Simferopol Ukraine Information

Archaeological evidence in Simferopol indicates the existence of an ancient Scythian city, collectively known as the Scythian Neapol. The location was also home to a Crimean Tatar town, Aqmescit. After the annexation of the Crimean Khanate to the Russian Empire, the city's name was changed to its present Simferopol.

History

 
Archaeological evidence in the Chokurcha cave shows the presence of ancient people living in the territory of modern Simferopol. The Scythian Neapol, known by its Greek name, is also located in the city, which is the remnants of an ancient capital of the Crimean Scythians who lived on the territory from the 3rd century BC to the 4th century AD.Later, the Crimean Tatars founded the town of Aqmescit. The name Aqmescit literally translates as "the white mosque" (Aq—white, and mescit—mosque). For some time, Aqmescit served as the residence of the Qalğa-Sultan, the second important position in the Crimean Khanate after the Khan himself.

Russian Empire and Civil War

 
The city was renamed Simferopol in 1784 after the annexation of the Crimean Khanate to the Russian Empire by Catherine II of Russia. The name Simferopol is derived from the Greek, Συμφερόπολις (Sympheropolis), translated as "the city of usefulness." In 1802, Simferopol became the administrative center of the Taurida Governorate. During the Crimean War of 1854-1856, the Russian Imperial Army reserves and a hospital were stationed in the city. After the war, more than 30,000 Russian soldiers were buried in the city's vicinity.

In the 20th century, Simferopol was once again was affected by wars and conflicts in the region. At the end of the Russian Civil War, the headquarters of General Pyotr Wrangel, leader of the anti-Bolshevik White Army, were located there. On November 13, 1920, the Red Army captured the city and on October 18, 1921, Simferopol became the capital of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

World War II

During World War II, Metropolitan was occupied by Nazi Germany from November 1, 1941 to April 13, 1944. Retreating NKVD police shot a number of prisoners on October 31, 1941 in the NKVD building and the city's prison. Germans perpetrated one of the largest war-time massacres in Simferopol, killing in total over 22,000 locals—mostly Russians, Jews, Krymchaks, and Gypsies. On one occasion, starting December 9, 1941, the Einsatzgruppen D under Otto Ohlendorf's command killed an estimated 14,300 Simferopol residents. The city was renamed as "Gothenburg" between 1941-1944.In April 1944, the Red Army liberated Simferopol. On May 18, 1944, the Crimean Tatar population of the city along with the whole Crimean Tatar nation of Crimea was forcibly deported to Central Asia in a form of collective punishment. On April 26, 1954, Simferopol, together with the rest of the Crimean Oblast, was transferred from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.

After Ukrainian independence

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Simferopol became the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea within newly independent Ukraine. Today, the city has a population of 340,600 (2006) most of which are ethnic Russians, with the rest being Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar minorities. After the Crimean Tatars were allowed to return from exile in the 1990s, several new Crimean Tatar suburbs were constructed, as many more Tatars returned to the city compared to number of exiled in 1944. Land ownership between the current residents and returning Crimean Tatars is a major area of conflict today with the Tatars requesting the return of lands seized after their deportation.

Geography and climate

Simferopol is located in the south-central portion of the Crimean peninsula. The city lies on the Salhir River and near the artificial Simferopol Reservoir, which provides the city with clean drinking water.

The city's climate is dry and warm, with mild winters, Cfa by the Köppen climate classification. The average temperature in January is 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) and 23.2 °C (73.8 °F) in July. The average rainfall is 509 millimeters (20.0 in) per year, and there is a total of 2,469 hours of sunshine per year.

Transportation

Simferopol has a main railway station, which serves millions of tourists each year. The city is also connected via the Simferopol International Airport,

More Airport Information http://www.airport.crimea.ua/en/home.htm

The city also has several main bus stations, with routes towards many cities, including Sevastopol, Kerch, Yalta, and Yevpatoriya. The Crimean Trolleybus connects Simferopol to the city of Yalta on Crimean Black Sea coast. The line is the longest trolleybus line in the world with a total length of 86 kilometers (53 mi).

All roads coming to Crimea lead to Simferopol. By plane by train or by car you'll get there. Trains from Kiev to Sevastopol stop at Simferopol as well. Therefore, there is no need to look for trains specified for Simferopol. At least 2 trains to and from Kiev daily.

