Travel to Crimea!

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Museum of Simferopol - exposition of former European Hotel

According to legend, the town was named Simferopol owing to its location: in ancient Greek the word “simferopolis” means “collector town”, “town at cross-roads”. Legend is legend, but the fact is that the town which had the role of a collector, of the centre of the Crimea, right from its birth does indeed stand at the cross-roads uniting the north, south, west and east of the peninsula Crimea. This is the town from which roads take millions of Ukrainian tourists and visitors from abroad to the sunny Crimea. These words head your excursion to Simferopol’ museum of its history.

Now Simferopol has more than 350,000 inhabitants who work at more than 400 industrial, transport, and building enterprises and many designing and scientific research organizations. The capital of Crimea is a busy cultural centre. But who knows how it was many – many years before.  What role did  Catherine II play and other Russian noble princes in Simferopol’ life in 1784, when Simferopol was officially established. The town celebrated 225th anniversary last year, but  not every Simferopol’s inhabitant was aware of the ancient Scythian tribes had lived there in 3rd century BC.  At museums exhibitions you will learn about Catherine II’s reforms as to Crimea, why did she come to Crimea with Joseph II, Emperor of Austria.

The huge part of museum is dedicated to outstanding people of Simferopol. The townsfolk preserve the memory of the visit here by Alexander Pushkin in 1820. He praised river Salgir in his rhymes, Russian poet really  enjoyed romantic walking along the longest Crimean river.

Servant of peace and of the Muses,

Forgetting love and glory here,

How soon again shall I behold you,

O merry banks of the Salghir?

During the Crimean War of 1854 -55 the surgeon Nikolaj Pirogov and the future clinical physician Sergei Botkin worked in the army hospital in Simferopol. The great Russian scientist Dmitry Mendeleyev was a teacher of chemistry at the local lycee. The lycee is still functioning, under number 1, and has high rate of educated pupils. Here  studied also the artist Ivan Aivazovski (his masterpieces you can see in Feodosia, all the paintings are in original), the outstanding mineralogist Alexander Fersman (now only

Fersman spent here his childhood and youth

ruins are left of his villa – (mountain road Simferopol – Alushta), and organizer and head of atomic science and technology in the USSR Igor Kurchatov.

The history of Simferopol is the history of Crimea, that is why the tourists who are interested in Crimean historical heritage, are to visit Museum of Simferopol.

Except the famous people who have lived or visited Simferopol, you will learn about main events in the history of USSR that also occurred Simferopol – the First Russian Revolution, the Great Patriotic War, the Crimean War.

Kebir Djami Mosque (the oldest building of Simferopol)

There are a lot of paintings where you can learn about former Simferopol’s appearance. The city consists of two parts : old city (Tatars settlement with mosque Kebir – Djami, orthodox Petr and Pavel’ s monastery and half destroyed Karaite’s church, earlier there was also Polish church) and modern city (founded by Catherine II)– parallel streets, now this is a business centre with lots of local cafes and restaurants.

There is also an extra exposition to Taras Shevchenko, famous Ukrainian writer, national hero of Ukrainian literature. A huge iron door (building was earlier the Saint Petersburg Bank) will lead you to “Simferopol’s treasures “ Now this room is under construction, there will be an exhibition of all banknotes used in Simferopol.

Many of the everyday items were favored by local citizens: furniture, books, photos, dishes, statues, paintings.

Petr-Pavel's monastery (first church of Simferopol)

The Museum of  Simferopol -  entrance fee – 5 grivnas($ 0,6).  Address of museum – Pushkina street, 17, close to Privat Bank, opposite marriage office.

Photos made by Traveltocrimea agency

Read related article :-

Simferopol’s cultural life

Learn about our city tours in Crimea –  CITY TOURS/TRAVELTOCRIMEA and

TOUR “Multicultural Spirit of Crimea” 6 days/5 nights

order our Simferopol/Simferopol airport taxi

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