The Genoese fortress of Kafa, located in the resort village of Feodosia, is a typical example of a medieval defensive structure. Built in the 14th century on the Crimean coast and corresponding to all the fortification techniques of that time, it remains a striking landmark of the peninsula to this day.
Heyday
The ancient Greeks, who came to these lands in the 13th century, bought from the Ottomans the ruins of the ancient Hellenic settlement, destroyed by the Huns, and founded the port city of Kafa. Very soon it turned into a thriving metropolis, a transit center of trade, larger in size than Constantinople itself. In addition, the largest slave market in Europe was located here: Kafa for a long time remained the center of the slave trade of the entire Black Sea region. The port also played an important strategic role and was a kind of control center for other Italian colonies in nearby territories.
How influential this “mini-state” was can be judged by the fact that it minted its own silver coin, which was valued far beyond the borders of the peninsula.
The city had more than 20 thousand houses, hundreds of churches and mosques, many fountains, sculptures, grottoes and pools. Built by the best Italian architects of that time, it captivated with its monumentalism and grace. And at the pier there was sometimes not enough space for newly arriving ships.
Fortresses - to be!
Having become the main trading center of the Black Sea region, Kafa needed serious protection from enemy attacks. Therefore, it was decided to build a powerful stone fortification that could withstand attacks from both land and water. Its construction began in 1340 and lasted three years.
In 1345, the army of Khan Janibek set out to capture the city. He stubbornly held back the siege and would have held out for a long time, and perhaps repelled the attack, if not for the sudden outbreak of a plague epidemic among the Tatar army. Using throwing weapons, they threw the infected bodies over the fortress walls. The outbreak of the Black Death forced many to leave the city and go to Genoa. So the disease spread throughout Europe, where it killed eighty million people.
Surprisingly, Kafa quickly recovered from its losses and regained its former greatness. The Genoese captured the Venetian port of Sugdea and extended their personal influence to the entire southern coast with access to Black and the Sea of Azov.
This picture of the world did not suit the Ottomans at all, who again staged a siege in 1475. This time the city surrendered, was devastated and renamed Kefe, and the population was exterminated or sold into slavery. Islamic culture reigned in the territory.
Tower and fortress wall
Fortress views
In plan, the Kafa fortress, occupying 70 hectares of area, resembled a large-scale amphitheater. Built from marble-like limestone, the walls were eleven meters high and two meters thick. Conventionally, the fort can be divided into two parts: the citadel and external fortifications. The fortress housed more than thirty towers, each of which bore the name of a consul or the Pope. On the reverse side they were surrounded by a deep ditch. It performed not only a defensive function, but also drained stormwater into the sea.
It is interesting that restoration work has never been carried out on the territory of the fortress, which means that the entire panorama appears before the viewer in its original form, preserving the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. The fortress walls remained only in places, some of them were destroyed by time, some were dismantled by the population for personal construction. A fragment of the southern wall and the tower of St. Clement and Crisco are well preserved. From the sea side you can see the towers of Constantine, the Round and Dock.
Entrance to the territory is absolutely free. But those wishing to visit the internal museum exhibitions will have to buy a ticket. Both group and individual excursions are available.
How to get there
From the Feodosia railway station or the main bus station, take minibuses No. 14, 2a and 1. Get off at the “Most” stop. On the central embankment near the Aivazovsky Gallery, you can arrange an excursion route in an electric car. If you get from the beach on foot, you need to go towards the “Kameshki” beach. From there it’s a stone’s throw to the Tower of Constantine.
Although Feodosia itself is incomparably ancient, the Genoese fortress, located on its outskirts, is the oldest historical structure that has survived to this day. Outwardly, it is quite similar to, but they cannot be called twin sisters: the similarity is rather a tribute to the fortification traditions that were dominant at that time, largely progressive in the 14th century, when they were built.
The scale of the Feodosian fort was disproportionately large; it was assigned a much larger role in protecting the borders of the Genoese possessions in the Crimea, which it confidently coped with before the conquest of the peninsula by the Ottoman Turks. And yet it is known to others - it was from here, from Kafa, that in 1347, a plague epidemic called the Black Death entered Europe on Genoese ships and wiped out more than a third of the population on the continent in 4 years.
Where is the Cafe located in Feodosia?
The main structures are located on a hill, on the outskirts in the southern part of the resort city, along Portovaya Street. They rise some distance from the sea, above the coast of the Feodosia Gulf.
