Yalta
Yalta has a fascinating history, the city is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony (yalos actually means “safe shore” in Greek) and is situated on a deep bay facing south towards the Black Sea, surrounded by wooded mountains. The city enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate with many vineyards and orchards in the vicinity. In the 12th century Yalta was first described as a Byzantine port. In the 14th century it became part of the Genoese trading colonies on the Crimean coast. The area was captured by the Ottoman Empire in the late 15th century and put under the rule of the Crimean Khanate. Yalta was annexed to the Russian Empire in 1783 sparking the Russo-Turkish War. Yalta newly became famous due to its being the site of the Yalta Conference, the famous wartime meeting of Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin on February 4–11, 1945 for the purpose of discussing Europe’s postwar reorganization. During Soviet times Yalta and the surrounding towns became famous as the Russian (now Ukrainian) Riviera, a major resort area full of guest houses, spas, rest houses and hotels that was especially popular with the Soviet Elite.
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