There are bus and marshrutka routes from Sevastopol to Simferopol, about a dozen a day; they get busy, particularly at weekends, and it is best to book some time in advance. If you are unable to take public transport, taxis will take you there; from Sevastopol station to Simferopol airport, do not accept a fare of more than 300 UAH.

There are a number of flights to Simferopol; Ukraine International Airlines [1] has a morning and an evening flight each day from Kiev. Turkish Airlines has a daily flight to and from Istanbul, with international connections to just about anywhere in the world; these arrive at Simferopol airport, which has particularly insistent taxi drivers who will say there is no public transport of any kind. Ignore them; from the arrival area go across the car park in a rightwards direction to a large 'KRIMTROLLEYBUS' sign, from which marshrutki leave to the city centre and the railway station every few hours.

 Sights and attractions in Simferopol

Crimean Ethnographic Museum

The memorable thing about the modest Crimean Ethnographic Museum is its first room. It boasts a 3-D relief map of Crimea, populated with nearly 50 colorful small statues representing the peninsula's different peoples throughout history.

Kebi-Djami Mosque

Remnants do survive of earlier civilizations on the same site as Simferopol. The most interesting is the restored 16th-century Kebi-Djami mosque, which dates back to the Crimean Tatar town of Ak-Mechet (White Mosque).

Neopolis

There's little sense of history about the much-touted Neopolis. However, it offers a good view of Simferopol in all its Soviet-constructivist glory, should you be tempted by such things. Archaeological excavations of a late Scythian city (300 BC-AD 300) seem to have been abandoned. Nowadays, the 20-hectare hilltop site is where locals take their goats or cattle to graze, or teenagers meet for illicit drinking.

Three Saints Church

The five-domed Three Saints Church is near the Crimean Ethnographic Museum.

Sites of Crimea

The Crimea is a peninsula rich in areas of sublime beauty. It is a land of deep blue seas and towering coastal peaks, interlaced within a multitude of palaces and castles, expansive forests, and ancient towns of stunning historical value. Few places in the world possess such a combination of natural beauty and historical monuments in such a small place.

Crimea is teeming with interesting sites. It is possible to live here for years and still not to have seen everything. I have summarized the main sites as below:

Sites of Crimea - Bakhchisarai

A quiet and relaxed town situated between Sevastopol and Simferopol, Bakhchisarai has some world-class sights. The perfectly preserved Khan's-palace is the main place of interest, a former residence of the Crimean Khans who ruled from 1443 to 1783. On the edge of town, amongst cliffs and canyons, you will find the ancient 'Holy Assumption Monastery', founded by Greeks in the 8th century. The monastery was carved into the rock face of a cliff, and if you are lucky you'll witness a service run by the local monks.

Just 3 kilometers out of town is the best preserved of Crimea's many cave towns - Chufut-Kale, which is thought to have appeared in the 6th century. It is possible to see all of these impressive and extremely diverse sites on a day trip from Simferopol or Sevastopol.

Sites of Crimea - Sudak

Sudak contains one of the most interesting medieval fortresses in Europe. It was built by the Genoans in the 14-15th century, and it has remained well preserved since that time. The huge walls of the fortress are 2-metres thick and 6-metres high. The fortress of Sudak is situated at the top of a hill on the coast, and affords stunning views over the Black sea.

Sites of Crimea - The Big Canyon

A 2-hour drive from Simferopol, the Big Canyon is located deep within Crimea's hills and forests. The Big Canyon is impressive in stature; it reaches 320 meters in height, and at points is no more than 3 meters wide. There are many walks that can be undertaken within the canyon itself, or in the surrounding forests and mountains.

Sites of Crimea - Novy Svet

On the southeastern corner of Crimea, this tucked-away settlement is situated in a big nature preserve. Novy Svet is a considered by many locals to be one of the most beautiful parts of Crimea. It is a small town surrounded by impressive mountains, cliffs, and deep blue sparkling water. The scenery is magnificent, the air aromatic and the sea clean and clear.

