Yana Vinetskaya. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
A settlement of Sinds, Sindika, was located where current Anapa is in the 1st millennium B.C. From the 4th century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D. Sindika was a part of the Bosphorus Kingdom situated on the banks of the Kerch Strait. It was called Gorgippia in honour of its ruler, Gorgipp. In the early 3rd century the city was destroyed by fire started by Goths from the Baltic Sea. Later, the territory of current Anapa was inhabited by Huns, Bulgars, Zykhs, Kasogs, and ancestors of the Adygs. In the 13th century the Tatar Yoke touched on Anapa. In the 15th century it was captured by Turks. Anapa joined Russia in 1829 as a result of the Russian-Turkish wars.
The first sick people came for healthcare treatment to Anapa in 1866. A key role in development of the resort was played by the head of the Black Sea District, D. Pilenko, who published a booklet “Anapa, its Climate, Sea Bathing and Economic Conditions.” In the early 20th century a first resort house named after V. Budzinsky, another promoter of Anapa as a resort, was opened in the city; two years later – a recreation center; and seven years later – the first children's resort house “Bimlyuk.”
Due to Novorossisk’s proximity, Anapa had no trade importance in the early 20th century. However, it was developing as a resort. One of the key directions of its activity was child treatment. The wide and flat beach of Anapa, which was called “the golden beach”, was unique for the Black Sea shore, except for Yevpatoria. Professor N. Gundobina wrote about Anapa in the early 20th century: “Anapa is a splendid resort for children, the whole of Western Europe has no better resort. Here we see a unique combination of nature’s gifts: a combination of steppe, mountain and sea climates; a sandy beach – it’s No 1 in Russia for beauty and comfort, even two-year-old babies can swim there; curative muds; and grape treatment. If Anapa was situated in a cultured country, this resort would be popular all over the world. It is a diamond in the resort business, but, unfortunately, it is invisible to people who are not competent in medicine.”
The absence of swamps protected Anapa from malaria and other pandemics. The cholera pandemic of 1892 in Kuban didn’t touch on Anapa. Along with its pleasant climate, Anapa was famous for its mineral springs. At the beginning of the 20th century the mineral spring Semogor’ was opened there. Its water was very similar to the water of Yessentuki’s 17th century well. The most popular facility of Anapa was the water and mud medical center of Dr. Budzinski. This center was as good as the best world hospitals of this kind.
In 1913 Grigory Moskvich wrote in his guide book on the Caucasus that “one shouldn’t think that Anapa is a completely developed town. It is only beginning to develop steadily, and the young town has a lot of work to do.” At the same time, the town had already had pavements, a water supply, bath houses and Budzinki’s hospital. Anapa also had the Orthopedic Institute, with a sea-shore resort house which was built in 1910 due to Dr. Budzinski, Dr. Turner and Dr. Schenk.
“As for the modern way of life,” Moskvich wrote, “Anapa is not a glamorous resort, but tourists do not get bored here.” Anapa’s city garden had a “Kursaal” with a big hall, a library, a stage, and a terrace where concerts, performances and dancing nights were organized. Music was played every day in the garden. Moreover, visitors enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating.
