Balaklava was founded by ancient Greeks and originally had the name “Symbolon”. It was an important trading center. According to the legend it’s the place where Odyssey landed, and the daughter of Tsar Agamemnon made the bloody rites in the temple of the Virgin Goddess at the Fiolent cape.
During its history the city was conquered many times. Balaklava became famous for the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War.
There are more than 50 monuments in Balaklava dedicated to military fortitude in past wars, including the Great Patriotic War, the Crimean War and the Russian Civil War.
One of the monuments is an underground, formerly secret submarine base that was operational until 1991. The base was practically indestructible and was designed to survive a direct atomic hit. Balaklava was one of the most secret residential areas in the Soviet Union during that period. Today Balaklava is opened to the tourists. Everyone can enjoy its amazingly beautiful landscape and glorious history.