Things to do in Mamaia

Ovidiu's Square

(Piata Ovidiu)
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.

The Roman Mosaics

(Edificul Roman cu Mozaic)
Address: Piata Ovidiu 12 (next to the National History & Archeology Museum)
Open: Tue. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm;
Closed Mon.
A 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 4th century AD and developed over the centuries, it was the city's commercial centre until the 7th 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.

The Genoese Lighthouse

(Farul Genovez)
Address: Str. Remus Opreanu
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 13th century.

The Casino

(Cazinoul)
Address: Blvd. Carpati 2
Tel: (241) 617.416

During the 1914 visit of the Russian Imperial Family, the casino was host to a royal gala. Despite diplomatic negotiations, Grand Duchess Olga refused the proposed marriage to Prince Carol of Romania and the Russians sailed away. The Grand Duchess was later killed by the Bolsheviks along with the rest of her family.

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 House with Lions

(Casa cu Lei)
Address: Str. Nicolae Titulescu 9
Blending pre-Romantic and Genovese architectural styles, this late 19th century building features four columns adorned with imposing sculptured lions. During the 1930s, its elegant salons hosted the Constanta Masonic Lodge.

The Archaeology Park

(Parcul Arheologic)
Address: Blvd. Republicii
The park houses columns and fragments of 3rd and 4th century buildings and a 6th century tower.

St. Peter & Paul Orthodox Cathedral

(Catedrala Sf. Apostol Petru si Pavel)
Address: Strada Arhiepiscopiei 25
Tel: (241) 611.408
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.

The Great Mahmudiye Mosque

(Moscheea Mare Mahmoud II)
Address: Strada Arhiepiscopiei 5 (Ovidiu Square)
Built in 1910 by King Carol I, the mosque is the seat of the Mufti, the spiritual leader of the 55,000 Muslims (Turks and Tatars by origin) who live along the coast of the Dobrogea region. The building combines Byzantine and Romanian architectural elements, making it one of the most distinctive mosques in the area. The centerpiece of the interior is a large Persian carpet, a gift from Sultan Abdul Hamid. Woven at the Hereche Handicraft Centre in Turkey, it is one of the largest carpets in Europe, weighing 1,080 pounds. The main attraction of the mosque is the 164-ft minaret (tower) which offers a stunning view of the old downtown and harbor. Five times a day, the muezzin climbs 140 steps to the top of the minaret to call the faithful to prayer.

The Hunchiar Mosque

(Geamia Hunchiar)
Address: Bulevardul Tomis 39

This mosque was the first reinforced concrete building in Romania. In time, the steel-concrete rusted; restoration of the tower and cupola was completed in 1959.

Built in 1867 - 1868 by order of Sultan Abdul Azis, the mosque was constructed of sandstone taken from an Ottoman bridge which had been destroyed in 1828. Its architecture reflects Moorish style and the interior still preserves original Oriental ornaments.

Historic Churches

St. Mina Orthodox Church

(Biserica Ortodoxa Sf. Mina)
Address: Parcul Tabacarie
Built by master carpenters from the Maramures region in authentic Romanian style, this is the biggest wooden church in Romania, 85 ft long and 40 ft wide topped by a 140-ft tower.

St. Anthony Roman-Catholic Church

(Biserica Romano-Catolica Sf. Anton)
Address: Str. Titulescu 11
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 13th century Romanic style.

Museums

Art Museum

(Muzeul de Arta)
Address: Blvd. Tomis 82-84
Tel: (241) 617.012
Open: Wed. - Sun. 9:00am - 8:00pm (October - May, 9:00am - 5:00pm);
Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Established in 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)
Address: Blvd. Tomis 32
Tel: (241) 616.133
Open: Mon. - Sun. 9:00am - 7:30pm (October - May, 9:00am - 5:00pm)
Admission charge (English tour guide available)
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 18th and 19th centuries. Folk arts and crafts are available at the museum gift shop.

Ion Jalea Museum

(Muzeul Ion Jalea)
Address: Str. Arhiepiscopiei 26
Tel: (241) 618.602
Open: Wed. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
The museum features works in bronze, marble, stone and gypsum by Ion Jalea, one of the forefathers of modern and contemporary sculpture.

National History & Archeology Museum

(Muzeul de Istorie Nationala si Arheologie)
Address: Piata Ovidiu 12
Tel: (241) 618.763
Open: Mon. - Sun. 9:00am - 8:00pm (October - May, 9:00am - 5:00pm)
Admission charge
An impressive collection of artifacts from Greek, Roman, and Daco-Roman civilizations 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 3rd 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)
Address: Str. Traian 53
Tel: (241) 619.035
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge (English tour guide available)
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 16th century, a mid-17th 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)
Address: Blvd. Elizabeta 2
Tel: (241) 611.277
Open: Mon. - Sun. 9:00am - 8:00pm
Admission charge
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.

