The historical heritage of Sevastopol city is unusually significant and counts many centuries. In IV-V BC a colony settled in the land of ancient Tavrida, and later it grew into a very rich and developed city of Khersoness. Founded on the territory of the antique city-state Khersoness, where the Kiev Prince Vladimir adopted Christianity in 988, the present Sevastopol took the firm traditions of apostles of the Slavonic Orthodoxy Andrey Pervozvanniy and the creators of the Slavonic alphabet Cyrill and Mephody who visited this land at that time. In XV AD Khersoness was ruined by wars and stopped its existence.

On June 3rd, 1783 the Russian forces laid the foundation of the first 4 stone buildings, which initiated the beginning of Sevastopol. Russian military leaders and naval commanders such as Suvorov A.V., Ushakov F.F. and Lazarev M.P. took a part in the formation of Sevastopol. Since then, Sevastopol has been proud of its name, which was given by the Russian Empress Katherine the Great more than two centuries ago. The name means: "a majestic city, worthy of worship".

In accordance to the Decree of Katherine II from August 13, 1783, Sevastopol became the naval base of the Russian Empire and for more than 200 years the city proved its historical meaning as the glorious city of Russian Navy due to pride, courage, bravery and zeal of its citizens. It has always been the point of common strategic interests of Russia, East (Turkey) and West. The Crimean, or Eastern, War (1853-1856) involved Great Britain, France, Italy and Turkey in bloodshed and mass unmeaning losses of soldiers in the Russian Crimea. The first heroic defence of Sevastopol in the course of Crimean war, organized by the admirals Kornilov V.A., Nakhimov P.S. and Istomin V.I., added a glorious page to history as an example of devoted courage and heroism.

During the World War 2 with fascist Germany, Sevastopol again proved its glory in the heroic 256-day defence in 1941-1942. 300 000 Germans and even more soldiers from the former Soviet Union, especially Russians (not counting Italians and Romanians) died in struggle for the city in 1941-1944.

"Sevastopol stands at the Black sea, crowned twice with glory of its two defenses, and this glory, like a twin star, is shining at the eternal sky of the history-" - said the writer Leonid Sobolev. Sevastopol got the name of hero-city from the people of the former Soviet Union in the first years of the WW2. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of USSR officially assigned this honorary title in the First-May decree 20 in 1945. In this connection there is no Decree of Supreme Soviet Presidium of USSR about awarding of the honorary title "Hero-city" to Sevastopol and there is

In addition to this award, The Order of the Red Banner was joined to the city's banner in 1954, and in 1983 - The Order of the October Revolution:

In 1991, after declaration of independence of Ukraine, Sevastopol became a Ukrainian city of central subordination. In accordance to the agreement between Ukraine and Russia signed on May 31, 997, the naval base of the Russian Black sea fleet will be situated at the territory of the city for the next 20 years under condition of leasing, which takes 4% of the city's territory.

Today the naval bases of Ukraine and Russia are functioning together. At the same time, there are many prerequisites for reforming Sevastopol in the center of commerce and international cooperation in the Black sea region. This purpose can be achieved by economical provision of basing the Russian and Ukrainian Navy in Sevastopol as well as by harmonious development of the unique scientific and technical potential of the city and its historical and archeological heritage. The present program of developing the city in the field of tourism and creating the recreation infrastructure proves that.