Fortress on the map of Crimea
History of origin
In the middle of the 13th century, the merchants of Genoa bought a small Greek town from Berke, khan of the Golden Horde - this was their first possession in Crimea, from where influence soon spread to the entire southeastern part of the peninsula.
On the site of the polis, which was in complete decline, a colony founded by the Genoese grew, which soon turned into the richest and most prosperous city in the northern part of the Black Sea. This was facilitated by its favorable geographical location, thanks to which Kafa became a kind of bridge between Europe and Asia, where all the wealth of the Caucasus, Horde, Rus' and the Northern Black Sea region flowed.
Along with the volume of trade, the settlement also grew, and in 1320 it became a kind of capital of the Crimean possessions of Genoa. Its population during this period was approximately 70 thousand people, the same number living in London at that time. The influence and power of Kafa was so great that starting from the 14th century, they began to mint their own coins, which circulated far beyond the borders of Taurida.
Naturally, having such wealth, Kafa needed reliable protection, and in 1340 the construction of fortifications began on the shore of the bay, capable of securing the approaches from the sea and land. The construction of the fortification took only 3 years, but it became the largest and most powerful in Europe - the total length of its walls exceeded 5.5 km, and their height reached 11 m with a thickness of 2 m, it had more than 30 towers and about 10 gates.
The tragic fate of the bastion
It’s strange, but throughout its entire existence, some kind of fate seemed to hover over the Genoese fortress in Feodosia. Already two years after its construction, in 1345, the Horde khan Janibek tried to capture Kafa, but he could not take it right away, the new phot became an insurmountable obstacle, and a long, grueling siege began. As a result, both the townspeople and the defenders of the fortress suffered incredible hardships, but the besiegers themselves suffered no less - in the summer of 1346, a plague broke out in their camp.
To force the garrison to surrender, the Tatars began to throw the bodies of dead soldiers behind the fortress walls - the pestilence spread among the besieged. Without waiting for capitulation, the Horde left, but the terrible infection grew into an epidemic, the victims of which were more than half of the inhabitants of Kafa, and soon a significant part of Europe.
In 1475, like Feodosia itself, the Genoese fortress fell under the blows of the Ottoman Empire, the majority of the population was either killed or sold into slavery, and the city itself was destroyed to the ground. During the time of Turkish rule, the largest slave market in Crimea was located here.
The fate of the bastion also affected the Turks, when in 1616 the Cossacks, under the leadership of Hetman Peter Sagaidachny, captured the fortifications and completely destroyed the numerous Ottoman garrison. When Crimea became part of the Russian Empire, the Kafa fortress lost its defensive and strategic significance; it was abandoned, gradually destroyed and stolen for building materials by residents of the growing Feodosia.
Tour of the Genoese fortress
Now the preservation of the medieval fortress in Feodosia leaves much to be desired; by and large, little remains of it. However, it is one of the most interesting places to visit in the resort, as evidenced by the numerous rave reviews from those who have visited it. Romantic ruins have an amazing attractive force that acts on tourists like a magnet.
It's all about the unique spirit of antiquity, like an invisible aura, hovering over the ancient, dilapidated walls of the once powerful Genoese stronghold. 
It may seem strange, but it is the current state of the fort that attracts travelers here, fascinated primarily by the fact that during all this time not a single stone has been touched by the tools of restorers. Until today, virtually nothing remains of the outer ring of fortifications, except for individual elements in the form of small sections of the fortress wall and the remains of towers scattered throughout the city limits quite far from each other.
The citadel is much better preserved, especially its southwestern section, represented by a 470 m long wall with completely intact towers of St. Clement and Crisco. This area often appears in numerous photos dedicated to. The bridge leading to the fortification, as well as impressive fragments of the fortress moat, Turkish baths and five 14th-century churches next to it, are well preserved.
How to get to the fortress?
Don’t know how to get to the Genoese fortress of Feodosia? The easiest way is by minibus No. 1, departing from Goncharova Street. You should get off at the stop “Gor. Hospital”, from here to the attraction is about 500 m, a map will not hurt.
By car from the center of Feodosia you can get to the fortress in this way:
Note to tourists
- Address: Portovaya street, Feodosia, Crimea, Russia.
- Coordinates: 45.023089, 35.400766.