Dolphinarium

(Delfinariul)
Address: Blvd. Mamaia 255
Tel: (241) 831.553
Open: daily with 30-minute shows at 10:00am and 2:00pm
Admission charge
Two sea lions, John and Lorry, and the veteran star dolphin, Mark, will put on their best "moves" for you.

Tours - Walking / Bus

Constanta - Sightseeing Bus Tours

Constanta sightseeing bus tours
will be operated daily from June 21 until September 15, 2013
on a fleet of double-decker buses.

Please note that this is not a hop on / off tour,
tickets are valid for one boarding only,
no matter the distance traveled.
Fast Facts
Hours of operation: 9 am - 9 pm
Frequency: every 30 minutes
Total length of the route: 9.5 miles
Number of stops: 17
Sights and major attractions include: downtown Constanta, Genoese Lighthouse, Ovidiu Square, The Vacation Village, Dolphinarium, Mamaia Casino.
Day ticket (card):
Adults: 4 lei (about $1.20)
Children (up to 7 years old): free
Route and stops:
Constanta train Station (Gara Constanta) - Genoese Lighthouse (Farul Genovez) - City Hall / Archeology Park - Constanta Theater (Teatrul Constanta) -
Dolphinarium (Delfinariu) - Vacation Village (Sat de Vacanta) - Aqua Magic Park -
Mamaia Casino (Cazino Mamaia) - Caraiman Hotel (Mamaia Nord).
Return to Constanta train Station (Gara Constanta) will be on the same route.
Additional information:
office@asociatia-litoral.ro
Telephone: (011 4) 0241 831.321

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

Where: 3 miles north of Constanta
Access: car, taxi, public transportation
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 hip 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 times crowded, the park is a local come-together with a charm of its own. The Summer Theatre of Mamaia is the venue for the annual Romanian Pop Music Festival and various other shows.

Day Trips

Mangalia

Where: 25 miles south of Constanta
Access: car, bus, train
Built on the site where the city of Callatis stood 2,400 years ago and where ancient stone tombs, statues of gods and other artifacts have been found, Mangalia provides treatments for afflictions related to the kidneys, digestive and nervous systems, skin and liver. Its name comes from the Byzantine word Pangalia, meaning "the most beautiful," and it developed as a spa resort after the Second World War.
While in Mangalia, you can visit the Callatis Archeological Museum, the ruins of the Callatis Fortress (7th century BC), the Syrian Basilica and the 16th century Esmahan Sultan Mosque, the oldest mosque in Romania.

Histria Fortress & Lake Sinoe

(Cetatea Histria & Lacul Sinoe)
Where: 32 miles north of Constanta
Access: car, maxi taxis from Constanta
Tel: (241) 618.763
Open: Wed. - Sun. 8:00am - 8:00pm
(October - May, 9:00am - 5:00pm); Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge for the museum and the site
Heading north from Constanta towards Tulcea, you'll pass through Istria. Four miles east of the village, on the shores of Lake Sinoe, is the ruined Greek-Roman city of Histria. Histria Fortress, the Pompeii of Romania, was the oldest Greek settlement in Romania. Founded in the 7th Century BC by Greeks from Miletos, the richest city in Ionia (Asia Minor), this trading post soon became the main Greek port on the Black Sea. The city thrived for fourteen centuries, prospering under Roman and Byzantine occupation until invading forces wiped it off the map in the 7th century AD.
The lost city features remains of Aphrodite's Temple, the Temple of Zeus, Roman baths and other public buildings from the Roman-Byzantine period. The nearby museum (Open: Tue. - Sun 9:00am - 8:00pm; Closed Mon.) houses a collection of coins, ceramic items and other vestiges of the great civilizations that thrived on the Black Sea coast, or Pontus Euxin's, at it was called in ancient times.
Near Histria Fortress, you can visit one of the most beautiful lagoons in the country, Lake Sinoe, an extension of Lake Razim. The lake makes for an excellent bird watching site; 267 species have been recorded. The area is a stretch of marshy land and reedbeds between the freshwater Lake Nuntasi and the brackish lagoon of Lake Sinoe (the last one was open to the sea until 1960). Lake Razim is popular for bird-watching, especially in November when thousands of Red-Breasted Geese arrive from the Arctic.

