The Genoese Fortress is one of the best-preserved medieval fortifications in the former Soviet Union, an extraordinary complex of towers, walls, and a citadel that occupies a dramatic rocky promontory above Sudak Bay. Built primarily in the 14th century by the Republic of Genoa, which controlled this coast from 1365 to 1475, the fortress replaced earlier Byzantine and Khazar structures on the same strategic headland.
The complex includes 14 defensive towers, the main gatehouse with its inscription recording the date of construction, the remains of a Byzantine temple converted to a mosque by the Ottomans, and an upper citadel with vertiginous views over the bay and the surrounding mountains. The walls are largely intact and can be walked in their entirety — allow two hours for a thorough visit. The fortress hosts an annual medieval festival in summer, when jousting and re-enactments bring some life to the stone ramparts.