Morskoe has entered the sonnym of popular Crimean resorts due to its favorable location and the presence of several attractions. The list of advantages of the location of this settlement begins not far Sudak — only 17 km, and close sea — Black, warm, suitable for thalassotherapy in the period from May to October inclusive. The parade of local attractions opens the state enterprise «Morskoye», which belongs to the agrarian association «Massandra» and specializes in the production of fortified and dessert wines. The slopes of Morskoye, free of sanatoriums, private hotels and vineyards, are occupied by tobacco plantations. On the Bashenny Cape rises the second famous sight of the resort — Chaban-Kale Castle.
This fortification structure enriched the «tourist kit» Morsky in the XV century. It was built by Genoese merchants from the DiGuasco family. All three brothers Guasco — Teodoro, Demetrio and Andreolo were characterized by independent character and extremely grumpy temper. Disagreeing with the consul not far away Soldaya, who sat in the Genoese fortress on the territory of present-day Sudak, the brothers plotted to build their own castle. Naturally, they did not have a base left to the Genoese Alans, Khazars and Byzantines, as well as the amount of funds, how much was released for the creation of the Sudak fortress Genoese Republic. Therefore, the castle in the Sea came out much more modest. By the way, at the time of the brothers it was called Tasili. And the Tatars who appeared later rechristened the fort as «Chaban-Kale», i.e. «shepherd’s tower».
The de Guasco brothers chose a rock overhanging the sea for their castle. Today it is known as the Tower Cape. From under it oozes a small stream — Chaban-Kale-Chokrak, which provided the garrison of the fortress with fresh water. Due to the fact that the castle Chaban-Kale is located on an elevation, all its towers offer an excellent view. In clear weather, the sentries could see not only what was being done on Cape Meganom or near Ayudag, but also the ships that departed from the wharf of the Soldai Genoese fortress.
Unfortunately, from the oppositional fortification composition of the de Guasco brothers today only fragments of the fortified wall and two thirds of the Donjon remain. This is the dominant tower in the castle of Italian feudal lords. Traditionally, it was built in the most inaccessible place of the fortress. In case of a siege it served as a headquarters, storehouse and infirmary. A variant of Donjon a la Chaban-Kale is a picturesquely trimmed «cylinder» made of Crimean coquina bricks. The entrance hole and small windows have been preserved.
The settlement adjoined to the castle «Chaban-Kale». The hulks of houses and pottery stoves were preserved. They were dug right in the body of the rock, and then covered with raw brick. The products of local potters — amphorae, flasks and pythos — were also found here. Firstly, pottery from under Chaban-Kale was traded all over the South Coast. Secondly, two-meter amphorae and pythoses were the containers in which most of the goods were transported in those times. Such finds allow us to say that the de Guasco brothers managed to take control of part of the flow of wine, grain and turkey fat from the steppe and mountainous Crimea to the Black Sea ports.
The current state of the tower and fortifications does not allow to place a museum here, as it is done in the Sudak fortress, but these Morskoe sights look extremely picturesque. Because of this, the Chaban-Kale castle is an ideal place for a historical reconstruction of knightly battles or a romantic wedding photo shoot. More and more often holidays in Crimea in Morskoye are chosen by history buffs, semi-professional photographers, and newly formed families.