“Ya Lyublyu Novorossiysk”

“Ya Lyublyu Novorossiysk” (Я люблю Новороссийск): What to Know Before You Go

Quick take: the well-known “I Love Novorossiysk” letters once stood on the Admiral Serebryakov Embankment near the Sea Terminal area (address cluster around *Ulitsa Naberezhnaya Admirala Serebryakova, 1*). The installation became a popular selfie stop because it framed Tsemess Bay and the waterfront monuments. However—this is important—the city dismantled that original structure in July 2022 after repeated vandalism. If you’re expecting those exact letters in that exact spot today, you likely won’t find them. Plan your waterfront shots around the embankment’s other anchors: the Cruiser *Mikhail Kutuzov* museum ship and memorials tied to Malaya Zemlya. (https://novorossiysk.bezformata.com/listnews/konstruktciyu-ya-lyublyu-novorossiysk/107107883/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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### Where it is (and what’s around it)

The address you’ll see in map listings—*Ulitsa Naberezhnaya Admirala Serebryakova, 1*—drops you on the central waterfront that locals simply call the Serebryakov Embankment. It’s a long, pedestrian-friendly promenade threading small parks, statues, and naval memorials along Tsemess Bay. Even without the letters, the vantage points here are excellent for sunrise/sunset color over cranes and hills. Trip-planning note: this same stretch places you within a short walk of the Sea Terminal/Forum Square zone where the sign used to sit. (https://www..com/Attraction_Review-g660729-d6966497-Reviews-Embankment_of_Admiral_Serebryakov-Novorossiysk_Krasnodar_Krai_Southern_District.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Two heavyweight sights sit immediately nearby:

– Cruiser *Mikhail Kutuzov* (Центральный военно-морской музей, филиал) — a Cold War–era light cruiser turned museum ship moored right off the embankment. The official museum page lists hours (seasonal), address, and booking contact; it’s the most reliable source to check before you go. (https://eng.navalmuseum.ru/filials/cruiser_mikhail_kutuzov?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– Malaya Zemlya Memorial Complex — a monumental WWII tribute on the bay honoring the 1943 amphibious landing that helped liberate Novorossiysk. The site (and the broader operation) is a defining chapter in the city’s “Hero City” identity. (https://www..com/Attraction_Review-g660729-d5521323-Reviews-Malaya_Zemlja_V_Novorossijske_Memorial_Complex-Novorossiysk_Krasnodar_Krai_Southe.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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### Current status of the “I Love Novorossiysk” sign

– Installed: 2019, by the Sea Terminal square on the embankment. (https://novorossiysk.bezformata.com/listnews/konstruktciyu-ya-lyublyu-novorossiysk/107107883/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– Removed: July 3–4, 2022, following vandalism; the city announced and then completed the dismantling. If a new letters sculpture appears in a different spot, it is not the same 2019 installation. (Several map and photo listings still show the former setup; treat those as historical.) (https://novorossiysk.bezformata.com/listnews/konstruktciyu-ya-lyublyu-novorossiysk/107107883/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

What this means for travelers: plan your “city-name” backdrop elsewhere along the promenade. There are numerous art pieces, anchors, and memorials along Serebryakov that photograph well against the bay. Some Russian-language city guides and map pages still reference a decorative “Я люблю Новороссийск” object (often calling out Forum Square), but those entries are not a guarantee of a present-day letters sign. (https://yandex.ru/maps/org/ya_lyublyu_novorossiysk/12143788614/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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### A smarter photo circuit (post-sign era)

If you came for the letters and find only open paving, pivot to this compact loop:

