Yalta is called the capital of the Southern coast of Crimea for a reason. It is located in one of the most attractive places of the peninsula. It is washed by the Black Sea and protected from the evil northern winds by the Ai-Petrinskaya yaila.
Therefore, the city has a marvelous climate, noted by doctors Botkin and Dmitriev. They also organized the construction of rare at that time special medical institutions — sanatoriums on its lands. The recreational effect of recreation in Yalta is enhanced by the abundance of attractions — natural, architectural, and sometimes those that are obtained through the joint work of Man and Nature. One of such sights, without a doubt, was «Silver Arbor». It is a white-colored rotunda crowning the summit of Mount Pendicule.
A valuable feature of this mountain is that on a clear day, its peak is visible from any settlement in the Yalta Valley. This property was used by coastal residents, placing on the rock their guard posts. Signalers built giant fires from pine trees growing on the mountain. Their burning was a sign that through the passes of the Crimean Mountains steppe invaders were moving on the coastal inhabitants. The service of signalers was carried out only in the period from spring to fall. Therefore, in winter 1299, the hordes of Nogai Khan passed the Pendikyul Pass unhindered and quietly burned the village of Uchan-Su-Isar, located in the place where today there is a viewing platform under the waterfall of the same name.
Pendikyul rock played the role of a signaler until the Crimean peninsula was captured by the Turks. With their arrival, relative peace prevailed in the South Coast, and the pass under the rock was used as the shortest road from Yalta to Bakhchisaray, the capital of the Crimean Khanate, a vassal of the Turkish sultans.
When Crimea came under the jurisdiction of the Russian Empire, the governor-appointed General Vorontsov actively set about modernizing and exploiting the peninsula’s resources. One of his many projects was the improvement of the road from Yalta to Bakhchisarai. Construction began in 1864. I.S. Shishko, an engineer, a former military man, led the process. It is curious that he not only led, but also was not afraid to work with a pick and shovel, «cutting» layers of rocks. This was necessary in order to widen the former «goat paths», which were used by messengers of the khan, the sultan, the Nagai horde and ordinary merchants.
It was decided to mark the end of the road construction in 1894 with a memorial sign. It was the elegant rotunda, called today «Silver Arbor». From a height of 865 meters, tourists climbing up to it can admire the panorama of the so-called «Yalta Amphitheater».
Thousands of people come to the capital of the South Coast every year. Planning vacation in Yalta, they will never miss the opportunity to make a promenade along the local Naberezhnaja, take a look at the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, Armenian Church, check out the local movie studio, zoo and aquarium. But guests will be able to appreciate all the splendor of the city only by climbing up to the Silver Arbor. It is the best view of the fertile seashore, green gardens, villas and mountains, which close Yalta from the northern winds.