The City of glory - Sevastopol

The Greek Chersonesus, the Medieval Inkerman, and the main Black Sea base of the Russian fleet since the 18^th century, this great port city is a must-visit location on the map of Crimea. The hero city of Sevastopol has survived two brutal sieges and remained off-limits until 1996. It is also an open-air museum boasting a rich collection of monuments dating back to different epochs plus the specific southern architecture and ambiance.

People come to Sevastopol both to visit its holy sites and relax on the beach, savouring Black Sea fish specialties and local wines. A special treat is an outing to a forest reserve. 

Apart from Sevastopol, this constituent entity of the Russian Federation includes Inkerman and Balaklava. The former is famous for the Byzantine Kalamita fortress and an active cave monastery founded by Pope Clement, who was exiled to a quarry near Chersonesus in AD 92-99. A town of fishermen, Balaklava was formerly a Genoese fortress (its Cembalo Tower and walls survive to this day) and the base of the British fleet in the Crimean War (1853-1856). During the Soviet period, it hosted an underground submarine maintenance facility. 

Sebastos is the Greek for the Roman title of Augustus, which is why "Sevastopol" may mean both the "most august city" and the "imperial city." Soviet literature featured translations unrelated to things imperial. The Greater Soviet Encyclopedia, for example, translated it as a "majestic city," or a "city of glory." The name was chosen during the reign of Catherine II, who was fond of classical antiquity.

The climate is the same as the subtropical climate prevailing on Crimea's south coast but has its own features in the two climatic sub-zones that cut the city in half along the boundary running from Cape Fiolent:

• In the foothills, the climate is relatively mild, maritime and moderately continental
• On the southeast coast, the climate is subtropical of the Mediterranean type

The coldest month of the year is February (with temperatures averaging 2.8˚C), and the warmest month is July (22.4˚C). The temperature of the Black Sea's surface water layer off the Sevastopol coast is always above zero and reaches 22.4˚C in July. The driest month is May. 

The Sevastopol area has nearly 1,500 historical sights and monuments, most of which are part of the hero city's military history. Medieval, Soviet and modern architectural achievements are of no less interest either.  

• The Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora, as the historical and archaeological preserve is officially known, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site includes the ruins of the Classical Greek city that later became Byzantine and several museums. A point of interest in its own right is the St Vladimir Cathedral built in 1891, where the legend placed the baptismal font of Prince Vladimir of Kiev.
• Some other outstanding architectural monuments are St Vladimir's Cathedral (Burial Vault of the Admirals), Sts Peter and Paul Cathedral built in the Old Greek style, the Twelve Apostles Church (Genoese) in Balaklava, St Nicholas Church located at the Brotherhood cemetery, where the participants of the first defence of Sevastopol in the Crimean War (1854-1855) are buried, and many other unique shrines.
• Konstantinovskaya and Mikhailovskaya batteries in the northern Sevastopol Bay are Crimean War forts turned museums featuring exhibitions dedicated to the city's history.
• Grafskaya Wharf, Primorsky Boulevard, and Artillery Bay (Artbukhta) are popular promenades with cafes, souvenir shops, and street musicians.
• Sapun Mountain Assault Diorama and Defence of Sevastopol Panorama are major examples of battle painting.
• Monuments to the Sunken Ships, admirals Nakhimov and Kornilov, Capt. Kazarsky, Catherine the Great, and Mikhail Lazarev, the Bayonet Sail Obelisk, and many others.
• Museum of Military History, Marine Aquarium Museum, Sevastopol Art Museum, and others.
• Armoured-Turret Shore Battery No. 35 merits a special focus. It is the most impressive monument to the Great Patriotic War (World War II) housing a museum that opened in 2008 after activists had taken a collection. The display is devoted to the battery's role in the Sevastopol defence and biographies of the defenders.
• The Inkerman Monastery of St Clement. The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called preached in the area. One of the first popes, Pope Clement I, was exiled to the local quarries in AD 98 and founded a cave monastery. Today, part of the monastery is in a hollow cut into the rock topped with the ruined Kalamita fortress dating back to the Byzantine period. Inkerman also offers guided tours of its famous winery. Located in the environs are the ill-famed underground galleries, where thousands of Sevastopol residents were hiding during the Great Patriotic War. But today they are off-limits to tourists.
• Balaklava's underground museum complex with an underground submarine maintenance facility. Guided tours are conducted in small boats. Before 1996, both the naval base and the entire city were off-limits. There is also the Genoese Cembalo fortress, which offers a picturesque view of the bay with frolicking dolphins and a marina. 

Sevastopol offers accommodations to suit every pocket and taste, ranging from five-star deluxe hotels to hostels. There are historical buildings and modern compounds with swimming pools, as well as beachside guest houses at suburban towns such as Orlovka.

Incidentally, there are no well-appointed beaches in the city centre. These are found at Omega Bay, Cape Fiolent, Balaklava, Laspi, Orlovka and elsewhere.

Sevastopol is a big city with a well-developed infrastructure and entertainment industry, boasting cinemas and theatres, concert halls, amusement parks, vending malls, and more. 

Sevastopol celebrates Victory Day on May 9 and the Russian Navy Day on July 31 with military parades, fireworks displays and public festivities. The Grand Officers' Ball is held at the Mikhailovskaya Battery in mid-June and on 17 and 18 August the city is taken over by the Mount Gasforta bike show.

Right now, Sevastopol's Belbek airport is not accommodating civilian flights. Air travellers will have to come from Simferopol by bus or electric train (travel time about 90 minutes).

Distance from the Crimean Bridge: 300 km. Distance from Simferopol is 85 km.

From other Crimean cities, you can reach Sevastopol by road. For example, a bus ride from Yalta takes two hours. High-speed Kometa boats ply between Yalta and Sevastopol in summer (travel time 2 hours).

A thing to note: Sevastopol is a separate constituent entity of the Russian Federation, which is why travellers are required to present their ID to buy tickets to destinations in the Republic of Crimea. 

Around the clock hotline of Ministry of Resorts and Tourism of the Republic of Crimea: +7(800)5118018

Local Administration hotline: +7(8692)544214

Official site of administration: https://sev.gov.ru

Telephone code: 8692

Bus station: +7(8692)48819

Railway station: +7(8692)653151