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In a great semicircle of rocks,
Where the dark nights are razuvuv,
Into the azure bowl of shining waters
Sleepy Gurzuf descends.
Where the rocks, entering the mirrored bay,
Stand knee-deep in water,
Where the sea sings under the sky,
And serves as a mirror to the star.
The long-awaited summer has finally arrived, and you want to get healthy and unwind from your working life. Where to go? Go on vacation in Gurzuf! Here is a healing climate and warm sea.
Gurzuf and its attractions are difficult to describe in simple words, and therefore we began our story with lines of a poem by the famous poet Nikolai Zabolotsky.
This is a really unique and charming place on the southern coast of Crimea. Gurzuf is located 15 km from Yalta in the picturesque Gurzuf valley. You just imagine the extraordinary beauty of this area: its mighty back props up the blue sky majestic Ayu-Dag, in the distance on the slopes of Nikitinskaya Yalta is visible Gazebo of Winds, and at your feet splashes gentle sea.
Like many other cities and towns in Crimea, the history of Gurzuf dates back to the depths of centuries (III thousand BC), as evidenced by archaeological excavations. Times passed, different tribes and peoples replaced each other. Here lived the Taurians and Greeks, Khazars and Genoese, and many other nationalities.
In the VI century these lands were favored by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, by whose order was erected fortress Gorzuvity. This event is the first written mention of Gurzuf. For this area, the fortress played the role of a defensive structure and existed as far as the end of the XV century. Unfortunately, only its remains on the top of the cliff have survived to our times.
Since the end of the XVI century and for 300 years, the southern part of Crimea together with these lands was under the rule of the Turkish Sultan. These were not the happiest years for this area, but after the arrival of the Russian Empire in the Crimean peninsula in the life of the village began a new era, it revived and gradually turned into a European resort.
The history of Gurzuf is closely connected with the names of Prince Grigory Potemkin and the Governor-General of Novorossiya Duke Richelieu. They were the first owners of these lands. It was in the estate of the Duke that A.S. Pushkin stayed. The amazing nature of Gurzuf inspired the young poet to a lyrical mood. Here he worked on the poem «The Prisoner of the Caucasus» and wrote several poems dedicated to the daughters of N.N. Raevsky. Now this house, which is located on the territory of the sanatorium «Pushkino», is museum dedicated to the great poet. Not only Pushkin was not indifferent to these places. Here were Gorky, Chaliapin, Tsvetaeva, Kuprin, Repin, who expressed their admiration for Gurzuf in their works. The house of Russian painter Korovin, the current House of Creativity and the house of A.P. Chekhov are undoubtedly the sights of the modern resort.
The golden age of Gurzuf can be considered the end of the XVIII century, then from a small seaside village it turned into a chic and favorite place of rest. This miraculous transformation occurred thanks to a talented entrepreneur merchant millionaire merchant Gubonin. By order of the new owner seven hotels with all amenities, summer houses were built, the park was re-equipped, fountains and electric lights were installed. Two fountains «Goddess of the Night» and «Rachel» have survived to this day, which delight all vacationers with their beauty. After these places were taken over by Gubonin’s son, the resort began to lose its former glory.
With the advent of Soviet power, new sanatoriums were opened here, and in 1925 near Gurzuf was founded children’s center «Artek».
Today Gurzuf is a modern resort, known not only in Ukraine, but also beyond its borders. Here the past and the present are combined, creating an incomparable atmosphere of Gurzuf. Narrow streets with ancient houses are adjacent to modern high-rise buildings; quiet cozy cafes and noisy discobars; cool Gurzufsky Park with its unique rare specimens and sun-drenched golden beaches …. This is what makes Gurzuf unique.
This resort will be of interest to both lovers of quiet, measured rest, and noisy, ready for any extreme company. In short, it is a place where once you have been, you will undoubtedly want to return again.