Published on July 4, 2021 by Zoltan Nyaradi
Nestled along the western coast of the Black Sea, Constanta is Romania’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Founded around 600 BC as a Greek colony known as Tomis, Constanta has a storied past that includes Roman conquest, Byzantine influence, and Ottoman rule. This city is about 220 kilometers from Romania’s capital, Bucharest. During our short visit, we spent most of our time in the old town, which is where you’ll find most of the city’s main tourist attractions. After exploring a small part of the old town, it was time to check out the promenade. We started and ended our walk near the port of Constanta.
As you walk along the promenade, you’ll pass by some of Constanta’s most iconic landmarks, including the famous Casino, a stunning Art Nouveau building that has become a symbol of the city. The promenade also takes you past the old Genovese Lighthouse, a historic structure that once guided ships safely into the port.
The Casino
The Casino, an Art Nouveau masterpiece, is perhaps the city’s most iconic landmark. This beautiful building is located on the seafront, near the port. The photos below were taken before the Casino began its restoration. As you can see, the building was neglected by the local authorities at that time, and it had started to fall into disrepair. I’m really curious to see how it will look once the restoration is complete.
The Genovese lighthouse
Not far from the Casino, you will find the old Genovese lighthouse which was used until 1913. Today it only serves as a landmark along with other old buildings in the area. As an interesting fact, this lighthouse was visited by Price Carol I in 1879.
Near the port of Tomis
Continuing our walk on the seafront, we reached a large white building which today is actually the Fleet Command. Not very far from this place, you will find the port of Tomis.
The port of Constanta
The port of Constanta is the largest in Romania and sits on the Black Sea. It’s both a maritime and river port because it’s connected to the Danube through the Danube-Black Sea Canal. This connection allows some cargo to be transported along the Danube to European countries that don’t have direct access to the sea.
What else can you do near the Black Sea
In the small city of Mangalia, which is about 45 km away from Constanta, you can take a boat ride in the port of Mangalia. Usually you can find these small boats that take tourists on ride around to port in the Touristic Port of Mangalia.
