Kerch antiquities
| Port: | Kerch |
| Name of tour: | Kerch antiquities |
| Duration: | 4.5 hours |
| Min/max pax participation: | N/A |
| Attraction/places visited: | Ruins of Ancient Panticapaeum, Tsars’ Burial Mound, Kerch Museum of Antiquities, Scythian and Greek Gold Chamber, Technological Model of Ancient Crypt devoted to goddess Demetra, the Church of St.John the Baptist |
| Meals and beverages served: | N/A |
| Final numbers due 24 hours prior to the tour | |
Tour description: 20-minute coach drive takes you from the seaport to the Mithridate Mountain top to the ruins of Panticapaeum – once the capital of Bosporan Kingdom ( IV century BC – V century AD). You’ll see Panticapaeum’s Acropolis, the ruins of Basilea – the residence of Bosporan Kings, the place of Mithridate VI Eupator’s death, the only Doric columns in Northern Black Sea area. The ancient city of Panticapaeum is listed in the World Monuments Watch List of 100 the Most Endangered Sites.
Enjoy the marvelous panorama of the town and the Kerch Strait – ancient Bosporus. According to the Ancient geographer Strabon there was a convenient harbor and about 30 docks on the Panticapaeum seashore. The breakwater was constructed for protecting the port. Its remnants are found on the bottom of the Strait nowadays. Then you will travel to the Tsars’ Burial Mound – the unique architectural monument of the IV century BC. There is only one similar mound in the world in Greece. After visiting the site you will have a short comfort-stop at the Kerch Seamen’s Club where toilets and soft drinks are available. 10-minute drive to Kerch Museum of Antiquities, one of the oldest museums in Ukraine (established in 1826) will bring you into the world of the archeological artifacts aged more than 2600 years. In the Golden Chamber see the incredibly beautiful gold Greek and Scythian jewelry found in Kerch. The most remarkable examples contain in Hermitage ( St. Peterbourg), State Historical Museum ( Moscow), Museum of Ukrainian Jewelry ( Kiev). 10-minute walk to the foot of the Mithridate Mountain will take you to the Museum “Technological Model of Demetra’s Crypt”. This is a modern copy of the crypt dated the 1st century AD, where the funeral camera and the wall paintings have been reproduced as they have originally been made by ancient artists. Continue to the Church of St.John the Baptist – the oldest church in Ukraine ( IX century AD) in two minutes walk from the museum. The most impressive part of the church is an old one, which looks now as it has been constructed by the Byzantine architects. You’ll learn some legends devoted to the church – the only building left undestroyed in Kerch after World War the second. En-route make a 30-minute stop to take photos near the stone Griffins – the ancient symbols of Kerch, to watch a small animation show when local people dressed in ancient costumes will involve you in a special ceremony of meeting guests in Kerch. You can taste special vine made as it has been made in Ancient times, dance Greek “sirtaki”, see ancient fights and buy some souvenirs.
Sample timing
| From | To | Tour element description |
|---|---|---|
| 14.00 | 14.15 | Leave port, travel by bus to the Mitridate Mountain |
| 14:15 | 14:45 | Excursion around the ruins of Ancient Panticapaeum |
| 14:45 | 15:05 | Drive to the Tsars’ Burial Mound |
| 15:05 | 15:30 | Visiting the Tsars’ Burial Mound |
| 15:30 | 15:45 | Drive to the Seamen’s Club |
| 15:45 | 16:00 | Comfort-stop |
| 16:00 | 16:10 | Travel by bus to Kerch Museum of Antiquities |
| 16:10 | 16:50 | Visiting the museum and the Gold Chamber |
| 16:50 | 17:00 | Walk from the museum to the |
| 17:00 | 17:40 | Visiting the Crypt, the Church of St.John the Baptist |
| 17:40 | 18:10 | Animation show “Ancient Kerch meets the guests” |
| 18:10 | 18:30 | Drive to port |
Tour information
- Walking difficulty - medium
- Amount of walking – 3.5 hours (incl. museums)
- Dressing advise – comfortable shoes
- Dress code – N/A
- Shopping opportunities – good souvenirs in Technological Model of Ancient Crypt devoted to the goddess Demetra
- Type of transport – buses (Mercedes, Neoplan)
- Location of toilets – Kerch Museum of Antiquities, Seamen’s Club
- Photo/video – FOC, flash allowed (except the Gold Chamber)
