CONSTANTA

Location :Eastern Romania (County:Constanta)

Size:22.4 sq.miles(58sq.kilometers)

Elevation:0-190ft.(0-60 meters)

Population:345,000

Situated at the crossroads of several commercial routes ,Constanta lies on the western coast of the Black Sea,185 miles from the Bosphorus Strait. An ancient metropolis and Romania's Largest sea port, Constanta traces its history some 2,500 years .Originally called Tomis, legend has it that Jason landed here with the Argonauts after finding the Golden Fleece.

Founded by Greek colonists from Miletos in the 6^th century BC,Tomis was conquered by the Romans in 71 BC and renamed Constantiana by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great in honor of his sister. The name was shortened to Constanta during the Ottoman era .During the 13^th century ,Italy,especially Genoese merchants ,dominated the Black Sea and Constanta flourished ,only to decline two centuries later under Turkish rule.

Fine mansions and hotels were built in the 19^th century when King Carol I decided to revive Constanta as a port and seaside resort .

The third largest city in Romania ,Constanta is now an important cultural and economic center ,worth exploring for its archaeological treasures and the atmosphere of the old town center. Its historical monuments ,ancient ruins ,grand Casino ,museums and shops ,and proximity to beach resorts make it the focal point of Black Sea coast tourism .Open-air restautrants , nightclubs and cabarets offer a wide variety of entertainment .

Interesting fact:

Constanta is the fourth largest port in Europe ,ranked just after Rotterdam,Antwerp and Marseille .

BANKS AND EXCHANGES

Money can be exchanged at banks,hotels and private exchange offices (Casa de schimb valutar).There can be major differences in rates ,especially between the banks and the private exchange offices . It is advisable to shop around .Banks are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m.to noon.

COMMUNICATIONS

Post Office

There are many post offices throughout the city .Post offices display a postal horn symbol and the word Posta.

Main Post Offices:

Blvd.Mamaia 156

Hours:M-F: 7:00am-8:00pm Sat:8:00am-2:00pm,Sun:Closed

Telephones

The public phones in the city are orange and use a magnetic card.These can be used for all kinds of calls including the direct international calls.The magnetic cards can be purchased at main post offices. From a hotel without direct international access you must dial 971 to get connected to the international telephone network.

US directly :01-800-4282 (AT&T); 01-800-1800(MCI) ;01-800-0877(sPRINT0

Useful Telephone Numbers (area code :241 or 341)

Ambulance 961

Hospital 662-222

Police 955-or 655-050

TRANSPORTATION

Public Transportation :

Buses (autobus),trams (tramvai) and trolley buses (troilebuz)operate as one system , running from

5:00 am to 11:30pm.Tickets are interchangeable for all three forms of transport.Route maps are available at yellow kiosks near bus ,tram and trolley bus stops. Tickets can be purchased at kiosks displaying the RATC logo. Be sure to stamp your ticket on boarding.

Buses # 2,5,40,41,42,43,44,49,51 and trolleybus #48 make stops in the downtown area .

Taxis :

It is advisable to take a metered taxi , or to negotiate the price before commencing the journey.

Taxi Companies ;

General 953 or (241) 617.844

Mondial (241) 693.333

Romaris (241) 690.000

Sageata (241) 638.000

Valentino (241) 699.999

SHOPPING

Tomis Mall

Str.Stefan cel Mare 36-40

Open Mon-Sun. 9:00am-10:00p.m.

Handicrafts

Galeriile Art & Crafts ,str.Stefan cel Mare 15,Telephone: (241) 614.980

Boutique ,Str.Stefan cel Mare nr.9

MAIN ATTRACTIONS

Sights

Ovidiu's Square (Piata Ovidiu)

The statue of Ovid (Born 43BC in Sulmona ,died in AD 17 in Tomis /Constanta) .Designed by the sculptor Ettore Ferrari in 1887,the statue dedicated to the Roman poet, Ovidius Publius Naso,gives name to this square. Emperor Augustus exiled Ovid to Tomis in 8 AD for obscure reason.He wrote his Tristia in Tomis.

Roman Mosaics (Edificul Roman cu Mazaic)

Vast complex on three levels once linked the upper town to the harbor. Today,only about a third of the original edifice remains ,including more than 9,150 sq ft of colorful mosaics . Built toward the end of the 4^th century AD and developped over the centuries , it was the city's commercial center until the

7^th century . Archeological vestiges point to the existence of workshops, warehouses and shops in the area . Remains of the Roman public baths can still be seen nearby .Aqueducts brought water six miles to the town .

Genoese Lighthouse (Farul Genovez)

Soaring 26 feet ,this lighthouse was built in 1860 by the Danubius and Black Sea Company to honor Genoese merchants who established a flourishing sea trade community here in the 13^th century.

Casino (Cazinoul)

Completed between the two World Wars in Art Nouveau style according to the plans of the architects, Daniel Renard and Petre Antonescu , the Casino features sumptuous architecture and a wonderful view of the sea.The pedestrian area around the Casino is a sought-after destination for couples and families, especially at sunset.The old Casino at the harbor was opened in 1911.

House with Lions (Casa cu Lei)

Blending pre-Romantic and Genovese architectural styles ,this late 19^th century building features four columns adorned with imposing sculptured lions. During the 1930s,its elegant salons hosted the Constanta Masonic Lodge.

Archaeology Park (Parcul Arheologic)

The park houses columns and fragments of 3^rd and 4^th century buildings and a 6^th century tower.

