Constanta

Constanta, (historical names: Tomis, Greek: Konstantia) is the oldest living city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobrogea region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanta County and the largest city in the region.


The city of Constanta is one of the most important in the country, is part of a group of four roughly equal-size cities which rank after Bucharest, Romania's capital. The Constanta metropolitan area was founded in 2007 and comprises 14 localities located at a maximum distance of 30 km (19 mi) from the city and, with 446,595 inhabitants, is the second largest metropolitan area in Romania, after Bucharest.
The Port of Constanta has an area of 39.26 km2 (15.16 sq mi) and a length of about 30 km (19 mi). It is the largest port on the Black Sea, and one of the largest ports in Europe.


Constanta is located in a region of Romania called Dobrogea, which is the land between the Danube River to the west and the Black Sea to the east. The history of the city goes back to 657 BC when it was the Greek controlled town of Tomis. When Romania became a Province of the Roman Empire in 106 AD the Romans later renamed the city after emperor Constantine who fortified and developed the city from 320 - 350 AD. The city was later destroyed in the 8th century by invading Slavs and Avars and then fell under Byzantine control. In 1418 the Turks had there turn at the region until the mid 1800s when the national state of Romania was created in 1862. Constanta was taken by Romania in 1877 after the Romanian War of Independence.

Main Sights

• Ovidiu's Square (Piata Ovidiu)
• The Roman Mosaics (Edificiul Roman cu Mozaic) - Piata Ovidiu 12 (next to the National History & Archeology Museum); Open: Tue. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm, Closed Mon.
• The Genoese Lighthouse (Farul Genovez) - Str. Remus Opreanu
• The Casino (Cazinoul) - Blvd. Carpati 2
• The House with Lions (Casa cu Lei) - Str. Nicolae Titulescu 9
• The Archaeology Park (Parcul Arheologic) - Blvd. Republicii
• St. Peter & Paul Orthodox Cathedral (Catedrala Sf. Apostol Petru si Pavel) - Strada Arhiepiscopiei 25
• The Great Mahmudiye Mosque (Moscheea Mare Mahmoud II) - Strada Arhiepiscopiei 5 (Ovidiu Square)
• The Hunchiar Mosque (Geamia Hunchiar) - Bulevardul Tomis 39

Historic Churches

• St. Mina Orthodox Church (Biserica Ortodoxa Sf. Mina)
• St. Anthony Roman-Catholic Church (Biserica Romano-Catolica Sf. Anton) - Str. Titulescu 11

Museums

• Art Museum (Muzeul de Arta) - Blvd. Tomis 82-84; Tel: (241) 617.012; Open: Wed. - Sun. 9:00am - 8:00pm (October - May, 9:00am - 5:00pm); Closed Mon. & Tue.
• Folk Art Museum (Muzeul de Arta Populara) - Blvd. Tomis 32; Tel: (241) 616.133; Open: Mon. - Sun. 9:00am - 7:30pm (October - May, 9:00am - 5:00pm)
• Ion Jalea Museum (Muzeul Ion Jalea) - Str. Arhiepiscopiei 26; Tel: (241) 618.602; Open: Wed. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mon. & Tue.
• National History & Archeology Museum (Muzeul de Istorie Nationala si Arheologie) - Piata Ovidiu 12; Tel: (241) 618.763; Open: Mon. - Sun. 9:00am - 8:00pm (October - May, 9:00am - 5:00pm)
• Romanian Navy Museum (Muzeul Marinei Romane) - Str. Traian 53; Tel: (241) 619.035; Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
• Aquarium (Acvariul) - Blvd. Elizabeta 2; Tel: (241) 611.277; Open: Mon. - Sun. 9:00am - 8:00pm
• Dolphinarium (Delfinariul) - Blvd. Mamaia 255; Tel: (241) 831.553; Open: daily with 30-minute shows at 10:00am and 2:00pm

Nearby Sights

Black Sea Resorts

• Mamaia - located 3 miles north of Constanta
• Mangalia - located 25 miles south of Constanta
• Histria Fortress & Lake Sinoe (Cetatea Histria & Lacul Sinoe) - located 32 miles north of Constanta; Tel: (241) 618.763; Open: Wed. - Sun. 8:00am - 8:00pm (October - May, 9:00am - 5:00pm); Closed Mon. & Tue.
• Tulcea & the Danube Delta - (UNESCO Heritage Site); located 78 miles northwest of Constanta
• Murfatlar Vineyards - located 15 miles west of Constanta

Useful Information

Transportation

By air:

• Constanta Mihail Kogalniceanu International Airport (CND) - Str. Tudor Vladimirescu 4; Tel: (241) 255.100 or 255.762; www.mk-airport.ro

By train:

• Constanta Train Station (Gara Constanta) - Blvd. Ferdinand 45; Tel: (241) 614.960;

Places

Mamaia