Many who have been in the Crimea call this amazing corner of our planet a real paradise on earth: beautiful nature, sea, mountain and sea air, warm sunshine, fertile land — all this for thousands of years creates here the best conditions for life and recreation. In turn, on the peninsula there are places that stand out for special picturesqueness, that is why so popular today vacation in Partenit — one of these places. The splendor of nature, sights of Partenit and developed infrastructure of recreation annually attract thousands of tourists.
Partenit is located 15km west of Alushta in the valley of the same name, surrounded by beautiful mountains Ayu-Dag and Tepeler. The nature here is particularly good and inspiring, and it is not surprising that these places were inhabited thousands of years ago.
«A small flowering town where ships are built» — such words were said about Partenit in the middle of the XII century by the Arab geographer Al-Idrisi. But the history of the village goes back even further — to the depths of centuries. The first settlement appears here in the III-IV centuries BC, which is told by archaeological finds — the ruins of Partenit basilica and pagan sanctuary of the Goths, Roman and Bosporan coins. It is believed that in those ancient times there was a sanctuary of the Taurian goddess Maiden, and this served as the name of the village (from the Greek word — «maiden, untouched»), although the existence of the temple has not yet been scientifically proven.
The modern stage in the life of Partenit begins in the VII century, when these lands are part of the Byzantine Empire, which historians were able to establish thanks to a written source. It was here that St. John of Gotha was born, as evidenced by lines from the «Life of St. John of Gotha», written in 815-842. Archaeologists have established that in those days Partenit was a rich and large settlement, perhaps the center of the Gothic diocese. Since those times and live on the territory of the current village people are engaged in horticulture, gardening, fishing and, of course, winemaking. Since its founding Partenit grew, developed, and grew, and never stopped living in it, which distinguishes it from other towns on the South Coast, in the life of many of which repeatedly happened tragic pauses.
Over the centuries of its existence Partenit repeatedly rebuilt, and preserved to our time only the remains of monuments of former eras: the ruins of Partenit Basilica at the foot of Ayu-Dag and a complex of medieval churches and monasteries, defensive structures and settlements on the same mountain, the minaret of the mosque XVIIIv. Many ancient buildings are now bricked up under the foundations of modern buildings. Its more famous sights are the parks of the sanatorium «Crimea» on the territory of the former estate of Raevsky and medical and health complex «Aivazovskoye». The second is listed as a monument of landscape gardening and is considered one of the most beautiful in the whole Crimea. Tourists love the museum of stone in the sanatorium «Crimea» and 122-meter underground tunnel with an elevator rising to the upper buildings of the same sanatorium, where a viewpoint is arranged.
In addition to sightseeing guests Partenit visit the dolphinarium, relax on clean beaches, swimming and sunbathing, riding scooters, boats, catamarans, windsurfing and other active leisure activities at sea. You can have fun and eat here in numerous cafes and restaurants, discos and bars. In addition, from here those who have already seen all the sights of Partenit and are eager for new impressions, it is very convenient to go on excursions to interesting places of Big Yalta and the whole Krym.
Today, rest in Partenit is chosen by tourists seeking to live surrounded by beautiful nature, but with all the benefits of modern civilization. Rest here gives bright emotions and leaves the most wonderful memories, and many come here again and again.