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Crimea's History
Greeks, Persians, Romans, Goths, Huns, Bulgars, Khazars, Mongols, Kieven Rus, Venetians, Genoese, Turks, Russians and Germans have all conquered this beautiful Black Sea peninsula over time. Long before the Greeks established colonies in Crimea in the 5nd Century BC, Crimea was home to a thriving civilisation of Cimmerians. During the Dark and Middle Ages Crimea was fought over by all nearby powers but in 1441 fell to the Turkish Ottoman Empire which remained until 1783, when Crimea was annexed by the Russian Empire. Intermarriage of races eventually formed the Crimean Tartar race and language under Ottoman rule. During the Crimean War of 1853-56 much of the territory was devastated and large numbers of locals left. In WWII the Germans overran Crimea in fierce fighting but the Red Army returned in 1944. In revenge for some Tartar support of Nazi Germany the entire population was deported to Soviet Central Asia.
Our Pick
The Swallows Nest restaurant, overlooking the Black Sea is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable dinners you’ll ever enjoy. Book ahead and enjoy the fairytale setting. 
Right Now
In 1954 the Soviet Union transferred Crimea from Russia to Ukraine. Consequently since the USSR broke up in 1991, Crimea has been an Autonomous Republic within Ukraine. The Crimean Tartars were forgiven for their ‘crimes’ and permitted to return and now make up about 18% of the population while Russians make up 52%. Fertile soils in Crimea underpin the agricultural basis of the economy and since Tsarist times, Crimea has been a favoured tourism hotspot with warm weather, spectacular Black Sea scenery and plenty of water sport activities to enjoy. Western tourists are yet to discover the charms of Crimea in large numbers.