Jurilovca

Where: 47 miles north of Constanta (7 miles southeast of Babdag)
Access: car, maxi taxis from Constanta
A quaint fishing village, Jurilovca was established by the Lipovani fishermen in the 18th century.
At Capul Dolosman, to the east of Jurilovca, you can admire vestiges of a 6th century BC Greek colony, the oldest antique habitat on Romanian territory, mentioned for the first time by Hecateus from Millet (6th -5th centuries BC). "Capul Dolosman" is one of the strictly protected areas of the Delta Biosphere Reserve. This is popular spot for bird-watching, especially in November when thousands of Red-Breasted Geese arrive from the Arctic Circle. Nearby you can explore Lake Razim, once a bay on the Black Sea knows as the Gulf of Halmyris. A thin coastal strop of land encloses the lake from the open waters. In Jurilovca you can rent a boat to take you across to Gura Portitei (1 ½ hours away) on the shores of Lake Golovita.

Enisala

Where: 51 miles south of Constanta
(3 miles east of Babadag)
Access: car, maxi taxis from Constanta
Former Roman, then Byzantine and Genoese fortress, Enisala is today a village stretching between lakes Babadag and Razim. Here you can visit a traditional fisherman's house converted into a museum displaying colorful tapestries and folk art.

Enisala Peasant Museum

(Gospodaria Taraneasca)
Open: Wed. - Mon. 10:00am - 6:00pm;
Closed Tue.
Admission charge
About 1 mile north, overlooking Lake Razim,
are the vestiges of the Heracleea citadel (Cetatea Heracleea), built by Genoese merchants in late 13th century, conquered by Sultan Mehmet I in 1417 (who renamed it "o Yeni Sale") and finally abandoned by the 16th century.
This is Europe's prime birdwatching area and you are likely to spot white-fronted and red-breasted geese, terns, waders, pelicans, herons and warblers.

Babadag

Where: 57 miles south of Constanta
on DN 22
Access: car, bus, maxi taxis from Constanta
The town of Babadag, known during the Roman rule as Vicus Novium, was first documented in 1263. Between 1262 and 1264 some 12,000 Turks, led by Sara Saltuk Baba, settled around Babadag at the request of Byzantine emperor Michael III. Between 1677 and 1678, the residence of Pasha of Silistra was established here to better observe the troop movements of the Russians, with whom Turkey was at war.

The name of the town comes from Baba (meaning father in Arabic) and Dagh (meaning mountain). Legend has it that a few centuries ago, here lived a shepherd called Korun Baba. One day, while leading his flock, he met some Turkish monks who asked him of Sari Saltuk's tomb. The shepherd answered that he knows nothing of this tomb, but that he noticed that on the mountain's peak, his sheep avoid a place covered with stones. The monks started digging that place, and at sunset found the bones of the saint. Then the monks raised the mausoleum that can still be seen standing today. Upon the shepherd's death, the locals buried him close to the Muslim saint. Legend also has it that the very place where the shepherd rested, the earth split in two, in order to mark the tomb.

The Museum of Oriental Art in Babadag is worth paying a visit. Its collections feature wooden, ivory and mother-of-pearl artifacts, religious items, daggers, tea services, a splendid bridal gown sawn with gold thread, Turkish dolls, Siraz, Sirme , and Anatolia carpets, and Kashmir shawls said to have taken a quarter of century to make.
Other places of interest here include the Ali-Gazi-Pasha Mosque, the oldest in Romania (1522), and the nearby Kalaigi water spring, in which the pilgrims from all over the Balkans come to bathe their feet. Visitors are also shown the ruined tomb of Ali-Gazi-Pasha, who long ago, was the terror of the region and possessed a harem of eight hundred captive women.

Tulcea & the Danube Delta

(UNESCO Heritage Site)
Where: 78 miles northwest of Constanta
Access: car, bus, train (with transfer in Medgidia)
Visit Tulcea, one of the oldest cities in Romania, and continue with an exploration of the Danube Delta, one of Europe's leading wildlife sanctuaries. The Delta is a 2,200-square-mile wildlife reserve designated by UNESCO as a 'Reservation of the Biosphere'. Its tree-fringed lakes, reed islands, marshes and oak forests are home to more than 3,400 animal species, along with over a thousand varieties of plant life. The Delta's waters teem with some 160 species of fresh- and salt-water fish. Bird-watchers will be especially enthralled here, with opportunities to spot more than 300 species of migratory and permanent birds including eagles, egrets, vultures, geese, cranes, ibises, cormorants, swans and pelicans.

Murfatlar Vineyards

Where: 15 miles west of Constanta
Access: car
More than 300 days of sunshine a year, long and warm autumns and cool winds from the Black Sea make this region ideal for the production of sweet dessert wines such as late harvest Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. At the Murfatlar Vineyard, you can enjoy traditional dishes from the Dobrogea region and sample some of the finest wines, such as the award-winning Lacrima lui Ovidiu, 3 Hectare Limited Edition, Sec de Murfatlar and Rai de Murfatlar, while taking in the picturesque landscape from the wine cellar's terrace. Complete the tour with a visit to the Vine and Wine Museum, located near the wine cellar. On display, you will find ancient Greek and Roman amphorae and an impressive collection of wine presses, proof of Dobrogea's noble wine-making tradition.

