Crimea - Ukraine - page 373

Eminé-Ba'ir-Khosar spirals down to 120m, with jade-like stalagmites, crystal flowers
and a lake. According to legend, Eminé threw herself to the bottom of the cave after her
lover was killed by her father's family.
Unless you're hiking in the region, the simplest way to reach the caves is via a day trip
from one of the tour stalls in Yalta (95uah). 'Extreme' tours of the lower level of the
Mramornaya Cave (three hours) are organised by Onyx Tour ( Click here ) .
EASTERN CRIMEA
TOP OF CHAPTER
Sudak
06566 / POP 14,500
As an important stop on the Silk Route from China, Sudak was a major and well- defen-
ded trading centre run by the Genovese. Its central claim to fame is the fortress that sur-
vives from that era, but that's not quite all in this overcrowded resort. Just a few kilo-
metres away lie the popular beaches of Novy Svit.
Sights & Activities
Genovese Fortress MEDIEVAL CASTLE
(adult/child 80/50uah, photo/video 10uah; 9am-10pm Jun-Sep, to 5pm Oct-May) Its vertigin-
ous location is one of the major appeals of Sudak's fortress. This once-impregnable com-
plex is perched on a massive seaside cliff, and in true Ukrainian fashion you're allowed
to clamber all over it, at times perhaps unsafely.
Built during the 14th and 15th centuries, the fortress still cuts a magnificent silhouette.
The remains of its crenulated walls (6m high and 2m thick) extend for 2km, encircling
more than 30 hectares of dry, sloping terrain.
Ten original towers remain, most of them bearing the grand-sounding names of Gen-
ovese nobles who ruled the city: Francesco di Camilla or Cigallo Corrado, for instance.
Open for visitors are the sea-facing Consul's Tower and 13th-century temple . Origin-
ally a mosque, it was at different times used by Italian Catholics, German Lutherans and
Russian Orthodox Christians.
Every summer the fortress plays host to the medieval festival Genovese Helmet
( http://festival-sudak.com ) , held on set days between mid-July and the end of August,