Sochi

Hotels

Sochi (Russian: Сочи) is a Russian resort city, situated in Krasnodar Krai near the southern Russian border. It is located among the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus Mountains overlooking the shores of the Black Sea. At 147 km, Greater Sochi is claimed to bethe longest city in the world. As of the 2002 Census, it had a population of 328, 809; down from 336, 514 recorded in the 1989 Census.

Sochi stretches along the Black Sea coast at the foot of the western part of the main Caucasus mountain range. It was established in 1896 on the site of the former Navaginskoye fort and began developing as a resort area in 1902.

Protected from the cold north winds by the mountains and open to the warmth and moisture of the Black sea in the south Sochi has a surprisingly warm climate for the latitude; winter temperatures rarely fall much below freezing. The average summer high temperature ranges between +26 °C and +32 °C. There are about 200 days of sunshine a year.

The presence of mineral springs, attractive coastal and mountain scenery, long beaches, and the warm climate have made Sochi a large and popular holiday and health resort.

About two million people visit Greater Sochi each summer, when the city is home to many festivals and forums. This year the city has been selected to host the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014.

Sochi history

In 1838, the fort of Alexandria, renamed Navaginsky a year later, was founded at the mouth of the Sochi River as part of the Black Sea Coastal Line, a chain of fortifications set up to protect the area from recurring Circassian incursions. At the outbreak of the Crimean War, the garrison was evacuated from Navaginsky in order to prevent its capture by the Turks, who effected a landing on Cape Adler soon after.

During the Russian Civil War, the littoral area saw sporadic armed clashes involving the Red Army, White movement forces, and the Democratic Republic of Georgia. In 1923 Sochi acquired one of its most distinctive features, a railway which runs from Tuapse to Abkhazia within a mile or two of the coastline.

Following Russia's loss of the traditionally popular resorts of the Crimean peninsula, Sochi emerged as the unofficial summer capital of the country.

Sochi recreation

Sochi is almost alone among larger Russian cities as having the aspect of a subtropical resort. Apart from the scenic Caucasus Mountains, pebbly and sand beaches, the city attracts vacation-goers with its subtropical vegetation, numerous parks, monuments, and extravagant Stalinist architecture. About two million people visit Greater Sochi each summer, when the city is home to the annual film festival "Kinotavr" and a getaway for Russia's elite.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 2, 957 square kilometers Caucasian Biosphere Reserve, lies just north from the city. Sochi also has Europe's most northerly tea plantations. It is served by the Adler-Sochi International Airport. The Sochi Light Metro is being built, with construction projected to be complete by 2014.

Sochi’s hotels

Hotels, mini-hotels, sanatoriums and beaches of the city of Sochi are always ready to greet vacationers. Sanatoriums of Sochi will offer you not only a rest but lots of different entertainments within as well as in city itself. Usually Sochi hotels have got their own beaches, fully equipped, swimming pools, dance-floors, bowling and beauty-parlors.

Moreover, in the city there are lots of apartments for rent. If your need independence and personal freedom you’ll easily find a nice apartment or a cottage by the sea. It’s a big city, so sometimes it may be hard to find, that’s why you may use our site to do it quickly. Here (link) you may choose the best option.

Sochi museums

These are only some of the museums that any visitor of Sochi has to visit:
- Museum of the history of Adlerskiy district
- State literary-memorial museum N. Ostrovskiy
- Historical museum of Khostinskiy district
- Historical museum of the city of Sochi
- Sochi Art museum and so far

Architecture and sights:

Essential construction works in Sochi took place in 1930-s, leaded by A.V. Shiusev, L.A. Vesnin and I.V. Joltovskiy.

Michael Archangel Cathedral, a diminutive church built in 1873-91 to Kaminsky's designs in order to commemorate the victorious conclusion of the Caucasian War.

The red-granite Archangel Column, erected in 2006 in memory of the Russian soldiers fallen in Sochi during the Caucasian War. It is capped by a 7-metre bronze statue of Sochi's patron saint, Michael the Archangel.

Sochi Art Museum occupies a large building with a four-columned portico, completed in 1939. The elegant Neoclassical design is considered to be the masterpiece of Ivan Zholtovsky.

Arboretum, a large botanical garden with tropical trees from many countries and the Mayors Alley — the line of palm-trees planted by the mayors of different cities of the world.

The Winter Theatre (1934-37) is another rigorously Neoclassical edifice, surrounded by 88 Corinthian columns, with a pediment bearing the statues of Terpsichore, Melpomene and Thalia, all three cast by Vera Mukhina.

The Riviera Park was established by Aleksey Khludov's son in 1898 in the part of the city which later became known as Khludovskaya. The park is popular with tourists and local residents alike. It has a variety of attractions, including an outcrop of funny statues and a "glade of friendship" where magnolia trees were planted by every Soviet cosmonaut, among other notables.

Transports

Sochi has an extended infrastructure. It includes sea port, Adler airport and big railway station. No doubt, you will like a high-way going through the city along the Black Sea shore. You may also rent a car to move within the city, your trip will become even more pleasant. All the necessary information is in “Car rent in Sochi” section.

Taxi network is also developed in the city, so those who don’t like driving may use this service.

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