Adamclisi

Where: 35 miles southwest of Constanta
Access: car, bus
Open: Wed. - Sun. 8:00am - 8:00pm (October - May, 9:00am - 5:00pm);
Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Of great significance to the birth of the Romanian nation, the Roman complex of Tropaeun Traiani in Adamclisi was built in AD 109 by the well-known architect, Apollodor of Damascus, to celebrate the victory of Rome over Dacia. Similar to Trajan's Column in Rome, the monument features scenes of battle between the Roman and Dacian armies. The monument itself has been completely renovated and all the old elements forming the complex were moved inside a nearby museum for preservation.

Performing Arts

Opera & Symphonic Music

Constanta Opera House (Teatrul Liric Constanta)
Address: Str. Mircea cel Batran 97
Tel. (241) 611.536
E-mail: operaconstanta@acasa.ro
Oleg Danovski Classical Ballet Theatre (Teatrul de Balet Clasic Oleg Danovski Oleg)
Address: Str. Rascoala din 1907 Nr.1
Tel: (241) 519.045 or 519.058
Black Sea Philharmonic (Filarmonica Marea Neagra)
Str. Mircea cel Batran 97
Tel: (241) 618.028

Theatre

Elpis Puppet Theatre (Teatrul De Papusi Elpis)
Address: Str. Karatzali 16
Tel: (241) 618.992
Fantasio Theatre (Teatrul de Revista Fantasio)
Address: Blvd. Ferdinand 11
Tel: (241) 616.036
Fantasio Summer Theatre (Teatrul de Vara Fantasio)
Address: Parcul Tabacariei
Tel: (241) 642.187
Ovidius Drama Theatre (Teatrul Dramatic Ovidius)
Address: Str. Mircea cel Batran 97
Tel: (241) 708.612 or 708.613
Email: teatrul.ovidiu@rdsct.ro

CITY ESSENTIALS

Transportation

Constanta is easily accessible from Bucharest (Bucuresti)
by plane (approximately 35 minutes),
by train (approximately 4 1/2 hours) and
by car or bus (approximately 3 ½ hours).

By air

Constanta Mihail Kogalniceanu International Airport (CND)
Address: Str. Tudor Vladimirescu 4
Tel: (241) 255.100 or 255.762
Web: www.mk-airport.ro
The airport is located about 15 miles from downtown Constanta. Taxis are readily available outside the arrivals area.
Airlines with service to Constanta:
Blue Air - www.BlueAir-web.com
Direct flights from/to: Brussels
Ryan Air - www.RyanAir.com
Direct flights from/to: Bologna and Pisa (Italy)

Port of Constanţa

The Port of Constanța is located in Constanța, Romania, on the western coast of the Black Sea, 179 nautical miles (332 km) from the Bosphorus Strait and 85 nmi (157 km) from the Sulina Branch, through which the Danube river flows into the sea. It covers 3,926 ha (9,700 acres), of which 1,313 ha (3,240 acres) is land and the rest, 2,613 ha (6,460 acres), is water. The two breakwaters located northwards and southwards shelter the port, creating the safest conditions for port activities. The present length of the north breakwater is 8.344 km (27,380 ft) and the south breakwater is 5.560 km (18,240 ft). The Port of Constanța is the largest on the Black Sea and the 18th largest in Europe.
The favourable geographical position and the importance of the Port of Constanța is emphasized by the connection with two Pan-European transport corridors: Corridor VII – Danube (inland waterway) and Corridor IV (railway). The two satellite ports, Midia and Mangalia, located not far from Constanța Port, are part of the Romanian maritime port system under the coordination of the Maritime Ports Administration SA.

