore of the tender Black Sea. The Tepe-Oba ridge, the last «child» of the Main Ridge of the Crimean Mountains, rises unhesitatingly in the background. Very similar to the Côte d’Azur coast of France. In the west Feodosia is limited by its own Bald Mountain. What do you need Kiev or Brocken? Don’t forget about the climate, ideal for lung patients, and a lot of monuments from the times of Greek colonization, Bosporan Kingdom, Roman and Byzantine Empires, Golden Horde and Genoese Republic. Even Rome and Paris cannot shine with such a variety of artifacts.
Feodosia city architecture and places of «military glory» of Aivazovsky, the only artist in the world, who devoted all his work to the sea and battles, deserve a special offer. Thanks to the Master, the city got its own art gallery and an amazing fountain «To the Good Genius». Aivazovsky’s gallery, filled with world-class canvases, immediately put Feodosia on a par with such cities as Florence and Dresden. But the fountain is a chamber monument, most likely family and urban. It simply demonstrates the level of gratitude of Theodosians to their Good Genius.
The monument is located in the main City Garden or Jubilee Park. It is small, but like the Horn of Plenty it is filled with many different sights. First, the remains of a Genoese fortress are located here. At one time they were set up along the whole South Coast. Feodosia also got it. Specifically on the territory of the city only the tower of St. Constantine, disfigured by artillery shelling during the last war, has survived. Second, the park is home to the Eternal Flame and a memorial to soldiers who fell during World War II. Thirdly, the park still contains such a remnant of communism as the city’s Board of Honor in perfect condition. And fourthly, it is here that the fountain dedicated to the Good Genius is located.
It appeared in 2004. The basis of the composition is a bronze Woman in the classical pose of the ancient Greek goddess. She holds out to people an open palm from which water flows. The liquid flows from the woman’s hand and fills a giant bowl — the bed of the pool. In the background rises a snow-white portal of four columns, on which the words of gratitude «To the Great Aivazovsky…» are written. The customer of the composition was the now deceased mayor Shaiders. Sculptor — V. Zamehovsky. Castor — P.B. Oleynikov. The thing is that the sculpture was cast at Nikopol crane-building plant. Therefore, the Good Genius «needed» molding and electric welding. The model for the figure was a local jeweler Tatyana Koshelna.
The most interesting thing is that this is already the second monument of such a plan installed in Feodosia. The first version disappeared during the Nazi occupation of the city. The first monument-fountain was built at the expense of donations from the city community in 1890. Only the model for the female figure served as the second wife of Aivazovsky — Anna Nikitichna Sarkisova. She owned the so-called Subash springs, which before the construction of the North Crimean Canal were the only source of water supply for the city.
According to Chekhov, Aivazovsky «kept his wife in hedgehogs», so she supported his decision to give the city 50 thousand buckets of Subash water per day. In 1888, the famous artist donated the water to the city and was declared a Good Genius. But it was Anna Sarkisova, the true owner of the priceless treasure, who was depicted by the townspeople in the fountain, the thanksgiving fountain.
Choosing vacation in Feodosia, you can right in the City Garden to drink water from the famous Subash springs, admire the Genoese Tower or look into the Aivazovsky Art Gallery, located on the Embankment. Only in Feodosia you will be convinced that holiday in Crimea can be as interesting as in any Mediterranean resort.