Hello friends. During our trip to Romania we visited the city of Constanța. Constanța is Romania's third-largest city on the Black Sea coast and its largest port. Today Constanța continues to thrive as a modern and versatile city with a rich history. In ancient times the site of Constanța was known as Tomis or Tomi, an ancient Greek colony founded around 500 bc. It was later renamed and first mentioned as Constanța in 950 ad.
We visited Ovidius Square, where the History and Archaeology Museum of Constanța is located. The famous poet Ovid was exiled here and eventually died in the city. The square is named after him and features a statue of Ovidius in the center.
The city was once under Ottoman rule and remnants from that period can still be seen, such as the mosque with its magnificent 47-meter minaret. I highly recommend climbing the minaret for a panoramic view of the city.
While exploring the city we discovered interesting places like an antique gallery where you can purchase antique items.
We also saw the main Orthodox structure of the city, Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, located in the historic center by the sea. Unlike typical Orthodox churches, this cathedral features architectural influences from the Ottoman era.
A short walk from the cathedral led us to the Constanța beachfront overlooking Romania's largest seaport. This port is the fourth largest in Europe and is likely bustling with tourists and souvenir shops during the summer. When we visited during the colder months, it wasn't very crowded.
On the beachfront stands the Casino, built in 1908 and symbolizing the city. It houses not only gaming rooms but also a large hall where city balls and central events are held. Initially a business center the Casino later served as a military hospital, a venue for party meetings, and a restaurant before being abandoned. Currently undergoing restoration for the second year, I hope to see its interior once it reopens.
Near the Casino along the city's coastline, lies the Genovese Lighthouse Monument, a historic monument featuring a group of sculptures including the bust of Mihai Eminescu. The lighthouse was built by Genoese merchants, constructed in an octagonal shape from natural stone blocks bound together with lime mortar mixed with sea sand and shells. It functioned as a lighthouse until 1905 when it was replaced by a modern one.
During weekdays Constanța is sparsely populated, but on weekends, it's preferred by locals, likely because it's one of the most beautiful places in Constanța. Unfortunately the city has many beautiful but abandoned historical buildings. I would love to see them all restored because seeing their current condition in some streets is truly saddening.
In the center of Constanța around the city hall, there's a beautiful park showcasing artifacts from archaeological excavations.
A few kilometers from the old part of the city is City Park Mall, a large and popular shopping center. Exiting the mall you reach a large lake and a beautiful park with various bird species. Here you can see swans and ducks, along with playgrounds for children and several paths for cyclists.
At the end of the park there's a closed amusement park, unfortunately only open in certain months. On the other side of the lake, there's a small zoo with a dolphin park, an observatory and a natural reserve for farm animals and migratory birds.
After passing through the park we reached Mamaia, a beachfront area where we enjoyed the sea views and explored an area with many hotels and restaurants.
Constanța is a small and charming city and its main attraction is of course, the Black Sea.