History

The history of the port is closely related to the history of Constanța. Although Constanța was founded in the 2nd century AD the old Greek colony of Tomis was founded in the 6th century BC. The port-city was organised as an emporium to ease the trade between the Greeks and the local peoples. The Greek influence is maintained until the 1st century BC, when the territory between the Danube and the Black Sea was occupied by the Romans. The first years of Roman governorate were recorded by Ovid, who was exiled to Tomis for unknown reasons. In the next hundred years the port had a substantial development and the city changes its name to Constanța in honour of the Roman Emperor Constantine I.
In the Byzantine period the evolution of the port is halted due to the frequent invasions by the migratory people, the trade was fading and the traders were looking for other more secure markets like Venice or Genoa but many constructions in the port maintain the name genovese in the memory of the merchants from the Italian city. After a brief period when the port was under Romanian rule, the Dobruja region was occupied by the Ottoman Empire. In 1857, the Turkish authorities leased the port and the Cernavodă–Constanța Railway to the British company Danube and Black Sea Railway and Kustendge Harbour Company Ltd.
The construction of the port began on October 16, 1896, when King Carol I set the first stepping stone for the construction and modernization of the port. The construction works were started with the help of Romanian engineer I. B. Cantacuzino, and the later developments were attributed to Gheorghe Duca and Anghel Saligny. The port was finished and first opened in 1909 and had adequate facilities for that time, with 6 storage basins, a number of oil reservoirs, and grain silos. With these facilities, the port operated 1.4 million tons of cargo in 1911. Between the two World Wars, the port was equipped with a corn drier and a floating dock; a new building for the port administration was built and a stock exchange was established. In 1937, the amount of cargo handled was 6,200,000 tonnes (6,100,000 long tons; 6,800,000 short tons).
Starting with 1967, the port was expanded to the south. The construction of the Danube–Black Sea Canal, which opened in 1984, had a major role in the development of the port. After the opening of the canal, the port grew very fast and after two decades it covered an area of 3,900 hectares (9,600 acres). The height of cargo traffic was achieved in 1988, when the port handled 62,200,000 tonnes (61,200,000 long tons; 68,600,000 short tons) of cargo. After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, the port faded in importance for the Romanian economy, traffic was dwindling and in 2000 the port registered its lowest traffic since World War II of 30 million tonnes of cargo. The traffic started growing again after 2003 and reached a record 61,838,000 tonnes (60,861,000 long tons; 68,165,000 short tons) in 2008, the second largest cargo traffic in the history of the port. The most recent terminals entered in service in 2004 (container terminal), 2005 (passenger terminal) and 2006 (barge terminal).

Constanţa from space, October 2002

Operations

Constanța Port has a handling capacity of 100,000,000 tonnes (98,000,000 long tons; 110,000,000 short tons) per year and 156 berths, of which 140 berths are operational. The total quay length is 29.83 kilometres (18.54 mi), and the depths range between 8 and 19 meters. These characteristics are comparable with those offered by the most important European and international ports, allowing the accommodation of tankers with a capacity of 165,000 metric tons deadweight (DWT) and bulkcarriers of 220,000 DWT.
Constanța Port is both a maritime and a river port. Daily, more than 200 river vessels are in the port for cargo loading or unloading or waiting to be operated. The connection of the port with the Danube river is made through the Danube–Black Sea Canal, which represents one of the main strengths of Constanța Port. Important cargo quantities are carried by river, between Constanta and Central and Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and Germany. River traffic is very important for the Constanța Port, having a share of 23.3% of the total traffic in 2005, when 8,800 river vessels called to the port.

Connections

The rail network in the Port of Constanța is connected to the Romanian and European rail network, with the Port of Constanța being a starting and terminus point for Corridor IV, a Pan-European corridor. Round-the-clock train services carry high volumes of cargo to the most important economic areas of Romania and Eastern Europe, the Port of Constanța being also an important transport node of the TRACECA Corridor, providing the connection between Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. The total length of railways in the port amounts to 300 km (190 mi).
The ten gates of the Port of Constanța are connected with the Romanian and European road network via DN39 and DN39A national roads and the A4 motorway. The connection with Corridor IV has a strategic importance, linking the Port of Constanța with the landlocked countries from Central and Eastern Europe. Constantza port is also located close to Corridor IX, passing through Bucharest. The total length of roads in the port amounts to 100 km (62 mi).
The oil terminal has seven operational jetties. Jetties allow berthage for vessels up to 165,000 DWT capacity. Connection between storage farms and jetties is done by a 15 km (9.3 mi) underground and overground pipelines network. Pipelines total length is 50 km (31 mi). The Port of Constanța is connected to the national pipeline system and to the main Romanian refineries. The port is also a starting and terminus point for the Pan-European Pipeline designed to the transportation of Russian and Caspian oil to Central Europe.

Satellite ports

Main articles: Port of Midia and Port of Mangalia

Constanţa Shipyard

The two satellite ports of Constanța are Midia, located 25 km (16 mi) north of the Constanța complex and Mangalia, 38 km (24 mi) to the south. Both perform a vital function in the overall plan to increase the efficiency of the main port's facilities - and both are facing continuous upgradings in order to meet the growing demands of cargo owners. In 2004 the traffic achieved by the two satellite ports was 3% from the general traffic, 97% being achieved by the Port of Constanța.
The Port of Midia is located on the Black Sea coastline, approx 13.5 nmi (25.0 km) north of Constanța. The north and south breakwaters have a total length of 6.7 km (4.2 mi). The port covers 834 ha (89,800,000 sq ft) of which 234 ha (25,200,000 sq ft) is land and 600 ha (65,000,000 sq ft) is water. There are 14 berths (11 operational berths, three berths belong to Constanța Shipyard) with a total length of 2.24 km (1.39 mi). Further to dredging operations performed the port depths are increased to 9 m (30 ft) at crude oil discharging berths 1–4, allowing access to tankers having a 8.5 m (28 ft) maximum draught and 20,000 DWT.
The Port of Mangalia is located on the Black Sea, close to the southern border with Bulgaria, and over 260 km (160 mi) north of Istanbul. It covers 142.19 ha (15,305,000 sq ft) of which 27.47 ha (2,957,000 sq ft) is land and 114.72 ha (12,348,000 sq ft) is water. The north and south breakwaters have a total length of 2.74 km (1.70 mi). There are 4 berths (2 operational berths) with a total length of 540 m (1,770 ft). The maximum depth is 9 m (30 ft).

