Kerch antiquities
| City: | Kerch |
| Name of tour: | Kerch antiquities |
| Duration: | 8 hours |
| Min/max pax participation: | N/A |
| Attraction/places visited: | Ruins of Ancient Panticapaeum, 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, Eni Kale fortress, Tsar’s Burial Mound |
| Meals and beverages served: | Lunch at the restaurant “Kerch” |
Tour description
20-minute coach drive takes you from the center of the town 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. Then you will visit the Ottoman fortress of Eni Kale erected in 1703 with the assistance of French military engineers.
Have a lunch at the best restaurant of the town tasting the best dishes of Kerch cuisine.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).
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.
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.
And at last visit the Mithridate Mountain top with 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 – theresidenceof 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 World Monuments Watch List of 100 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.
Overnight at the hotel, dinner, animation program - the ancient and modern Greek songs performing by Kerch Greek National society.
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)
Tourist agency “Vega-Tour” provides: accommodation, meals, entrance fees, transport (coaches, buses for transfers and excursions), guides, interpreters, animation program and souvenirs.
