Yalta, Crimea Region, Ukraine

🇺🇦 Yalta is a resort city on the south coast of the Crimean Peninsula surrounded by the Black Sea. It serves as the administrative centre of Yalta Municipality, one of the regions within Crimea. Yalta, along with the rest of Crimea, is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine, and is considered part of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. However, it is de facto occupied by Russia, which annexed Crimea in 2014 and regards the town as part of the Republic of Crimea.

The city is located on the site of the ancient Greek colony of Yalita. It is said to have been founded by the Greek settlers who were looking for a safe shore (Γιαλός, yalos in Greek) on which to land. It is situated on a deep bay facing south towards the Black Sea, surrounded by the mountain range Ai-Petri. It has a warm humid subtropical climate and is surrounded by numerous vineyards and orchards.

The area became famous when the city held the Yalta Conference as part of the Allied World War II conferences in 1945.

The term "Greater Yalta" is used to designate a part of the Crimean southern coast spanning from Foros in the west to Gurzuf in the east and including the city of Yalta and multiple adjacent urban settlements.

History: 21st century Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Yalta has struggled economically. Many of the nouveaux riches of ex-Soviet citizens began going to other European holiday resorts, now that they had the freedom and money to travel; conversely, the impoverishment of many ex-Soviet citizens meant that they could no longer afford to go to Yalta. The town's transport links have been significantly reduced with the end of almost all passenger traffic by sea. The longest trolleybus line in Europe goes from the train station in Simferopol to Yalta (almost 90 km). Yalta is crowded in the vacation season (July–August) and prices for accommodation are very high. Most of the tourists are from countries of the former Soviet Union; in 2013, about 12% of tourists to the Crimea were Westerners from more than 200 cruise ships.

Yalta has a beautiful seafront promenade along the Black Sea. People can be seen strolling there all seasons of the year, and it also serves as a place to gather and talk, to see and be seen. There are several beaches to the east and west of the promenade. Many kinds of pine trees (Stone pine and Aleppo pine for an example), oleander shrubs, lemon and olive trees and different sorts of palm trees such as the Chinese windmill palm, the Mexican fan palm and the Canary Island date palm are scattered all over the city. The town has several movie theaters, a drama theater, plenty of restaurants, and several open-air markets.

Two beaches in Yalta are Blue Flag beaches since May 2010, these were the first beaches (with two beaches in Yevpatoria) to be awarded a Blue Flag in a CIS member state.

In 2014, Russia, in violation of international law, invaded Crimea and claimed it as part of Russia.

Tourist Industry Famous attractions within or near Yalta are: • Yalta's Sea Promenade (Naberezhnaya), housing many attractions, which was renovated in 2003 and 2004. • Saint Hripsime Church of Yalta, an Armenian Church, with frescoes by V. Surenyants • A Roman Catholic Church built by Nikolay Krasnov • Yalta's cable car, taking visitors to the Darsan hill, from which one can see Yalta's shoreline • Renovated Hotel Taurica, the first hotel in the former Russian Empire with elevators • Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, constructed by the architect Krasnov, who also constructed the Livadia Palace and the architect P. Terebenyov • Former main building of the Ministry of Defence hotel, built in the style of a Gothic castle • Palace of Bukhara Emir • Yalta's Zoo • Yalta's Aquarium, housing small dolphins • Park-museum Polyana Skazok (Glade of Fairytales) • White Dacha – House-museum of Anton Chekhov • House-museum of Lesya Ukrainka • House with Caryatids, where the composer A. Spendiarov lived • Yalta Hotel Complex • Roffe Bath, historical monument

Moreover, Yalta's suburbs contain: • Foros Church • Nikitsky Botanical Garden (Nikita) • Livadia Palace (Livadiya) • Organ hall in Livadiya • Massandra Palace (Massandra) • Massandra Winery and Vaults • International children's centre of Artek(Gurzuf) • Ai-Petri Mountain (1233 metres high, with a cable car traveling to and from the mountain) • Alupka Palace • Swallow's Nest castle near Gaspra. • Tsar's Path hiking trail.