page_title: Kerch
section_title: Tourism
hierarchical_section_title: Kerch / Economy / Tourism
caption_attribution_description: English: Kerch. Mithridates Staircase. Русский: Керчь. Большая Митридатская Лестница.
context_page_description: Kerch is a city of regional significance on the Kerch Peninsula in the east of the Crimea.
  Population: 147,033.
  Founded 2,600 years ago as an ancient Greek colony, Kerch is considered to be one of the most ancient cities in Crimea. The city experienced rapid growth starting in the 1920s and was the site of a major battle during World War II.
  Today, it is one of the largest cities in Crimea and is among the republic's most important industrial, transport and tourist centres.
context_section_description: Because of its location on the shores of the Azov and Black seas, Kerch became a popular summer resort among people of the former USSR. Also, several mud-cure sources are located near the city. Despite the seaside location, the tourist appeal of Kerch today is limited because of the industrial character of the city and associated pollution.
  Despite the lack of beaches in the town's area, there are a lot of them at a distance of 20 minutes' travel by bus, train or taxi.
  Kerch has a number of impressive architectural and historical monuments. Ancient historical heritage of the city makes it attractive for scientific tourism. The most notable of Kerch's sights are:
  Site of ancient settlement Pantikapaeum (5th century BC–3rd century AD).
  Tsarskiy Kurghan (4th century BC) – burial mound for one of the Bosporian kings
  Church of St. John the Baptist (AD 717)
  Fortress of Yenikale (18th century)
  The Great Mithridates Staircase leading on top of the Mount Mithridat, contains 428 footsteps, built in 1833–1840 under the guidance of Italian architect Alexander Digbi
  Obelisk of Glory on the Mount Mithridat, built after World War II
  Lapidarium
  Memorial of heroic guerilla warfare in Adzhimushkay mines
  Kerch Fortress; restricted area in Soviet times but free to enter in present days. The fortress was built by the Russian military architect Totleben in the middle of 19th century.
  Sites of ancient settlements Mirmecium, Tiritaka and Nimphei. There are also some settlements which have gone underwater due to earthquakes.
  So called Demetra's Crypt, a crypt with numerous frescos dated 1st century BC.
caption: Mithridates Staircase (19th century)
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