Kafa is a city that has flourished and fallen, sheltered representatives of different nations on its land, has a rich history and very beautiful nature. It was originally called Theodosia, references to which can be found in Homer's poem "The Odyssey". Kafa in different historical periods was a center of trade and repeatedly drowned in blood… The city, like a phoenix, rose from the ashes, rebuilt to spite all enemies. Today Feodosia is a wonderful resort that hosts a huge number of tourists.
Ancient history of the city
There is practically no reliable information left about the first settlers of Kafa, only myths and legends. It is known that at the end of the VI century BC. e. Greek ships came from Miletus to the bay. The colonists liked the area, the gentle coast, so they stopped here and founded a trading port. Thanks to trade, Kafa grew and became rich in a short time. The city already in the IV century BC. e. competed with the influential Panticapaeum. Of course, it was not without trouble. For several decades, the Bosporan kingdom attacked Theodosia, trying to subdue it. The city has experienced ups and downswas badly damaged in the middle of the 4th century AD. e. after the invasion of the Huns. Up to the XII century. the future Kafa lay in ruins.
Genoese Settlement
In the XIII century, Kafa passed into the possession of merchants from Genoa. Feodosia at that time belonged to the Tatars. The merchants bought a plot of land from them and named it Kafa. They quickly rebuilt the city, defended it with a powerful fortification with high walls and towers, as well as a huge moat filled with water. Favorable geographical position allowed Cafe to become a major port, it was here that trade routes leading to the West and East intersected. Merchants transported furs, wheat, jewelry, s alt, wax, oriental spices and, of course, slaves. Here was the largest slave market in Crimea.
Life in the Cafe could not be called calm: the Genoese were constantly at war with the Tatars and their competitors - the Venetian merchants. Despite the well-planned attacks of enemies, the city survived, rebuilt and continued to trade. People of various nationalities lived here: Greeks, Armenians, Russians, Tatars, Jews and others.
War with the Turks
In 1475 Kafa completely passed to the Turks. The city was devastated at first, but as soon as the conquerors realized how profitable it could be, they immediately rebuilt it. Kafa continued to be a major trading port; up to four hundred ships could stop here at the same time. Slaves were the main commodity. In 1616, an army of Cossacks came here, who freed their compatriots from captivity and completely defeated the Turkishfleet. There were also raids in 1628 and 1675.
Joining Russia
In 1783 Kafa passed to the Russians. The city, which for three centuries was considered Turkish, now belonged to the Taurida province. Empress Catherine II renamed it Feodosia again. Since then, a period of destruction began. The former great and rich port could no longer recover, the buildings were destroyed, trade with other countries was stopped. The Russians freed the city from duties, but this did little to save it. Only at the end of the 19th century Feodosia began to revive, to develop a resort area.
At first, the city suffered from the consequences of the First World War, but then, during the formation of Soviet power, it was not easier. But gradually the former Kafa began to turn into an industrial center. Brick and hydro-lime factories, a meat-packing plant, tobacco and knitwear factories appeared here. The city of Feodosia was badly damaged during the Second World War, only in 1944 people began to rebuild it little by little.
Modern Feodosia
Today the city is a major cultural and industrial center of the Crimea. Feodosia is annually visited by tourists from Asia and Europe, who are attracted by the local he alth resorts, good beaches, and delicious wines.