1. Forum/Sea Terminal area → Embankment edge
Use the open plaza for wide shots of Tsemess Bay and the port silhouettes. The lines of the promenade and benches lead nicely toward the water. (https://www..com/Attraction_Review-g660729-d6966497-Reviews-Embankment_of_Admiral_Serebryakov-Novorossiysk_Krasnodar_Krai_Southern_District.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2. Cruiser *Mikhail Kutuzov* (exterior & mooring)
Even if you skip the paid tour, the ship’s profile reads well in photos from the pier and from the embankment corners. If you do want the interior, confirm seasonal hours on the museum’s official page (it typically operates with summer seasonality and closed days). (https://eng.navalmuseum.ru/filials/cruiser_mikhail_kutuzov?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3. Serebryakov Embankment statues + anchors
The waterfront scatters maritime objects and monuments—good foregrounds for bay panoramas. (Stock and travel sources consistently showcase anchors and sailor memorials along this strip.) (https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/serebryakov-embankment.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4. Malaya Zemlya Memorial
For a more dramatic, historically loaded shot, move along the bay to the Malaya Zemlya complex. The angles here combine concrete forms with sea and sky—especially strong in late light. (https://www..com/Attraction_Review-g660729-d5521323-Reviews-Malaya_Zemlja_V_Novorossijske_Memorial_Complex-Novorossiysk_Krasnodar_Krai_Southe.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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### Practical visit tips

– How long to allow: 60–90 minutes for the central embankment; add 60–90 minutes if touring the cruiser museum, more if you’re continuing to the Malaya Zemlya memorial. (Museum hours are seasonal—verify before committing.) (https://eng.navalmuseum.ru/filials/cruiser_mikhail_kutuzov?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– Best light: Golden hour on clear days delivers the bay’s soft backlight; blue hour works for tripod shots of the ship’s lights and the port beyond. (Skylines change with port activity, which is part of Novorossiysk’s character.) (https://www..com/Attraction_Review-g660729-d6966497-Reviews-Embankment_of_Admiral_Serebryakov-Novorossiysk_Krasnodar_Krai_Southern_District.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– Navigation: Enter “Admiral Serebryakov Embankment” or the Sea Terminal area in your map app to hit the core. Many third-party listings still point to the old letters location; use them to reach the waterfront, not to rely on the sign’s existence. (https://www..com/Attraction_Review-g660729-d6966497-Reviews-Embankment_of_Admiral_Serebryakov-Novorossiysk_Krasnodar_Krai_Southern_District.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– What’s realistically accessible: This is a flat, paved promenade with plenty of open space and seating zones typical of Russian waterfronts of similar scale. That said, step-free access and curb cuts can vary by block; if you’re traveling with wheels, plan extra time to route around landscaping or stairs near memorials. (When in doubt, start at the Sea Terminal side where paths are broadest.) (https://www..com/Attraction_Review-g660729-d6966497-Reviews-Embankment_of_Admiral_Serebryakov-Novorossiysk_Krasnodar_Krai_Southern_District.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– Seasonality & closures: The Mikhail Kutuzov museum ship operates seasonally with set days off (commonly closed Mon–Tue during the open season) and published ticket-office cutoffs; check the current season’s notice on the official museum page before you go. (https://eng.navalmuseum.ru/filials/cruiser_mikhail_kutuzov?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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### What to pair it with

– Naval & WWII history circuit: Combine the cruiser museum with Malaya Zemlya to understand why Novorossiysk holds Hero City status. Read a brief history of the 1943 operation beforehand so the memorial’s geometry lands with context. (https://en..org/wiki/Malaya_Zemlya?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– Urban waterfront walk: Serebryakov Embankment has been the subject of international masterplanning concepts in recent years (Zaha Hadid Architects’ winning proposal is a good reference for understanding how the city imagines this front). While masterplans evolve, the takeaway is that the waterfront is a civic priority—and worth your time. (https://www.archdaily.com/895872/zaha-hadid-architects-wins-competition-for-russian-black-sea-city-masterplan?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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### Key facts at a glance (double-checked)

– Former installation: “Я люблю Новороссийск” letters on the embankment by the Sea Terminal/Forum Square area. (https://novorossiysk.bezformata.com/listnews/konstruktciyu-ya-lyublyu-novorossiysk/107107883/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– Status: Dismantled in July 2022; not present in the original spot today. Some map pages still show the item; treat as archival. (https://novorossiysk.bezformata.com/listnews/novorossiyske-na-meste-konstruktcii-ya-lyublyu/107145621/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– Waterfront anchor sights: Cruiser *Mikhail Kutuzov* (official hours/address published by the Central Naval Museum); Malaya Zemlya Memorial (WWII landing that enabled the city’s liberation). (https://eng.navalmuseum.ru/filials/cruiser_mikhail_kutuzov?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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### Inclusivity & accuracy notes