On June 8^th, there will be two free tours for all the conference participants. Sign for a tour of your choice at the conference registration desk.

The Southern Crimean coast tour includes a visit to the Vorontsov Palace and park in Alupka, Swallow Nest, and Yalta.

The route of this bus tour goes along the Southern Crimean coast. The tour interweaves the region's history with its unique nature and gives you a chance to see a major part of the Crimean Coast.

The acquaintance with the Southern Crimea will start in Alupka, a small resort town located 17 km away from Yalta. It is regarded as the heart of the Southern Coast. From the sea, Alupka looks like a huge rock staircase crowned by the jagged pinnacle of Ai-Petri Mountain.

Alupka is famous for its landmark, the Vorontsov Palace and a surrounding beautiful park. The palace was built in the 30-s and 40-s of the XIX century for one of the richest persons in Russia, Count Mikhail Vorontsov. The palace was designed by a British architect Edward Blor under a supervision of William Gunt. It is perfectly integrated into the surrounding scenery and presents a remarkable monument to romanticism.

The palace billiard room hosts a collection of West European Art of XI-XVIII centuries.
The Library collection has 25 thousand volumes in several European languages on history, geography, art, philosophy, economy, astronomy, navigation, and agriculture.

The palace is surrounded by a picturesque park, a real masterpiece of gardening and landscape architecture created by German gardener Karl Kebach. In total, over 200 kinds of exotic plants and trees grow on its territory.

En route to the next stop you will see the so-called Swallow Nest, which resembles a fanciful medieval castle perched on a cliff towering over the sea. This miniature castle has become a symbol of the Crimea. It was built in 1911-1912 for Baron V. Schneigel by architect L.V. Sherwood. In 1927, the castle survived a strong earthquake.

You will also visit Yalta, the Pearl of the Crimea. This capitol of Crimean resorts is located in a big mountain amphitheatre in the valley of two rivers- Uchan-Su and Derekoy. From North, West, and East the town is surrounded by Yajla mountain ridge protecting the seashore from cold northern winds. This fortunate location creates perfect weather conditions. Yalta became a fashionable resort in late 19^th century with the construction of the White Livadia Palace meant to be a summer residence of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II.

There are over 300 monuments on the territory of Greater Yalta. This town is associated with the names of many well-known people: Griboyedov, Nekrasov, Tolstoy, Bunin, Chekhov, and others

You will have some free time in Yalta to enjoy the most famous and beautiful Crimean town.

Departure from Sudak - 7 am (after early breakfast)
Departure from Yalta - 4-5 pm
Arriving in Sudak – approximately 9pm

Koktebel… Sounds like French, but this word is of Turkic origin (Kok-Tope-El – The Land of Blue Pinnacles). During the tour you will have a chance to enjoy the picturesque mountain view and get information about Karadag natural reserve, the youngest in the Crimea. It embraces old volcanic-origin forest highlands stretching between Meganom and Kiikatlama peninsula. At this peculiar museum created by nature itself, one can find hundred million years of Earth history.

Koktebel is associated with life and creative work of Maksimilian Voloshin. A poet, artist, expert of local lore, amateur archeologist who had found the remains of an old settlement nearby Koktebel, Voloshin couldn't imagine himself away from his homeland.

M. Voloshin donated his home to the Writers Union and thus was established the Koktebel House of Creative Work. Since 1974, the poet's memorial home has become a department of literature of Feodosia Art Gallery.

The memorial home hosts a unique library that Voloshin started to collect in Paris. It also has the best collection of Voloshin paintings and watercolors (over fifteen hundred!) as well as works by his friend K.F. Bogaevskij.

Of big interest is the collection of Voloshin's portraits made by K.S. Petrov-Vodkin, A.Ya. Golovin, E.S. Kruglikova, A.P. Ostroumova Lebedeva, G.S. Verejskij. Two Voloshin's portraits have been painted by a famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera.

During the tour you will visit the "Koktebel" winery. It is one of the largest wineries in the Crimea producing a variety of brandies: Krym, Koktebel, Kutuzov, vintage dry and dessert wine, and liquors. You will see the process of making dessert and dry wine and will be offered 8 kinds of savor Koktebel wines to taste, and two brandies, charged separately.

You will see the pearl of Koktebel winery – the famous Koktelbel Madeira department.

Having enjoyed Koktebel wine and brandies you may buy your favorites at the winery store.

During the tour you will have free time for lunch and a sea front walk (lunch to-go + in a cafй on your choice)

Departure – 9 am, after breakfast

Departure from Koktebel – 5:30 pm

Arriving in Sudak – 7 pm, before dinner