In the city of Feodosia, the Genoese fortress of Kafa presents an unforgettable sight: you should not trust the comments where it is called a “sad place.” There are also such, but not many - they are left by people with not the best taste, devoid of an adventurous streak and romantic trends. The most eloquent evidence of the opposite is the status of the fortification, and it, by the way, is a historical reserve! Below is a video about this monument of the past in Feodosia. Enjoy watching!
Genoese fortress in Feodosia (Kafa)
- a medieval defensive fortification built by the Genoese Republic in the 14th century to defend the largest city in Crimea - Kafa. It is located in the southern part of the city of Feodosia and is a historical monument and landmark of this city.
History of the Genoese fortress in Feodosia (Kafa)
Feodosia is the oldest city, which was founded 2500 years ago by colonies of the ancient Greeks. They gave the city its name, which translates as “given by God.” In the 13th century, the Genoese founded their city on the territory of Feodosia and named it Kafa. And in the 14th century, the Genoese fortress was built.
The fortress was built to protect the city of Kafa, and it consisted of two lines of defense:
1. Citadels
2. External fortifications
Citadel built in 1340-1343 around Quarantine Hill. The citadel was located on the slopes of the mountains, which created serious obstacles for enemies. It took another 10 years for the fortress to be completed.
Building materials for the construction of the citadel were extracted from the rocks of the mountains that were located around the city, and building material was also found at the bottom of the sea.
The walls of the citadel were 718 meters long (469 meters have survived). The height of the walls was 11 meters and the thickness was 2 meters.
Length external fortifications reached almost 5.5 kilometers and had about 30 towers. Each tower was given its own unique name, usually the names of the consuls under whom it was built or the name of one of the Popes. To increase protection, a deep ditch was dug under the walls; it also served as a channel for draining stormwater into the sea. The plan of the city fortress resembled an amphitheater, the center of which was the Feodosia Bay.
The citadel housed all strategically important objects, including: the treasury, the consul's palace, the courthouse, warehouses and stores with valuable goods (precious metals, expensive fabrics). The second line of walls surrounded the city itself with shops, a market and the houses of ordinary city residents.
In the 19th century, when the city was already part of the Russian Empire, the main part of the structures of the Genoese fortress of Kafa was dismantled. Local residents used materials from the fortress to build their houses, fences, and sheds. A part of the southern wall of the citadel with two towers (the Crisco Tower and the Tower of St. Clement) has survived to this day. The best preserved tower is Clement's Tower; next to the tower you can see the fortress gate, which used to be at a height of 2 meters from the surface. The gate was entered and exited using ladders.
In addition, part of the western wall, gate pylons and several towers in different places of the city (Dock, Constantine, Thomas, Consul Giovanni di Scaffa) have been preserved. Several churches, a bridge and Turkish baths have also been preserved on the territory of the citadel.
History of Kafa
In 1226, merchants from Genoa bought the ruins of Feodosia from the Tatar Khan Oran-Timur and built their city there under the name Kafa.
Already in 1316, Kafa became the main center of the Black Sea region. In the early stages of its existence, the city was subject to raids and needed serious protection. Therefore, in 1340 they began to build a stone, impregnable fortress. The Genoese created the fortress using the advanced technologies of European engineers of that time, based on the experience of fighting both on land and on water. The perimeter of the fortress covered an area of 17 hectares. The walls reached a height of 11 meters and a thickness of 2 meters. In especially vulnerable places militarily, areas were fortified most carefully. As a result, the Genoese fortress became one of the best defensive structures of that era.
Thanks to the fortress, Kafa became the largest center of international trade, the most beautiful city in Europe, amazing with the splendor of its temples and the luxury of its palaces.
A huge amount of goods were transported to Europe through Kafa: wheat, gold, jewelry, fabrics, salt, oriental spices and much more.
The city became prosperous and rich. There were hundreds of merchant ships in the ports. Sometimes there were not enough piers for newly arriving ships.
During its heyday, Kafa surpassed many European cities in beauty and size. The population of the city was 70 thousand people. There were more than 20 thousand houses, more than 100 churches, a whole system of wells, pools and grottoes in Café. The city was decorated with monumental palaces and temples built by the best Italian craftsmen.
People of different nationalities lived here: Italians, Greeks, Armenians, Russians, Tatars, Karaites. Kafa, as a multinational city, had a number of religious denominations living in peace and harmony. The townspeople were extremely religious. Kafa was famous for its huge number of Turkish and Tatar mosques, Greek, Orthodox and Armenian churches. Only 9 medieval temples have survived to this day.
