Anapa Sights
Anapa is not only a city-resort but also a city of legends and mysteries. Here every piece of land or a house can tell you its own history. We will begin our walk about the city with Lighthouse.
Any lighthouse is an essential part of a sea scenery. The Anapa beautiful lighthouse is not an exception because it is situated at foot of the mountain. We can observe picturesque landscapes from the high shore. Spurs of the Big Caucasus tower to the south-east in 5 km from the city. They start from Lisaya mountain and changes into ridge Semisam. The Utrish peninsula, which had been formed as a result of an earthquake more than 2,000 years ago, lies in the distance. Rare species of plants and trees have been kept there. Anapa Lighthouse is a traditional place of meetings of both local inhabitants and tourists in Anapa. It was erected on the steep shore of Anapsiy cape in 1955. A tower of the Lighthouse is octahedral, with three black horizontal stripes. Height of the central light is 43 from sea level. Color of the light is red, group flashing. Distance of operating is 18.5 miles. Besides the light the lighthouse is equipped with radio engineering means (a radio beacon, a radio station and autonomous oil-electrical engine).
By prospect of Revolution (on it there is a general-resort well-room with mineral waters), representing a boulevard, brightly lit at night, one can reach square of Glory. At the beginning of the square, in the corner of Revolution avenue and Tiraspolskaya street there is a Memorable sign to participants of liquidation of accident in Chernobyl APP. It is made in form of a granite plate and molted lave, flowing down on it. The plate contains inscription: “To Victims of Chernobyl 1986 – 1996”. It was erected 10 years later the catastrophe. Why was it erected in Anapa? Because Anapa sanatoriums received children, who had been exposed irradiation, and then children of those children.
The monument on the common grave of participants of Civil and the second World wars. It was opened on May of 1967, in the fiftieth anniversary of the October Revolution. The monument was made in simple and strict manner. It is a stele of rectangular form with inscription with relief letters: “Glory to heroes, who gave their life for freedom and happiness of people”. The eternal light burns in the center of the ground, at the bottom of the wall. Along the edges of the composition there are symmetrical figures of the times of Civil and the Second World wars (on the left – a figure of a Red Army man in a long-tailed greatcoat and military peaked cap, on the right – a figure of a soldier in waterproof cape and field cap). The memorial place is set off with 18 granite plates, on which 400 names are carved.
On the left from the memorial, on the side alley, there is Monument to “Victims of political repressions”. It was erected on the 30th of October of 1996. The granite stele is wound around by barbed wire and words of A. Tvardovsky’s words: “There is nothing to abridge and to add – it happened so”. In the right corner of the granite plate a hole, punched by a bullet – a shot fate. About 5 thousand inhabitants of Anapa were persecuted in the awful time of Stalin’s repressions. Meetings, devoted to the memory of these victims, are arranged at the memorable sign every year, on the 30th of October.
To the right from the eternal light there is a unusual monument. It is a monument to the warriors, who did their bit in Afghanistan. It represents a mournful figure of a warrior, sitting on the stone. He has just broken off the fight, a submachine gun without a shell lies on his knees, in his hand – a empty water-bottle. Under his feet – ground, burst by shells, on his face – pain and offence for killed friends. The monument was opened in Kuban and it was the first one, devoted to Afghan events.
Opposite there is a Memorable sign to the warriors, killed while carrying out a governmental commission in the Chechen Republic. The monument was opened on the 28th of June of 1998 by initiative of the Committee of soldiers’ mothers. It represents a memorable plate, torn into two parts. The complementary edges of the plates of grey and red granite have uneven outlines and symbolize a large lacerated persisting wound. Grey color is memory, red is spilled blood. In the gap of the plate, there are three empty cases, like candlesticks. On the left part there is an inscription: “To inhabitants of Anapa, killed while doing their military duty in the Chechen Republic”. On the right one there are 16 surnames of those, who didn’t return home.
Anapa archaeological museum represents special interest. The Anapa museum is the only museum-dig in the open air in Russia. Here one can see few buildings of Gorgippiya of II – the beginning of III century A.D and a main street, found by archaeologists. Its carriageway is paved with plates, the pavements stretch along the houses. The pavement was made at the time when the only kind of transport was chariots and animal-drawn carts. However it turned out so solid that even now dump-body trucks with ground can go on it. Among the found articles there are many pottery works, clay lamps, house crockery and terracotta statuettes, which lead to a conclusion that art of terracotta statuettes producing was developed in Gorgippiya.
The Museum of local lore of Anapa is situated in the building of a resort gymnasium of teachers Schetnevs, which was built in 1909. The museum will tell you about the nature and dwellers of the land and the sea in Anapa are, will acquaint you with the history of Anapa from 17 to 20 centuries. Many exhibitions are arranged on the territory of the museum. In particular the exhibition of wine-growing and wine-making of Anapa enjoys wide popularity.
