Nikitsky Botanical Garden in Yalta is the oldest park in Crimea and one of the most visited attractions of the Southern Coast of Crimea. Initially it was created as a place for growing planting material, but nowadays it has become one of the most beautiful Botanical Gardens in Russia.
The Nikitsky Botanical Garden was founded in 1812 by the botanist Christian Steven. Crimea became part of Russia in 1783. Then only Genoese cities were located on the seashore. Their capital was the city of Kafa (modern Feodosia), and military bases were located in Sudak and Balaklava. During the time of the Crimean Khanate, the city of Gezlev appeared on the eastern shore (modern Evpatoria). Until the middle of the 19th century, Crimea was not a tourist destination.
The tourism potential of Crimea was appreciated by the first Governor-General of Novorossiya, Duke Armand de Richelieu. In Odessa, near the Potemkin Stairs, there is a monument to him. He appealed to Emperor Alexander I with a petition for the establishment of a botanical garden, since the Southern Coast of the Crimea was a rocky surface, almost devoid of vegetation. Planting material was urgently needed to create resorts in the Crimea.
Christian Steven enthusiastically took up the work of breeding ornamental trees and plants that can be acclimatized in the Crimea. He also began the selection of grapes for the development of the winemaking industry in the Crimea, and 10 years later created the largest grape collection in Russia. Nikitsky Botanical Garden has become one of the leading scientific centers in Russia. Before that, the Botanical Garden was located only in St. Petersburg, but the cold climate of the northern capital allowed southern plants to be grown only in greenhouses.
Nowadays, the Nikitsky Botanical Garden in Yalta occupies an area of 40 hectares, where more than 19 thousand different plants and trees grow. There are also greenhouses, although most plants and trees grow outdoors. In some places, the Nikitsky Botanical Garden has the layout of a landscape park, where flowers and trees from all continents grow and bloom.
The staff of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden made the layout so that flowers, plants and trees that bloom at different times were located in different parts of the park. This makes the park very beautiful at any time of the year. "Tulip Parades", "Chrysanthemum Balls" and other flower festivals are constantly held here.
