Known as Tomis in Greek and Roman antiquity, Constanta is the largest Romanian port to the Black Sea and the holiday destination for thousands of tourists every year. Not only does it offer an incredible seaside resort, but is not too far from the Danube Delta either. Let’s take a quick look at what made Constanta the glowing city it is today. Well-known for its beauties since the ancient times, Constanta was founded by Greeks as a colony and later was sung by the Roman poet Ovid, in his Pontica. Some the marble ruins of the temples and some other wall remnants lie outside present-day Constanta, a testimony of the time endurance.
For tourists on the Romanian seaside, Constanta is some sort of starting point to explore the rest of the sunny resorts down the coast. Before you get to visit modern Constanta, take a tour at the ruins of the Roman times, you won’t be disappointed by the walls, the aqueducts, the Roman amphitheatre or the basilica. There are even underground galleries open for tourists. Part of the incredible atmosphere is given by the fact that you’re actually stepping in two-millennium old places. Many of the tourists that come here, have immensely enjoyed the scenery at sunset, when the ancient marble glows in the sun.
The Aquarium and the Astronomic Observer are two other main touristic attractions. Kids are very happy to go there, but adults also have things to learn. This sight is representative for the fauna living in the Black Sea. There is even the very special breed of tiny dolphins that live in the Black Sea. As for the rest of the exhibits there are all sorts of shells and corals. The Astronomic Observer, is a site best visited at night. It is a highly entertaining and rewarding experience. Of course, the best idea to really decipher the sky map is to turn to one of the guides. Have fun!
The National History and Archeology will definitely give you an insight in Constanta’s past. There is a large range of displays that touch upon the very early inhabitance levels, in the Paleolithic. This is the home of the famous statuary group known as the Thinker of Hamangia and his woman. For modern art lovers the best recommendation is The Art Museum, housing the works of some of the most famous Romanian artists such as Nicolae Grigorescu, Theodor Aman, Corneliu Baba and so on. You may not be familiar with their works but you’ll definitely get their artistic message.
Maybe you don’t know, but Constanta is the city with the largest Muslim community in Romania, so, one thing is for sure, the Big Mosque is definitely a popular attraction that you can visit. The present-day edifice was built in 1910, on the very site of a former smaller mosque called Mahmudia, in the honour of sultan Mahmud II. The architecture is Moorish and the entire building is a copy of the Konia Mosque in Anatolia. Though, the Muslim influence is no longer what it used to be, the cultural flavour it gives the city is clearly undeniable.
Summer is the real tourist season, and Constanta never seems to sleep. There are dozens of festivals either devoted to folk music and dance or to modern music, the city sparkles and shines every night. Lots of beer and crunchy fried sea-fish replace the regular snacks you may be used to. Plus, if you’d like to taste some delicious seaweed salad, here is the place to try some. Unlike some other tourist attractions, Constanta has the huge advantage of keeping its magic at night too.