A unique monument has been kept in the city. It is “Russian gates” – a monument of Ottoman military architecture of XVIII century. Above the gates you see a plate with inscription: “Russian gates of 1854”. On the abutment there is another plate “Fortress gates, remains of the Turkish fortress, built in 1783, are called in honor of 25-anniversary of liberation of Anapa from the Turkish yoke in 1828”. During three hundreds years Anapa lands represented neither strategic nor economical interest. The situation changed in the 80-s of 18 century, when in the result of the fight of Turkey with Russia, to the last one Crimea and right-bank Kuban were passed. It was necessary for Turkey to fortify its position on the coast near the Caucasian mountains. Just this aim, by order of sultan Abdul Gamid, caused building of the fortress on Anapa land. In 1783 the fortress was built. Its fortifications were consisted of 7 bastions, connected between curtain and three gates. The fortress itself hasn’t kept till our days, hence we can only imagine ourselves how it looked.
It was mentioned above about legends. One of legends, and, perhaps, true story is connected with name of Russian poet M. J. Lermontov. Near Anapa, in amazingly beautiful place Bolshoi Utrish, on the steep slope of the beginning of the Caucasian mountains there is a Lermontov path. The poet liked to sit here in the plain arbour. A wonderful view of the blue sea opened from here, wooded mountains and rocks stretched from behind. One of the streets of Anapa is called by name of Lermontov.
It is worth for parents with their children and lovers of extreme rest to visit water park “Golden beach”. You will see a amazingly beautiful peninsula. In the park there are 11 water slides of different height, length and destination. Each of them has its own name. For example: 110-meter “Yellow river” – for lovers of quiet descending, and for those, who prefer water extreme there are the steepest mountains “Kamikaze” and “Black hole”. For a portion of adrenaline you should slide on “Mountain flow”, “Twister”, “Junction”, “Loop”, “Spiral” and “Foam”. You will see side-show “Storm wave”. “Storm wave” is the largest side-show of such type in Europe, where water storms in two times higher than in a real beach. Side-shows “Seaman” and “Treasure island”. You will see a show with dolphins, make photos with them. On the territory of the park there is a shop. In the shop of the water park you may buy everything necessary for rest: “swimsuits and air beds, tanning creams and sunburn creams, sunglasses, photographic film, various souvenirs. For example, image of dolphins and souvenirs of juniper.
The water park works from 9.00 to 14.00 – the first shift; the second shift – from 15.00 to 20.00; night shift – from 21.00 to 24.00. Address: Grebenskaya street, 1.
Visit the water park with your children. Stellate sturgeon, sturgeon, flounder, grey mullet, skate, goat-fish, eel, weaver fish, needlefish, rapa whelk, sea-horse, oysters, mussels, shrimps and others are represented in the water park. The water park works from May to October from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 19.00. Free day is Monday. Do you like driving? And if it is a car of formula 1? High speed, breath-taking turns on the unique pavement will let you to become absorbed in the world of car race and find oneself a real racer. It is an excellent way for children and adults to present gladness and indelible impression of delight. Address: Park of 30-anniversary of the victory.
Cafes and restaurants
Walking about the city, don’t forget to refresh yourself. Speaking of cuisine, it is necessary to remark that Anapa is one of few places where its own culinary school is forming. It is defined as synthesis of common Caucasian, Kuban and Creek culinary traditions. We may recommend you several restaurants, containing not only interesting design but also tasty cuisine.
Restaurant “Fort Utrish” is situated on the shore near the beach. It is a two-storied building with a view of the sea. The first floor is a hall-restaurant, the second one – mini-hotel. The restaurant works all the year round from 11.00 to last visitor.
Restaurant “Joy of meal” is specialized in preparing dishes, character for the south Slavic cuisine.
Restaurant “Admiral” is a good fish restaurant, where rightly prepared local goatfish and garfish are served up.
There are many sights in Anapa; it is impossible to make the round of all of them for a day. Hence, make up a time-table of places to visit. And certainly don’t forget to toast on the beach, swim in warm, clear water. Drink mineral water. It will impart you vivacity. And then you will have forces for visiting and entertainments in Anapa.
The bathing season begins in May and ends in October. Shoal with thick sandy bottom let children to swim, hardly having studied to go. The sea in the region of Anapa is the ecologically safest in the Black sea basin.
The clear sea air with high concentration of oxygen and ozone, with prevail of favorable negative air ions, hydro aerosols of sea salts, fugitive phytocides of seaweeds and plants of sea parks allows to call the resort zone of Anapa, stretching for 80 km, a natural inhaler.
|