Statistics

Port of Mangalia

Constanţa shipyard

In 2012 the Port of Constanța handled a total traffic of 50,584,662 tonnes (49,785,755 long tons; 55,760,045 short tons) of cargo and 684,059 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) making it the ninth busiest cargo port in Europe. The port is the main container hub in the Black Sea and all direct lines between Asia and Black Sea call in Constanța. This is due to the efficiency of the Constanţa South Container Terminal (CSCT), operated by DP World, and to the natural position of the port with deep water (up to 18.5 m (61 ft)) and a direct link to the Danube. The main port operators are A. P. Moller-Maersk Group, APM Terminals, Dubai Ports World, SOCEP, Oil Terminal S.A. and Comvex.

General statistics, 2005—2013

Years	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Total traffic	60,631,737	57,126,389	57,779,915	61,837,716	42,014,178	47,563,879	45,972,095	50,584,662	55,138,057
Liquid bulk	15,393,709	14,731,819	14,066,523	14,444,476	11,810,554	11,210,940	10,616,509	10,014,672	10,090,966
Dry bulk	31,367,349	28,023,866	25,281,750	30,303,512	21,150,690	27,157,391	24,732,592	29,521,193	34,906,181
General Cargo	6,426,900	4,554,946	5,788,639	4,059,746	3,154,924	3,307,669	4,105,327	4,512,443	3,597,556
Containers (Gross Weight)	7,443,779	9,815,758	12,643,003	13,029,982	5,898,010	5,887,879	6,517,667	6,536,354	6,543,354
Containers (number)	493,214	672,443	912,509	894,876	375,293	353,711	414,096	416,807	399,372
Containers (TEU's)	768,099	1,037,077	1,411,414	1,380,935	594,299	556,694	662,796	684,059	661,124
Seagoing vessels	5,510	5,049	5,663	5,905	4,961	5,202	4,872	5,507	4,833
River vessels	8,779	8,180	7,238	8,030	6,823	7,945	8,069	9,312	9,233

