Aluston fortress was built in the VI century on the orders of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. Aluston was located 200 m from the sea on top of a 44-meter hill. Line the walls of Aluston was an irregular quadrilateral shape. On joints clumps were built 3 towers: the Ashaga-sack (lower tower), preserved in the city centre to the present day, Orta-Kul ("Mid tower") and completely destroyed Chatal-Kul ("Horned tower").

The thickness of the walls of Aluston reached 2-3 m and the height is 9, 5 M. If you look closely to the masonry, it is possible to notice the emptiness. They were wooden logs. They perform not only the function of a binder, but also served as a shock absorber during earthquakes.

By the end of VII century Aluston was abandoned by the Byzantines. In the X century, after the fall of the Khazar Khaganate, Aluston was destroyed, possibly by the Pechenegs. Began its decline. But since the XII century, after the stabilization of the situation on the Peninsula, Aluston is experiencing a new boom.

In 1381-1382, the Genoese bought from the Crimean Khan, the stretch of coast from Sudak to Balaklava, including Aluston (Lusto). In the history of the fortress began a new phase. Alushta becomes trading post "of the captaincy of Gothia", its population increases to 1-1, 5 thousand people. In the second half of the XV century around the Aluston construction of a new line of defense with 3 towers on the Northern and Eastern flanks.

In June 1475, the Italian possessions in the Crimea were attacked by the Turkish fleet. Aluston was also attacked. Archaeological research has shown that the town was destroyed by fire, after which the Aluston fortress is no longer restored.