Sochi Arboretum

This hillside botanical garden in the Black Sea resort of Sochi gathers a remarkable collection of subtropical plants from around the world across terraced grounds overlooking the coast. Founded in the late nineteenth century by a publisher who built a villa on the site, it holds many hundreds of tree and shrub species, from palms and cypresses to bamboo groves. A cable car carries visitors up the slope, revealing sea panoramas. Fountains, ponds, pavilions and a small aviary punctuate the walks.