Primordial nature and grace of civilization

Massandra Palace, reminiscent of fabulous castles,
described by Charles Perrault, harmoniously fit into the picturesque landscape of Massandra. Initially, it was built for Prince Semyon Mikhailovich Vorontsov, but after a while the royal family acquires these lands for picnics, walks in the forest and rest on hot days. The palace, built in 1902, is elegant and unique due to the large number of towers, galleries, terraces, stairs, balconies, open to the sun and space. Architect Maximilian Meismacher clad the building with solar Metlach tiles, decorated with elements of Baroque and Renaissance and the palace began to resemble the royal castles of the 16th century, built on the banks of the Loire River.

Pictures of famous artists, wooden panels covered with skillful carvings, tiles, stained glass windows, sculpting, marble fireplaces, ancient furniture, make the decoration of the palace rooms unique. After getting acquainted with the natural landscapes of Massandra and the palace, we go to visit Count Vorontsov. In 1824, Count Mikhail Semenovich Vorontsov, Governor-General of Novorossia, acquired land in the vicinity of Alupka for the construction of his summer residence, a majorate estate. Walking through the ancient park of Count Vorontsov, you admire the ability of gardeners to show in all the splendor of plants brought from all over the world, admire the pristine relief of the mountain landscape from the sea to the Ai-Petrinsky teeth, stone chaos, small lakes, cascades of flowing waterfalls.

Coming out of the shady park, you freeze with surprise, seeing the Alupkin Palace, harmoniously combining the styles of the European Middle Ages, English Gothic and Oriental motifs. Approaching the palace from the northern facade, you feel the atmosphere of the Maria Tudor era, going to the South Terraces, admiring the expanses and warmth of the Italian Renaissance style. Exquisitely and luxuriously decorated the palace inside: wood carvings, English furniture, bronze, Chinese porcelain, crystal, paintings of architects are authentic works of art. In the winter garden there is a collection of unique sculptures and plants, on the south side there is a Lion Terrace. During the 1945 conference, the English delegation led by Winston Churchill was given this palace to live in. After visiting the palace, we move to Cape Ai-Todor to get acquainted with the visiting card of the South Coast - Swallow's Nest. On the Aurorina Rock, above the sea sheltered a tiny medieval knight's castle.

Interesting view of Yalta Bay, rock Sail, sea expanses, cliffs, which in bad weather broke azure waves – and be sure to find the place where your parents or you were photographed a few years ago. Each rock has its own secrets and legends, which you will learn on our tour. Crimea is interesting for its contrasts. Just admired swimming dolphins from a viewing platform by the sea and, already standing on the edge of the earth, admiring the views from the height of Ai-Petrinskaya yayla, using the services of a cable car or driving along a picturesque road by car through a forest reserve. Ai-Petri translated from the Greek "St. Peter" is one of the most beautiful peaks of the Crimean mountains, a fossil coral reef with an inimitable landscape of wildlife. If you wish, you can visit the karst caves, equipped for visiting, ride horses and camels, relax and eat in a hospitable cafe. Following the forest reserve, be sure to make a stop at the waterfall Uchan-Su (from the Turkic "flying water"), whose height is 98 meters. This is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque waterfalls of the European continent: I saw the famous waterfalls of Switzerland. Uchan-Su is a waterfall-savage, a waterfall-desert; therefore, it is much more interesting and original than the Swiss, says the writer and traveler of the 19th century Yevgeny Markov.

Beautiful waterfall in winter, when on rare days of cooling part of the water jets freezes, forming the castle of the Snow Queen, huge ice icicles, iridescently shimmering in the rays of the sun.