Description and history of the Genoese fortress located in Feodosia

Crimea is famous not so much for its sea and beaches. On the peninsula a huge number of attractions and ancient monuments. One of them is the Genoese fortress or, as it is also called, the fortress of Kafa. It is located on the territory of one of the oldest settlements of the Crimea - in the city of Feodosia. It's hard to believe, but this city was created in the VI century BC. That is why Theodosius is so rich in historical monuments and ancient legends.

Unfortunately, most buildings have not survived to this day. Even from the famous and majestic Genoese fortress is very little. Therefore, it is our duty to tell about this unique architectural heritage so that as many people as possible get to know him while there is still such an opportunity.

Until the XIII century, the coast of Crimea from Kerch to Sevastopol was ruled by the Byzantines. But then these lands were captured by the Genoese, who held them in their hands until the XV century. In an effort to increase their influence, designate interests and protect possessions from attacks by hostile-minded principalities, the Genoese people built several fortresses on their territory.

All fortifications created in that period are called Genoese. However, the fortress in Sudak and Theodosia were the largest and most preserved to this day. Now these buildings have a statute of historical and architectural reserve.

Historical note: the Genoese built not only a fortress, but also restored the old Theodosiussince it was almost completely destroyed after the invasion of the Huns. The Genoese made Theodosia the center of their dominions on the Black Sea coast with extensive trade connections and their own coins. Trade was carried out not only fish and other goods, but also slaves. This port was the main market for captives throughout the peninsula.

The Genoese fortress consisted of a citadel and an external defense unit. The citadel was erected on the territory of Quarantine Hill around 1340-1343. At the same time, the construction turned out to be so large-scale that it had to be finished for another decade.

The length of the citadel was 718 meters, had a height of walls 11 meters, and thickness - 2 meters. The building was designed not only for defense, but also for the placement of ships, trading shops, and storage facilities. As well as for the treasury, the residence of the bishop and the palace of the consul. At present, only half of the structure has been preserved, everything else is destroyed.

The citadel was fenced with a strong wall on which there were 30 towers. The length of the wall was 5.5 kilometers. A moat was also built around the structure, which served as a rainwater drain and additionally protected the citadel.

After the construction was completed, the Genoese fortress turned out to be the most powerful and second largest fortress in all of Europe. In many sources, the Genoese fortress is called the Kafa fortress. Both the first and second name will be correct. This happened because before the final restoration of Theodosia, instead of the city, there was a trading port Kaffa. This port later became the main center of all the colonies of the Genoese people on the Black Sea coast.

It is believed that the plague epidemic of 1347 in Europe began just with the Genoese fortress.And this is not just a rumor. There are official papers that confirm this. The documents belonged to a notary by the name of Gabriel de Mussi. Infection occurred during the siege of the fortress Janibek - Khan of the Golden Horde.

By order of Khan, the city was “bombarded” with corpses using catapults. According to the documents, it was precisely from this that an outbreak of plague occurred in the Cafe. In Europe, the infection spread by rats, which arrived there on ships along with the Genoese who had escaped from the city.

The Genoese people held the fortress in their hands until the second half of the 15th century. Then the Ottomans captured the fortress of Kafa, and the whole Crimea, including other seemingly impregnable fortifications. Then the building was captured by the Turks. And at the beginning of the XVII century - the Cossacks of the ataman Sagaidachny. Then the peninsula was under the rule of the Russian Empire. And it was then that the Genoese fortress began to rapidly collapse. This was due to the fact that construction dismantled on the material for the construction of dwellings.

Unfortunately, nowadays only ruins remain from the once magnificent fortress. On the south side, the wall is best preserved. On it remained the towers of St. Clement and Crisco.

Crisco is nothing but the name of Christ distorted by foreigners. The construction consisted of two tiers and three walls with wide teeth. This is an open tower, with a magnificent view and a beautiful large-scale photos. According to ancient legends, It was on this tower that the first mechanical clocks in Europe, which the Genoese themselves installed, were installed.

From the first tier, a no less interesting view opens - sea waves and a relatively new monument to Afanasy Nikitin. The monument was erected here in memory of the fact that the navigator stopped in Feodosia during his trip to India.

This tower already consisted of 3 tiers and slightly hung over the wall of the fortification walls. It is connected with the walls of the fortress and the tower of Crisco. Next to the Clement's tower was the great gate of the city.

Here are also the towers of Thomas, Giovanni di Scaff. As well as the Dock Tower and Constantine.

The tower of Constantine was cut off from the main part of the fortress. Now it is located in the center of Feodosia - in the Jubilee Park near the railway station. But not only this remarkable tower of Constantine. It has a slightly different design: two tiers on a rectangular base with mounted machikuli loopholes.

Such structures made it possible to fire the enemy vertically, thereby eliminating the so-called blind zones of the Genoese fortress. This significantly increased the defensive power of fortifications. The Tower of Constantine became one of the symbols of Theodosia. Therefore, the image of this design can often be found on souvenirs from the Crimea.

The Genoese fortress is located in the oldest southern part of Theodosia - on Quarantine Hill near the bay. The main preserved part of the building is located in the Portovaya street. To reach this place, you can get there by public transport. to the stop "Most" or "City Hospital №1".

In the first case, you will need to walk up the Starokarantinnaya street, and then you can easily find a monument following the signs and signs. In the second case, you need to walk along Korabelnaya Street to the sea through the “Holy Valley”. By car to get to the fortress will be even easier and faster. You will need no more than 10 minutes to do this. From the center of Feodosia you can drive on Lenin Street, Krasnoarmeyskaya, Zemskoe or Ukrainian. It is better to leave the car next to the stop or the sea.

Interesting Facts:

• for four centuries, the largest slave market in Europe operated near the walls of the fortress;
• according to some information, the name of the city and the fortress of Kafa appeared due to the fact that black people here are often called the word "Kafa";
• the remains of the ancient fortress can be found throughout the territory of modern Theodosia, since ancient foundations and so on are “hidden” everywhere.

Description and history of the Genoese fortress, see the following video.