Genoese Fortress

The Genoese Fortress is a medieval fortification in Sudak, Crimea, that spreads across a coastal hillside and now serves as an open-air museum. Several round and square towers are linked by thick stone walls that follow the contours of the terrain and offer views over the Black Sea.

Building work started in 1371 when Genoese merchants took control of the trading post and expanded the defenses. Earlier structures from Byzantine times were incorporated into the new defense system and partly rebuilt.

The site carries the name of the Genoese merchants who ran one of their most important Black Sea trading posts here during medieval times. Visitors can walk through the gate arches and climb the defense towers where guards once watched the sea.

The site is best visited in the early morning or late afternoon when fewer people are around and the light is better for photos. Paths between the towers run over uneven ground in places, so sturdy shoes are recommended.

Within the walls stands a 13th-century religious building that has housed exhibition rooms since 1926. The rooms display finds from different periods of the fortification, including weapons and everyday objects.

Location: Sudak

Inception: 1371

GPS coordinates: 44.84155,34.95785

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:05