* figures in tonnes

Terminals

Port of Tomis

The annual traffic capacity of the liquid bulk terminal is 24,000,000 tonnes (24,000,000 long tons; 26,000,000 short tons) for unloading and 10,000,000 tonnes (9,800,000 long tons; 11,000,000 short tons) for loading, it is specialised in importing crude oil, diesel, gas and exporting refined products and chemical products. The terminal has nine berths and the main operator is Oil Terminal S.A.. Rompetrol invested US$175 million in a new oil terminal finished in 2008, with an annual capacity of 24,000,000 tonnes (24,000,000 long tons; 26,000,000 short tons).
There are two specialised terminals that operate iron ore, bauxite, coal and coke with 13 berths, a storage capacity of 4,700,000 tonnes (4,600,000 long tons; 5,200,000 short tons) simultaneously and an annual traffic capacity of around 27,000,000 tonnes (27,000,000 long tons; 30,000,000 short tons). The terminal has 10 berths with storage facilities for phosphorus 36,000 tonnes (35,000 long tons; 40,000 short tons), urea 30,000 tonnes (30,000 long tons; 33,000 short tons) and chemical products 48,000 tonnes (47,000 long tons; 53,000 short tons). The annual traffic capacity is 4,200,000 tonnes (4,100,000 long tons; 4,600,000 short tons). There are two terminals for cereals in Constanța North and Constanța South, with a total annual traffic capacity of 5,000,000 tonnes (4,900,000 long tons; 5,500,000 short tons). Constanța North Terminal has five berths, a storage capacity of 1,080,000 tonnes (1,060,000 long tons; 1,190,000 short tons) per year, and an annual traffic capacity of 2,500,000 tonnes (2,500,000 long tons; 2,800,000 short tons). Constanța South Terminal has one berth, a storage capacity of 1,000,000 tonnes (980,000 long tons; 1,100,000 short tons) per year, and an annual traffic capacity of 2.5 million tonnes. For refrigerated products, the terminal has one berth and an annual storage capacity of 17,000 tonnes (17,000 long tons; 19,000 short tons) tonnes. The terminal has one berth, the organic oils are stored in seven storage tanks of 25,000 tonnes (25,000 long tons; 28,000 short tons) each, and the molasses is directly discharged in ships, rail cars or tankers.
For cement and construction materials, there are two terminals with seven berths and a storage capacity of 40,000 tonnes and an annual traffic capacity of 4 million tonnes. There is also a private cement terminal operated by a Spanish company Ceminter International with an annual traffic capacity of 1 million tonnes. There is one timber terminal built in 2006 with one berth and an annual traffic capacity of 600,000 tonnes (590,000 long tons; 660,000 short tons) per year, or 850,000 cubic metres (30,000,000 cu ft) per year, operated by Kronospan.
There are two roll on roll off (roro) terminals with two berths, one in Constanța North with storage for 4,800 vehicles and one in Constanța South with storage for 1,800 vehicles. There is also a private RORO terminal only for automobiles operated by Romcargo Maritim with a storage capacity for 6,000 automobiles which covers an area of 2.5 ha (6.2 acres) in Constanța North. The ferry-boat terminal has one berth used for loading and unloading railway cars, locomotives and trucks. The terminal has an annual traffic capacity of 1 tonne (0.98 long ton; 1.1 short tons). There are two container terminals with 14 berths, one in Constanța North with two berths, and an area of 11.4 ha (1,230,000 sq ft), and one in Constanța South with 12 berths with the most important Constanța South Container Terminal.
Hutchison Whampoa is interested in investing around US$ 80 million in a new container terminal of 650–700,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) located in Constanța South on a 35 ha (3,800,000 sq ft) plot of land. The terminal will be finished in 2010. The passenger terminal situated in Constanța North has an annual traffic capacity of 100,000 people. In 2008, the port was visited by 80 ships (45 marine ships and 35 river ships) which had on board around 30,000 tourists; a 20% increase from 2007.
The barge terminal has one berth and it is located in Constanța South on the eastern shore of the Danube–Black Sea Canal. The berth is 1.2 km (0.75 mi) long and the water is seven meters deep. The tugboat terminal has one berth and it is located in Constanța South on the western shore of the Danube–Black Sea Canal. The berth is 300 m (980 ft) long and the water is five meters deep. Both terminals have an annual traffic capacity of 10,000,000 tonnes (9,800,000 long tons; 11,000,000 short tons).
In 2010 the largest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal in Romania was opened in the Port of Midia by Octogon Gas, after an initial investment of €12 million. The terminal occupies an area of 24,000 m (260,000 sq ft) and has a storage capacity of 4,000 m (140,000 cu ft) in 10 storage tanks 400 m (14,000 cu ft) each. The terminal also involved the construction of a new 120 m (390 ft) long berth.

Constanţa metropolitan area

The Constanţa metropolitan area, is a metropolitan area, established in 2007, that includes the municipality of Constanţa, the towns of Năvodari, Ovidiu, Eforie, Murfatlar, Techirghiol and 8 communes: Mihail Kogălniceanu, Cumpăna, Valu lui Traian, Lumina, Tuzla, Agigea, Corbu and Poarta Albă. It has a population of 425,916, in an area consisting of 16% of Constanţa County.
Such administrative arrangement existed in an approximative similarity before 1989, when Constanţa Municipality included also the city of Mangalia and the communes 23 August and Limanu, together with all the summer resorts located between 23 August and Mangalia (the so-called "Mangalia Nord" resorts area).
However this administrative reform exists only on paper, nothing being done so far to put this decision into practice (e.g. unified local administration and transportation).

History of Dobruja

Tomis (also called Tomi) was a Greek colony in the province of Scythia Minor on the Black Sea shore, founded around 600 BC for commercial exchanges with the local Getic populations. The name may likely be derived from Greek Τομή meaning cutpiece, section.
According to one myth dating from Antiquity, found in the Bibliotheca, it was founded by Aeetes:

"When Aeetes discovered the daring deeds done by Medea, he started off in pursuit of the ship; but when she saw him near, Medea murdered her brother and cutting him limb from limb threw the pieces into the deep. Gathering the child's limbs, Aeetes fell behind in the pursuit; wherefore he turned back, and, having buried the rescued limbs of his child, he called the place Tomi."

Another legend is recorded by Jordanes (after Cassiodorus), who ascribes the foundation of the city to a Getae queen (The origin and deeds of the Goths):

"After achieving this victory (against Cyrus the Great) and winning so much booty from her enemies, Queen Tomyris crossed over into that part of Moesia which is now called Lesser Scythia - a name borrowed from Great Scythia -, and built on the Moesian shore of the Black Sea the city of Tomi, named after herself."

