My Sochi

Located on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar region, Sochi is Russia's leading vacation resort destination and is defined by two unique elements – the sea and the mountains. Sochi offers the unprecedented combination of Alpine and Mediterranean climates within a radius of 50 kilometres.

The real jewel in Sochi is the Krasnaya Polyana (Red Meadow) mountain resort area at the foot of the main Caucasian ridge with peaks higher than 2,000 meters. With pristine, snow-capped mountains and ideal skiing conditions, Krasnaya Polyana is rapidly developing into a world-class mountain ski resort center, fittingly recognized and popular among winter sport professionals and amateurs. Only one hour from Krasnaya Polyana, Sochi boasts 147 kilometers of spectacular Mediterranean-style beaches, creating one of Europe's longest coastlines and most spectacular resort regions. Over the last century, millions of visitors have come to Sochi for its stunning sea coast, its pure air and its mineral waters with healing powers.

Sochi has been a gateway to Russian culture over the years, having welcomed visitors for thousands of years – from travellers and traders on the ancient Silk Road to Russian Tsars. The city regularly hosts some of Russia's major cultural events, including the annual “Black Sea“ Jazz Festival, Sochi International Film Festival, classical music concerts and ballet performances. Sochi is also a gateway to ethnic diversity, with one-third of the population of non-Russian nationality. This rich diversity enables people of all nationalities and backgrounds to feel at home, reinforcing Sochi's stature as an international crossroad of cultures. The city is fast becoming a gateway to the new democratic Russia – it is a resort destination for President Vladimir Putin and home to many famous Russian athletes, including Olympic champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov and tennis star Maria Sharapova.

Sochi is also carving an image for itself on the international scene. The city hosted over 26 high level meetings with six Heads of State over the 2006 summer including the European Union-Russia Summit when Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted several world leaders in Sochi.