More than meets the eye in Constanta, Romania

First thing on my agenda after arriving in Romania was to visit the sites in Constanta. Constanta is Romania’s largest port, third largest city, and is located minutes from the string of popular Black Sea resorts in Mamaia.

At first glance, Constanta seems everything but warm and inviting with its sea of soviet era concrete apartment buildings and gangs of stray dogs. Your first impression may be more “concrete jungle” than “oasis by the sea” but don't be too quick to judge.

The main square downtown is the Piata Ovidiu, where a statue of the poet Ovid stands in front of the History and Archaeological Museum (open daily from 9am to 8pm with shorter hours during the winter). Well worth the 10 lei entrance fee, the museum exceeds expectations with two floors of Greek and Roman artifacts and is far lager than it appears from the outside. The museum houses everything from busts of Roman emperors, inscribed marble tablets, statues, swords, and a plethora of pottery.

The artifacts spill onto the lawn on the south side of the museum, where you will also find a walkway leading down to a fourth century Roman mosaic. Nearly 800 square meters of the original 2,000 square metered mosaic are preserved. The second story of glass building surrounding the mosaic also offers a panoramic view of Constanta’s modern port, which is the fourth largest in Europe.

Heading southeast from Piata Ovidiu, you come to the boardwalk and by this time you have completely forgotten about the skyline of concrete buildings as you look out towards the Black Sea. The boardwalk winds along the breakwater of concrete “jacks” as you pass the Genoese Lighthouse, arriving at the Casino. Although the lighthouse can be easily passed by, the Casino is an impressive yet eerie sight. The apparently abandoned Casino is Constanta’s most picturesque sight. Between the Genoese Lighthouse and the Casino there are several other statues and fountains as well as vendors selling souvenirs along the boardwalk.

All in all, Constanta is a great destination for a day trip from Bucharest or the nearby resorts in Mamaia.