Sites of Crimea - Balaklava

A small and peaceful harbor town, sitting on a narrow S-shaped inlet surrounded on every side by steep hills. 20 minutes drive from Sevastopol, at the present time it is a small tourist and fishing town right on the edge of becoming a full on resort. Balaklava is not only interesting; but in fact positively unique. In Soviet times, deep within Balaklava's mountains, the Russian navy's secret nuclear submarine base was housed. The hills surrounding Balaklava contain a maze of tunnels that allowed large numbers of nuclear Soviet submarines to hide unobserved. During that period, Balaklava was one of the most secret residential areas in the Soviet Union. This base is now open to the public for guided tours around the canal system and the base. Balaklava was conquered by the Genoese in 1365, and you can see the impressive remains of a fortress built by them in that century.

Sites of Crimea - Foros

Built in 1892, this impressive church stands alone perched on a hill 412 meters above the sea. This is Crimea at its best; man-made and natural beauty sitting side by side. The church is situated between Yalta and Sevastopol, and is a short drive/walk up from the main coastal road. It was built in 1892 by a local tea merchant to commemorate the Tsar of the time surviving a train accident. You are treated to fantastic views of the Black sea and surrounding mountains. Inside the church is an impressive array of mosaics. The 1917 revolution led to the closure of the church, and the church was turned into a snack bar for visiting tourists until 1969. Not until 1992, with Gorbachev's reforms, was the church re-opened.

Sites of Crimea - Ai-Petri Mountain

A spectacular mountain forming the backdrop to Alupka, the peak of Ai-Petri, somewhat remarkably, is accessible by cable car. This is one of the longest cable-car rides in Europe (3.5 km). This dazzling, unnerving ride begins in Alupka, and ends 20 minutes later 1234 meters above sea level.

Alternatively, you can reach the peak of Ai-Petri by taking a minibus or a taxi up the winding forest road that leads to the plateau behind the summit. From the peak opens up magnificent vistas of Yalta, Alupka, and the glittering waters of the Black sea.

Sites of Crimea - Marble Caves

Situated close to Simferopol, and 1000 meters above sea level in the mountains, the Marble Caves are considered to be one of the five best equipped cave complexes in Europe. Sculpted by nature over a period of hundreds of thousands of years, these caves leave a lasting impression on all visitors, even if those who wouldn't normally be interested in this sort of attraction. The Marble caves are accessible by taxi.

Sites of Crimea from Simferopol

The Crimean Palaces

Crimea is famed for its palaces, built in the last century by various members of the Russian high society. The 2 palaces most of interest are the Livadia Palace, and the Alupka Palace. The common feature of these palaces is the beauty of their location. They were built high up above the coastline, giving fantastic views over the Black sea and the surrounding mountains. The

Livadia Palace - the ex-summer residence of last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, is the main sight of Yalta. In February 4th-11th 1945, the Livadia Palace was the stage for the negotiations between the leaders of USSR, USA and Great Britain, the result of which was that Europe was carved up between the nations, and the first steps towards the creation of the UN were undertaken.

The Alupka Palace is breathtaking. Its striking beauty lies not only in the building itself; but in its surroundings.

It was built in 1828-1846 by an English architect, and the northern side of the place looks like a Victorian English mansion. The southern side, however, is of an Arabic style, and its grandeur is only matched by the sea views afforded from it. The places is surrounded by an immense sculpted park, and lies at the foot of Crimea's second highest mountain; Ai-Petri.

Sites of Crimea “Swallow’s nest

A symbol of the Crimea's Southern coast, The Swallow's nest is architecturally compelling; resembling a miniature medieval castle. It perches precariously on top of a 40-meter cliff, and is accessible by a short and visually stunning boat ride from Yalta. The Swallow's nest was built in 1911, and nowadays functions as a renowned and (over-priced) exclusive restaurant.

Sites of Crimea - Khersonesos

Khersones is Crimea's monument to its ancient Greek and Byzantine past. The city has existed on the Crimean coast for almost 2 millennia. It was founded in 422-421 B.C by the Greeks, and remained an important centre until the 14th century when it suffered at the hands of the invading Tartar hordes. It consists of extensive ruins, some of which have been very well preserved. Some columns are still standing from that time, as well the ruins of an antique theatre and defensive walls. This ancient city is located 3 kilometers from the centre of Sevastopol, and makes an accessible and interesting half-day trip.

If you want to see incredible coastal and mountain scenery, soak up the atmosphere of a vibrant post-Communist society undergoing rapid change, visit monuments of great historical value, and perhaps even try out outdoor adventure activities such as diving, rock climbing and hiking, then go to Crimea. You wont regret it.