St.Petre & Paul Orthodox Cathedral (Catedrala Sf.Apostol Petru si Pavel)

Constructed in Greco-Roman style between 1883 and 1885,the church was severely damaged during WWII and was restored in 1951.The interior murals display a neo-Byzantine style combined with Romanian elements best observed in the iconostasis and pews ,chandeliers and candlesticks (bronze and brass alloy),all designed by Ion Mincu and completed in Paris.

St.Mina Othodox Church (Biserica Ortodoxa sf.Mina )

Built by master carpenters from the Maramures region in authentic Romania Style ,this is the biggest wooden church in Romania ,85ft long and 40ft wide topped by a 140-ft tower.

St.Anthony Roman Catholic Church (Biserica Romano-Catolica sf.Anton)

Dating from 1937,this church was built after architect Romano de Simon's plans .The structure is shaped like a Roman basilica ,specific to the northern part of Italy .The buttress and geometrical motifs are reminiscent of the 13^th century Romantic style.

Museums

Art Museum(Muzeul de Arta )

Established in the 1961,the Art Museum exhibits more than 7,300 Romanian contemporary art masterpieces -paintings ,sculptures ,ceramics ,china,upholstery and furniture. A century of Romanian art is on display ,ranging from the works of Theodor Aman and Nicolae Grigorescu to those of Ion Jalea and Corneliu Baba .Here ,you will have the opportunity to view the Black Sea and Constanta through the eyes of the artists who portrayed them.

Folk Art Museum (Muzeul de Arta Populara )

Some 16,000 exhibits from all ethnographic regions of Romania are on display here .Folk costumes, jewelry ,interiors of traditional peasant homes and household items illustrate the traditional way of life in various parts of the country. On the ground floor ,a valuable collection of icons painted on glass dates from the 18^th and the 19^th centuries .Folk arts and crafts are available at the museum gift shop.

National History &Archeology Museum (Muzeul de Istorie Nationala si Arheologie)

An impressive collection of artifacts from Greek ,Roman ,and Daco-Roman civilisations is on display illustrating the history of Dobrogea from the Stone Age to modern days . Greek and Roman objects can be found on the main floor .Two statues ,one of the “Glykon”-The Fantastic Snake”,dating from

the 3^rd century BC ,and the other of “Goddess Fortuna and Pontos”.God of the Black Sea ,are considered protectors of the city and port and are the highlights of the collection.

Romanian Navy Museum (Muzeul Marinei Romane )

Organized chronologically in four sections ,the museum features charts ,moldings ,ancient and modern boat models,navigation instruments ,documents and photographs .You can find a dug-out canoe made from a single tree trunk ,a navigation case from the 16^th century ,a mid 17^th century celestial globe made in Venice and models of Greek triremes. The open-air exhibition ,displaying life-size anchors, propellers ,engines ,surface and anti-aircraft gun mounts ,offers a wonderful panorama of the Constanta harbor .

Aquarium (Acvariul)

Opened in 1958,the Constanta Aquarium houses representatives of 60 species of fish from the Black Sea and the Danube Delta ,as well as from the seaside lake. The most significant is the collection of sturgeons ,one of the largest in the world.

Arts / Shows

Ovidius Drama Theatre (Teatrul Dramatic Ovidius)Str.Mircea cel Batran,Nr.97,Tel+40.241.619.440

Fantasio Theatre (Teatrul de Revista Fantasio)B-dul Republicii Nr.16,Tel:+40.241.615.416

Elpis Puppet Theatre (Teatrul de Papusi Elpis )Str.Alexandru Karatzali,Nr.16.Tel+40.241.618.992

Black Sea Philharmonic (Filarmonic Marea Neagra )

Oleg Danovski Classical Ballet Theatre (Teatrul de Balet Clasic Oleg Danovski Oleg)

Str.Rascoala din1907,Nr.1.Tel:+40.241.660.346

Constanta Opera House (Teatrul Liric Constanta )-B-ul Tomis ,,Nr.97,Tel:+40-241-615.268

Nearby Attractions

The Romanian Black Sea Resorts

The Romanian Black Sea coast is home to a wide range of summer resorts tailored to suit most tastes and ages ,from small children to those seeking health-spa treatments .The sandy sea bottom slopes gently away from the shore ,there are no dangerous currents and the sea is almost tideless. In the summer ,days are warm and long with an average of 11 hours of sunshine. A swath of gold -sand beaches stretches from Constanta to the Bulgarian border ,and visitors will encounter resorts named after mythological gods and goddesses ,such as Eforie ,Jupiter ,Neptun ,Olimp ,Saturn, Venus and Mangalia.

Mamaia

A favorite weekend get-away for locals ,Mamaia is one of the most sought-after resorts on the Black Sea coast. A narrow stretch of fine-sand beach between the Black Sea and Lake Siutghiol (“Lake of Milk” in Turkish),Mamaia boasts numerous hotels ,a casino , sporting facilities (water sports,biking, tennis,beach games), and hips nightclubs and restaurants located within 100 feet of the sea. You can spend the mornings cooling down at the beach or at the Aqua Magic Park, located at the very entrance of the resort,and the afternoons taking in the view of the Black Sea by riding the Telegondola (Cable Car).

Between Mamaia and Constanta ,you can stroll through Satul de Vacanta amusement park,featuring rides ,a bowling alley,an open- air bazaar and several restaurants.At time crowded ,the park is a local come-together with a charm of it own .The Summer Theatre of Mamaia is the venue of the annual Romanian Pop Music Festival and various other shows.