Ancient cafe. Genoese fortress in Feodosia. Kafa Feodosia fortress educational tour

Kafa: Kafa is the name of the city of Feodosia in the 12th-15th centuries, in Russian sources until the 18th century. see Genoese fortress in Feodosia. Kafa people in Ethiopia Kafa is an ancient Kabardian folk mass dance ... Wikipedia

Name of the city of Feodosia in Crimea, other Russian. Cafe, Skaz. Mom. 49, Afan. Nikit., as well as Shambinago, PM 72 et seq.; Wed Greek Καφᾶς (Const. Bagr., De adm. imp. 53), it. Caffa (XIV century; see Vasmer, Iranier 72). Wed. Arab. tour. kafa skull (Radlov 2, 459) ... Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language by Max Vasmer

- (Kaffa) the name of the city of Feodosia in Crimea from the 2nd half. 13th century, renamed in 1783 ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

KAFA (Kaffa), the name of the city of Feodosia in Crimea from the 2nd half. 13th century, renamed in 1783 ... encyclopedic Dictionary

I Kafa is an ancient Kabardian folk mass dance. The pace is moderate. Musical time signature is 6/8 or 3/4. Performed in pairs. The dancers are accompanied by a woman on the harmonica. Without interrupting the game, she also joins in the dance. K. begins and... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Cafe- Kefe from the ancient Italian “skull”, the medieval name of Feodosia... Toponymic Dictionary of Crimea

"Kaffa" request is redirected here; see also other meanings. This article should be Wikified. Please format it according to the rules for formatting articles... Wikipedia

Landscapes of the city of Feodosia. Legend: Delta-marine plain ... Wikipedia

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 south-eastern 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 exterminated 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!

The city of Feodosia is home to the second largest fortress after Thessaloniki in Greece. It is called the Genoese fortress of Kafa and is one of the most interesting ancient monuments of Fedosia.

The history of this ancient citadel is very interesting, but most visiting tourists do not know it, and do not even suspect that this fortress once had as many as 2 rows of walls that enclosed more than seventy hectares of land. Today, almost nothing remains of the remarkable Greek architecture: in the 4th century, the fortress was almost completely destroyed due to the invasion of the Huns.

Foundation of the city and the fortress itself
After the founding of the city, it received the name “Second Genoa”. It was built by the Genoese on the ruins of the ancient Hellenic city. They ruled the built city for another two hundred years.

The Tatar Khan Oran-Timur owned the ancient Fedossian ruins near the city until 1226, until Genoese merchants bought them. After this, construction of a new Kafa fortress began on the site of the ruins. The construction of the citadel was completed, and it became the center of the Genoese possessions along the entire Black Sea coast.

Ancient Kafa
The city was very multinational. Completely different peoples lived peacefully in it, for example Tatars, Greeks, Armenians, Italians, Bulgarians, Karaites and many others. Kafa received a huge number of merchant ships in its port every day. Sometimes there were so many of them that the port simply could not accommodate them all at once. This stronghold of the Genoese colonies in the Black Sea region was very rich and extensive. It also became the center of trade for the entire Black Sea coast. Gold, silver, precious stones, wheat and oriental spices came to Europe through the city.

The architecture of the city and its fortifications were made in the Venetian style. A huge number of houses (over twenty thousand), hundreds of mosques and churches, an entire water supply system, countless fountains, pools and grottoes. The city contained palaces and temples built by the best Italian masters of the Renaissance.

Fortress today
Today, little remains of this magnificent fortress. The invasions of the Huns and Golden Ordians, the plague epidemic forced most of the city's residents to leave their homes, fleeing. By the 19th century, almost all the fortifications of the fortress were dismantled. Only part of the western gate, several towers, the citadel itself, a couple of churches and a bridge have remained to this day. Although this is only an echo of the former greatness of ancient Kafa, it still amazes with the splendor of its architecture and attracts many tourists who want to touch the spirit of antiquity.

Address
Feodosia, between st. Korabelnaya and st. Port

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.

Fortress views

In plan, the Kafa fortress, occupying 70 hectares of area, resembled a large-scale amphitheater. The walls, built from marble-like limestone, 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.

Ancient Feodosia fell in the 4th century. AD during the invasion of the Huns. In the centuries that followed, life barely glimmered here. In the XIII-XIV centuries. on the ruins of the ancient city of the Hellenes, a new one arose, called Cafe; for two centuries it was owned by the Genoese.

One of the tragic events in the history of Europe is connected with Kafa - the plague epidemic in 1347-1351. In 1347, a plague broke out among the Golden Horde troops of Dzhenibek, who were laying siege to Kafa, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers. Unable to take possession of the fortress, the Tatars, using catapults, began to throw the corpses of the dead over the defensive walls into the city. The disease broke into Cafa, and the Genoese were forced to leave the fortress, fleeing on ships. Where they stopped on the way to Genoa, pockets of a terrible disease arose. The plague claimed 75 million human lives - a quarter of the population of Europe. This epidemic is mentioned in the Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio.

In the Middle Ages, Kafa was the main trading port of the Northern Black Sea region. It was also notorious as the main center of the slave trade in Crimea.

During the heyday of the medieval city, the population was approximately the same as in today's Feodosia - about 70-100 thousand people.

It was a multinational city, distinguished by religious diversity: in the 15th century. there were 17 Catholic churches, 2 monasteries, more than 40 Armenian churches, Orthodox churches, synagogues, and Muslim mosques.

In the summer of 1475, Cafa was captured by the Ottoman Turks. The city was renamed Keffe and became the center of the Crimean province of the Turkish Sultan. Here was the residence of the Sultan's governor in Crimea.

The Turks, who destroyed many buildings during the capture of Kafa, thoroughly rebuilt the city in their own way, decorating it with mosques, minarets, and oriental bathhouse buildings.

Keffe was still the main slave market in Crimea. “Seagulls” of Zaporozhye Cossacks appeared more than once at the walls of Keffe. In 1616, for example, the Cossacks, under the leadership of Hetman Konashevich-Sagaidachny, captured Sinop and Trebizond, and then with a sudden blow destroyed the entire Turkish fleet stationed in the bay and, having taken Keffe by storm, freed several thousand slaves intended for sale into slavery. The Cossacks took possession of the fortress and later rescued their compatriots from captivity.