The Genoese Tower of St. Thomas, one of the oldest landmarks of the Crimean Peninsula, was built in 1384. This defensive structure protected the city from attacks from the mound known today as Tsarsky. The massive walls of the tower repeatedly withstood enemy assaults, underwent restoration and reconstruction, which enhanced its defensive capabilities and extended its lifespan. A century after its construction, the tower became three-tiered, and its walls were adorned with battlements that served as cover for the archers of the garrison. During sieges, arrows struck the enemies while the Genoese soldiers remained virtually invulnerable.

For nearly two centuries, the tower successfully resisted Ottoman conquerors, but in the 15th century, the Turkish army eventually captured Crimea. After that, the tower lost its defensive significance and gradually fell into ruin over the following centuries. By the end of the 19th century, its condition became critical, and the walls collapsed significantly, threatening the complete disappearance of the monument. To save the tower, Feodosia native Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky sought state support and received it. The tower was granted protective status, restoration work began, but the events of 1917 left it unattended once again. Only in our time has the cultural value of this defensive structure been recognized, from which only a rich history and part of the semicircular bastion remain.