In 29 BC the Romans captured the region from the Odryses, and annexed it as far as the Danube, under the name of Limes Scythicus.
In AD 8, the Roman poet Ovid (43 BC-17) was banished here by Augustus, where he found his death eight years later. He laments his exile in Tomis in his poems: Tristia and Epistulae ex Ponto. Tomis was "by his account a town located in a war-stricken cultural wasteland on the remotest margins of the empire".

Statue of Ovid in front of the National History and Archaeology Museum

A statue of Ovid stands in the Ovid Square (Piața Ovidiu) of Constanța, in front of the History Museum (the former City Hall).
A number of inscriptions found in the city and its vicinity show that Constanța lies where Tomis once stood. The city was afterwards included in the Province of Moesia, and, from the time of Diocletian, in Scythia Minor, of which it was the metropolis. After the 5th century, Tomis fell under the rule of the Eastern Roman Empire. During Maurice's Balkan campaigns, Tomis was besieged by the Avars in the winter of 597/598.
Tomis was later renamed to Constantiana in honour of Constantia, the half-sister of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (274-337). The earliest known usage of this name was "Κωνστάντια" ("Constantia") in 950. The city lay at the seaward end of the Great Wall of Trajan, and has evidently been surrounded by fortifications of its own. After successively becoming part of the Bulgarian Empire for over 500 years, and later of the independent principality of Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici and of Wallachia under Mircea I of Wallachia, Constanța fell under the Ottoman rule around 1419.
A railroad linking Constanța to Cernavodă was opened in 1860. In spite of damage done by railway contractors there are considerable remains of ancient masonry walls, pillars, etc. An impressive public building, thought to have originally been a port building, has been excavated, and contains the substantial remains of one of the longest mosaic pavements in the world.
In 1878, after the Romanian War of Independence, Constanța and the rest of Northern Dobruja were ceded by the Ottoman Empire to Romania. The city became Romania's main seaport and transit point for much of Romania's exports.
On October 22, 1916 (during World War I), the Central Powers (German, Turkish and Bulgarian troops) occupied Constanța. According to the Treaty of Bucharest in May 1918, article 10.b (a treaty never ratified by Romania), Constanța remained under the joint control of the Central Powers. Allied troops liberated the city in 1918 after the successful offensive on the Thessaloniki front knocked Bulgaria out of the war.
In the interwar years, the city became Romania's main commercial hub, so that by the 1930s over half of the national exports were going through the port. During World War II, when Romania joined the Axis powers, Constanța was one of the country's main targets for the Allied bombers. While the town was left relatively undamaged, the port suffered extensive damage, recovering only in the early 1950s.

Geography

Mamaia, administratively a district of Constanța

Mamaia, view towards Constanța

Constanța is the administrative center of the county with the same name and the largest city in the EU Southeastern development region of Romania. The city is located on the Black Sea coast, having a beach length of 13 kilometres (8 miles). Mamaia, an administrative district of Constanța, is the largest and most modern resort on the Romanian coast. Close around there are mineral springs and sea bathing also attracts many visitors in summer.

Climate

Constanța is one of the warmest cities in Romania. It has a moderate subtropical climate with considerable maritime and some continental influences. There are four distinct seasons during the year.
Summer (late May to mid September) is warm, dry and sunny with a July and August average of 23 °C (73 °F). The beginning of summer brings plenty of precipitation, but by early July the weather becomes settled and dry. Most summer days see a gentle breeze refreshing the daytime temperatures. Nights are warm and somewhat muggy because of the heat stored by the sea.
Autumn starts in mid or late September with warm and sunny days. September can be warmer than June, owing to the heat accumulated by the Black Sea. The first frost occurs on average in mid November.
Winter is much balmier compared to other cities in southern Romania. Snow is not abundant but the weather can be very windy and unpleasant. Winter arrives much later than in the interior and December weather is often mild with high temperatures reaching 8 °C (46 °F) - 12 °C (54 °F). Average January temperature is 1 °C (34 °F). Winter storms when the sea becomes particularly treacherous are a common occurrence between December and March.
Spring arrives early but it's quite cool. Often in April and May the Black Sea coast is one of the coolest places in Romania found at an altitude lower than 500 m (1,640.42 ft).
4 of the warmest 7 years since 1889 occurred after the year 2000 (2000, 2001, 2007 and 2008). The winter and the summer of 2007 were respectively the warmest and the second warmest in recorded history with monthly averages for January (+6.5°C) and June (+23.0°C) breaking all-time records. Overall 2007 was the warmest year since 1889 when weather recording began.

Constanta

Constanța, istoric numit ca Tomis, este cel mai vechi oras din Romania. A fost fondat in jurul anului 600 IH. Localizat in dobrogea, Romania, pe coasta Marii Negre.
Constanța este al 5-lea oras ca populatie din Romania.