SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINE

Discover the wealth of historical offerings that this glorious city – founded in 1787 as a naval fortress and a firm stronghold in the south of the Russian Empire – has to offer.

Discover the wealth of historical offerings that this glorious city – founded in 1787 as a naval fortress and a firm stronghold in the south of the Russian Empire – has to offer. The second largest of the Crimean cities will greet us with bays of astonishing beauty, impressive architectural ensembles, unique museums and attractive squares and boulevards. Pausing briefly at the quay of Grafskaya Pristan, private landing stage of Admiral Voinovich – Commander-in-Chief of the Black Sea Fleet - we shall then see the large square with the impressive monument to Admiral Nakhimov, a Russian naval hero of the Crimean War. Our coach winds its way through the centre and proceeds along Primosky Boulevard, where we will be able to see the monument to the scuttled ships, erected in 1940 as a memorial to the ships sunk during the first period of the Sevastopol defence, to block the enemy fleet. Stopping at the Byzantine-style Vladimir Cathedral to admire (from the outside) this burial place of the renowned Russian admirals, from the top of Vladimir hill there is a beautiful panoramic view of Artilleriyskaya Bay. We continue to the circular, 39-metre (125 feet) high Panorama Building. We will be captivated by a spectacular panorama, which depicts the major episodes of the Malakhov Kurgan battlefield. We can marvel at the intricate details of this monumental painting, 465 square metres (5,000 square feet) in size! We now proceed to Chersoneses – the last Greek colony that emerged on the northern coast of the Black Sea, which was ruined by the Tatars. Archaeological discoveries have revealed a civilisation dating back to 422 BC. We will see the magnificent ruins, including a Greek theatre, Roman temples, fortifications, elaborate marble columns, and beautiful mosaics.

Please note that there is a considerable amount of walking involved in this tour, mostly over cobbled uneven ground. At the Panorama Building, there are approximately 54 steps to negotiate and a further 6-8 will be encountered at Chersoneses Archaeological site. Flat comfortable walking shoes are recommended. The order of sights visited may vary slightly in order to avoid congestion.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2007 CANARIES & MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES