Description of the attraction
The tower and walls of the Anakopia fortress are the ruins of an ancient defensive structure (citadel) located in the city of New Athos on the Iverskaya (Anakopia) mountain. Anakopia fortress was erected in the II-IV centuries, but the main line of the walls of the citadel was built at the end of the VII century. with the participation of the Byzantines, who were worried about the invasion of the Arabs into Abkhazian territory.
The total length of the Anakopia fortress is 450 m. The fortress walls are more than 1 m thick and up to 5 m high were erected from large smooth limestone blocks. From the south, the walls of the fortress were fortified with seven towers. The main fortress gate, protected by a round tower, was built of three limestone monoliths and was located quite high above the ground. The only way to get to the fortress was by an attached wooden staircase.
Today, fragments of walls, fortified towers and an arched entrance gate have survived from the Anakopia fortress. From the northeast, there are steps from the stone staircase, along which the defenders of the fortress climbed the walls. Inside the citadel, you can see the ruins of two watchtowers. The most significant defensive structure of the fortress is the preserved Roman tower. This quadrangular tower with loopholes was erected approximately in the II-IV centuries. n. NS. Near the side of the gate, there is a second tower with small loopholes.
In the central part of the Anakopia citadel, above the cliff, there is an Anakopia temple, partially preserved to this day, erected in the VI-VII centuries. Several stones with images of symbols of ancient Christianity have been preserved in the altar of this monastery.
One of the attractions of the fortress, which attracts tourists, is the "inexhaustible" well, which, according to legend, was built during the construction of the citadel.
Today Anakopia fortress is the best-preserved ancient fortification on the territory of Abkhazia.
