Alushta

Alushta is the second largest town on the Crimea’s Southern Coast after Yalta, its population is 24 thousand people. The town is situated on the Southern Coast hollow.

Alushta got its name from the Byzantine fortress of Aluston, which was built here in the 6th century A.D. by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I (483–565). In the present -day Alushta you can see the remains of the Byzantine fortress.

Alushta attracts tourists by its unusual climate, pleasant beaches and picturesque surroundings. It is not so hot here in summer as in Yalta. The territory from Mt. Ayu-Dug (Bear Mount) to Privetnoye is called Greater Alushta. It is very popular among the holiday-makers.

Many outstanding poets and writers came to rest and work to Alushta. It was the Sainted Hierarch Luke’s favorite place of rest. In Alushta there repose the relics of Inna, Pinna and Rimma, who were the disciples of St. Apostle Andrew the First Called. Here in Alushta a memorial museum of the famous Russian writer I. S. Shmelyov was opened. The great Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz visited Alushta. Impressions of this beautiful Crimean place inspired him to write several sonnets. The same year the author of the immortal comedy “Vow from Wisdom” A. S. Griboyedov was in Alushta and twice climbed Chatyr-Dag (Marquee Mount). In 1896 the great Ukrainian writer M. Kotsyubynsky spent four months in Alushta. Two short novels were written after his stay. Among the admirers of Alushta were V. Bryusov, A. Kuprin, M. Gorky, and K. Paustovsky.

The name of a well-known writer S. Sergeyev-Tsensky is inseparably linked with the city. In 1961 a memorial museum was opened in the house where he lived and worked.