It should be noted that the Cafe was home to a large colony of Russian people with Russian Orthodox churches.
The most expensive commodity that this city traded were slaves. Kafa was the center of the slave trade in the Black Sea basin. Here the slave market was famous under the Genoese and, later, under the Turks.
In 1345, Khan Janibek besieged the city with a large army. It is unknown how long the city would have been able to hold out under the siege if the Tatar army had not been struck by the plague. Danibek used throwing weapons to throw the corpses of the infected beyond the walls of the fortress into the city. A terrible disease broke out in the Cafe. The plague forced many residents to leave the city and go home to Genoa. And where they stopped, there were pockets of disease. As a result, the Black Death infected the whole of Europe and claimed the lives of 80 million people, a quarter of the population of Europe at that time.
But after such a disaster, Kafa quickly recovered. She captured the Venetian port of Sugdea and the Genoese began to own the Black and Azov Seas.
In 1475, Kafa again came under siege. This time the Turks, with the support of the Tatars, besieged Kafa and after a few weeks the city surrendered. Having captured the city, the Turks first destroyed it, and then quickly rebuilt it and renamed it Kefe.
* - Apartments in Feodosia for daily rent
Genoese fortress in Feodosia, video:
Where is the Genoese fortress in Feodosia? Here, you can look at it on the map.
It will be most convenient to start your acquaintance from the railway station. Here, in the nearest park, you will come across the Tower of Constantine, which is not poorly preserved. Then you will need to walk along Gorky Street and after half an hour turn left, this road will just lead to the ruins of the Genoese fortress in Feodosia.
How many Genoese fortresses are there in Crimea?
By the way In total, there are three Genoese fortresses in Crimea: in Feodosia, Sudak and Balaklava. The best preserved one is in Sudak.
Photo of the Genoese fortress in Feodosia:
This entry was posted in. Bookmark the .
Posted By website on 05.08.2011
Kafa Feodosia fortress educational excursion.
I just want to say how many words there are in this sound... It’s worth mentioning right away that the fortress itself was to a very large extent dismantled by local residents to build outbuildings in past centuries. Only one northern side of the fortress and several of its towers have survived to this day.
But it was preserved quite well. Its height immediately catches your eye.
It is recommended to walk under the groans and sit on the walls themselves.
It is worth noting, however, that the territory of the fortress, since at the time of the visit, was not guarded and anyone could pass through, it was accordingly not cleaned. Therefore, the mountains of garbage - bottles left by tourists - somewhat spoiled the impression.
From a historical point of view, one of the largest and most famous slave markets was located in the Genoese city of Cafa. When they arrived... the Genoese abandoned the fortress without a fight and sailed away on ships. Orthodox churches are located on the outer side of the fortress wall. One was restored, the second was newly built on the basis of an ancient Orthodox church. When you enter, you are simply afraid to step on a floor that is at least several centuries old.
Fortress Kafa Feodosia website .avi:
The church that has survived is even more interesting. An Orthodox excursion is held here around 6 p.m.
If this is close to you, I advise you to visit. Since in the surviving church there are semi-preserved ancient frescoes attributed by some scientists to the painting of Theophanes the Greek. And just looking at them is of course just as interesting. But when they tell you what historical people drew them, and what meaning they conveyed... believe me, it is many times more interesting and informative.
You can get to the fortress from the center by minibus... or walk on foot if you wish, of course.
The city was vast and rich. There were hundreds of merchant galleys in the port. There were sometimes not enough piers for arriving ships. The multilingual conversation of dozens of nationalities was heard: Greeks and Italians, Armenians and Jews, Ukrainians and Bulgarians, Karaites and Tatars lived here.
In Cafe there were about 20 thousand houses, over a hundred churches and mosques, more than a hundred fountains, a whole system of drainage wells, pools and grottoes, the remains of which archaeologists still find today. The city was decorated with monumental palaces and temples built by the best masters of the Italian Renaissance.
But all this splendor also had a downside: Kafa was a slave trading city. Historical documents indicate that in the 12th - 15th centuries Kafa was the center of the slave trade in the basin; its slave market was known both under the Genoese and, later, under the Turks.
Kafa Feodosiya fortress on the map:
Similar material.
