Panahiya
Panagia - a tract near the village of Zelenoghirya near Alushta, where the Arpat River cut a small canyon with a cascade of waterfalls on the slopes of Mount Kurocha. The name is Greek, from the epithet of the Mother of God "all-holy", and got the place from a medieval monastery, the remains of which are still hidden somewhere above the village.
The main attraction is the Arpatsky Canyon itself and a popular trail along the water from Zelenogirya up to where the two sources of the river merge. History buffs will get a bonus: the almost unexplored traces of an old church just above the village.
Come in spring or after the rains, when the Arpat is full and the falls look like waterfalls. In the summer, the mountain stream noticeably thins, and instead of cascades, you can find modest streams on stones.
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is Panagia and where is it?
This is a tract in the Crimea, near the village of Zelenoghirya near Alushta, where the Arpat River cut a small Arpat Canyon with a cascade of waterfalls on the slopes of Mount Kurocha. The remains of a medieval monastery are hidden here, which gave the place its name.
Where did such an exotic name come from?
From the Greek "panaya" - "all-holy", it is an epithet of the Mother of God. The monastery, the remains of which were preserved in the tract, had the same name, so the name here is more about faith than about geography.
How to get there?
The landmark is the village of Zelenoghirya: it is there that the two sources of the Arpat (Pananyan-Uzen and Kushen-Uzen) merge, and then the trail leads up along the river to the canyon and waterfalls.
When is the best time to come?
In the spring and after the rains, when the river is full - then the waterfalls look like waterfalls, and not like modest cascades on stones. In the summer, the Arpat mountain stream becomes noticeably thinner.
What is interesting here, besides water?
The canyon itself with a cascade of waterfalls is the main attraction and a popular hiking route. And another mysterious bonus for history lovers: the unexplored remains of a medieval church (according to some versions - a monastery) just above the village.