Constanta

Overview

Constanta is located on the Black Sea coast in Romania. In ancient times it was called "Tomis", and the city was settled in the 6th century BC by Greek merchants as a sea port. It was later developed by Romans and renamed after the emperor Constantin. It was here that the poet Ovid was exiled by emperor Octavian Augustus in A.D.8 until his death in A.D.17. The city was attacked and destroyed by Avars in the 7th century AD and was not redeveloped until the 19th century, when King Carol I decided to turn it into an active seaport and seaside resort.

Constanta is now a cultural and economic center in Romania, with a population of 350,000. Its historical monuments, ancient ruins, grand Casino, museums and shops, make it the focal point of Black Sea coast tourism.

The rest of the southern coast consists of Romania's abundant seaside resorts and many of its health spas. Activities include tennis, water-skiing, paragliding, scuba diving, and horseback-riding. Open-air restaurants, discos and cabarets offer a wide variety of entertainments. Accommodations range from numerous hotels, villas and bungalows, to campsites.

History