Virtual Meeting Place Romania

This historic Romanian region is placed in the South Eastern part of the country, having the Black sea and the Danube Delta as a natural border on the East. Its territory covers an area of 12,645 km² and contains only two counties: Constanta county and Tulcea county. The climate is seaside marine with hot summers and mild winters. Dobrudja (Dobrogea in Romanian language) can be described in short by its great diversity of cultures and religions. You will be astonished finding here Turks, Tartars, Russians, Lippovans, Hungarians, Gypsies and, of course, Romanians. Crossed by roads that were going towards the centre of the Roman Empire, surrounded by fortresses and many basilicas, this province has known the Christianity faith from the very first centuries. It is often been said that Dobrudja had a strong missionary activity before the other regions of present Romania. The Christian life has an apostolic origin because of the Saint Apostle Andrew who came to this land teaching Christianity.

Coming to the Romanian Black Sea shore will be a good opportunity for you to meet these old beautiful traditions, to see their dances and customs and to listen to their folk songs and legends. Go to their villages and admire the specific architecture of their houses and monuments (churches). You will be impressed by the harmony and the good relations between people being so different. Also you will find a lovely world of flavors and tastes belonging to the Romanian cuisine with Greek, Turkish, Tartar and Bulgarian influences. foreign tourists are always impressed by the delicious tripe soup, by the carp cooked with onions and oil and by the lamb dishes and by the variety of shellfish prepared with garlic sauce.

Archaeological finds show that this territory was inhabited since Paleolithic Age. The commerce had a great influence for the development of this region. In the 7^th century B.C. Greeks were coming here and set up their first settlements: Histria, Tomis (on the present territory of Constanta city) and Callatis (now called Mangalia city). Histria is placed near Sinoe Lake - which was then a gulf to the Black Sea - at 65 km to Constanta. It was named after the ancient name of Danube - Istros - and it was the first recorded Greek colony on the present Romanian territory. Histria was a big town and it was famous both in Greek and Roman period. Even Alexander the Great reached this bay with his fleet. In 15 A.D. Histria fortress entered in the Dacian kingdom ruled by Romans. Unfortunately it was damaged by Goths in 248 A.D. and its restoration never lead the town to the previous fame. Sinoe became a lake and the town lost its importance. Today its ruins are telling a whole story about those rich old times: the Roman Wall, the Hellenic Wall, the Temple of Zeus and many ruins of defense walls, squares, basilicas, thermae, shops and workshops.

Adamclisi is one of the main touristic targets while visiting Dobrudja. It is a valuable monument built during the Roman period which was called "Tropaeum Traiani". These vestiges remember to nowadays generations the battles between Dacians and Romans in 101-102 A.D. The monument was ordered by the Roman Emperor Trajan in 109 A.D. On the fa�ade there were 54 war scenes stone carved around the walls but nowadays you may see only 49. Dacians are showed wearing the same clothes as many Romanian peasants living today in the plain or hilly regions of the country. On the top of the ancient monument it was a huge statue representing a proud soldier as a symbol of the victorious Roman army. In Adamclisi region it was settled the biggest civil fortress in Dobrudja with many towers, high stone walls, roads paved with stone pieces, edifices and civil buildings. This flourishing settlement was destroyed in the 2nd century and even it was rebuilt, it never reached the initial development.

Dobrudja is a wonderful invitation to all visitors in any season due to its unique mixture of natural sights and historic attractions. From mid May till the end of September foreign tourists are coming to spend a few days in the modern resorts on the Black Sea coast. Constanta Airport has many charter flights during summer so you can reach Dobrudja very easily. Of course, you may choose to come here by road, by rail or by water - each option having its particular advantage.

Constanta

The capital of Dobrudja is Constanta - the biggest and the most important city of the region. This Romanian main seaport can be reached easily by plane, by train, by car or by ship. Constanta is a town full of life and color especially during summer.

The ancient Tomis was set up in the 7^th - 6^th centuries B.C. on a small peninsula. It had a gradually extension to West and North West, especially under the Roman rule when Tomis became a rich settlement and an important political town. It reached a great prosperity in the second century A.D. being considered the biggest port on the Western shore of the Pontus Euxinus (the ancient name of the Black Sea). Tomis faced the attacks of the migratory people (6^th and 7^th centuries), it was destroyed by Avars and Bulgarians but this town survived and it was rebuilt because its strategically placement. In the 11^th century Constanta (already known under this name) was mentioned as a big port on the Middle Ages charts. A few centuries later, the town and the entire region placed between the Danube river and the Black Sea were included in Wallachia.

The troubled history continued but after the Independence War (1877-1878) Constanta started to know the real economic development: there were set up several factories, were built many silos and the port flourished continuously. A big railway bridge over the Danube was built in 1895 to make the transportation to Constanta more easily than before. Constanta became the main sea port of the country. Here are placed the biggest shipyards of Romania. Visiting the Romanian Navy Museum you will see the whole history of the navigation of this region (full scale models, weapons, anchors, naval installations, boats and sailors costumes).

Also Constanta has an interesting Museum of History and Archaeology which displays many things that remember local history: Greek and Roman jewels, inscriptions and drawings from the cave complex of Basarabi and the statues excavated near the former railway station among which you will see the unique Glykon serpent, Fortuna's statue and a funerary niche. In Constanta you will admire a Roman thermae, a Genoese lighthouse, The Roman building with a beautiful mosaic on a surface of 700 m² famous in the whole Europe (dated 3^rd - 6^th centuries), the surrounding Roman Wall with its entrance gate and the defense towers and several other vestiges.

But Constanta is a lovely city full of parks and flowers. Its modern buildings, beautiful restaurants, the Theatre, the Casino are a proof of Romanian present architectural style. If you will take a walk on its long cliff you can visit the Aquarium - an interesting collection of more than 130 species of fish of the Black Sea, the Danube Delta, the Mediterranean Sea and exotic ones. It is interesting to see a show at the Dolphin Aquarium where dolphins are trained to perform by Romanian trainers.

In this city you can visit the biggest Turkish Mosque in Romania which was built in 1910 as a copy of Konieth mosque of Anatolia. Its 50 m tall minaret can offer you a large perspective of the city. As a matter of fact you will find in Constanta a Roman Catholic Church, a Greek Church, an Armenian Church, a synagogue and a mosque. Among the beautiful buildings you will notice easily the monumental Orthodox Cathedral "St. Peter and St. Paul". Going there, you will be delighted by its marble columns, by its mural paintings showing many Christian themes, by its icons and its general interior aspect. Foreign tourists said many times that the harmony of colors gave them a special holy feeling while admiring this piece of Christian art.

The Planetarium and the Astronomic Observatory will complete your tour in Constanta and it will create wonderfull memories. After the stars, go back to the Earth and take a long walk. Don't forget to admire the most beautiful building in town : the Casino. From here you will have the splendid view of the Romanian Black Sea coast. The sounds of waves dancing in the sun will create a special music for your ears, music hard to forget!