The first written reference to Alupka dates back to the year 960 A.D. The name is supposed to derive from the Greek word «alepu» which means «a fox». The settlement is situated on the mountainous terrain and is unplanned. Homes were built along the mountain paths, which now are the streets.

The best way to travel to Alupka is by sea. But you can get to it along the lower highway.

Alupka Park is a very remarkable place in the town. It is a masterpiece of Russian and world park design of the 19th century. The park is divided by the road into two parts — the Lower Park and the Upper Park.

More than 200 species of trees and shrubs grow in the area of 40 hectares. In the Upper Park you can see the architectural composition based on the principles of contrast and called Glade of Contrasts. Its trees and bushes differ sharply in colour, size and shape. Two more glades will attract your attention.

These are the Sunny Glade surrounded by rare trees and the Plane Tree Glade with a view of the pond. Here is one of the park’s geological oddity, the Chaos. It is a pile of grey-green stone blocks scattered around the ponds.

On the higher ground lies the so-called Large Chaos — the rocks with bare vegetation. Beyond the ponds there is a combination of man-made nooks and «wild» nature, the so-called the Small Chaos. Cliffs, steep steps, grottoes form a picturesque landscape.

But the main attraction of the park and the whole town is, of course, the Alupka palace. It was built as a summer residence for Count Mikhail Vorontsov, who was Governor-General of the southern lands of the European part of Russia.

Construction was begun in 1828 and ended in 1848. At the same time the park was laid out under the supervision of the German designer Karl Kebach.

The design of the palace was fulfilled by the famous English court architect Edward Btor.

He also took part in the designing of Sir Walter Scott’s castle in Scotland and Buckingham Palace In London.

Another English architect, William Gunt, supervised the building of the count’s residence.

The excursion to Alupka will give you an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the small resort town lying 16 kilometers from Yalta, to admire the beauty of its mountain amphitheatre, and, of course, Alupka Park and Vorontsov Palace.