Alupka

Alupka is a small resort town lying 16 km from Yalta. The first written reference to Alupka dates back to the year 960 A.D. The Greek name “alepu” means “a fox”.

The settlement is situated on the mountainous terrain and is unplanned. Homes were built along the mountain paths, which now are the streets.

The best way to travel to Alupka is by sea. But you can get to it along the lower highway. The first place will be Alupka Park. It is a masterpiece of park design of the 19th century. More than 200 species of trees grow in the area of 40 hectares. The park is divided into the Lower and the Upper parks.

In the Upper Park you can see the Glade of Contrasts. Its trees and bushes differ sharply in colour, size and shape. Two more glades will attract your attention. These are the Sunny Glade surrounded by rare trees and the Plane Tree Glade with a view of the pond. Here is the Chaos. It is a pile of stone blocks scattered around the ponds.

But the main attraction of the park and the whole town is Alupka Palace. It was built as a summer residence for Count Mikhail Vorontsov, who was Governor-General of the southern lands of the European part of Russia. Construction was begun in 1828, and ended in 1848.

The design of the palace was fulfilled by the famous English court architect Edward Blore. He also took part in the designing of Sir Walter Scott’s castle in Scotland and Buckingham Palace in London.

Another English architect, William Gunt, supervised the building of the count’s residence. At the same time the park was laid out under the supervision of the German designer Karl Kebach.

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