About Odessa

And the sun southern, and the sea... That to you more friends! Blessed edges. A. S. Pushkin Historical information.................................. Sights......................................................... Odessa - city a resort................................. Culture, Art, Museums................................

COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT ODESSA

Centuries and centuries ago the land which name is Odessa now, was already populated by people. On the western coast of Kujalnitskiy estuary one of the settlements of people of paleolith epoch was settled down. Odessites hospitably accepted and placed everyone who was wondering in the steppe and when at least reached Odessa bay, unexpectedly understood that had to stay here forever, even at the time Before Christ!

The city Odessa was established in the eighteen century and swiftly developed in the first part of the nineteenth century and in the seventy's of the nineteenth century became the fourth Russian city ( after St.-Petersburg, Moscow and Warsaw) with its social and economic structure not similar to the other cities.

Odessa was one of the largest trans-shipment points not only of Russia but of Europe too and as it had the status of Porto-Franco, until the end of the nineteenth century it became one of the most rich and successful cities of Russia! The basic architectural styles, from classicism up to the variants of baroque and modernism, were presented in the city practically all. Considerable role in the development of the city also the number of people played who were vigorous and talented much enough to understand the potential of the city and to promote the development of its infrastructure. Their names are: Richelieu, Vorontsov, Levashov, Stroganov, Novoselskiy, Marazli and the others.

The southern Palmira, The Black Sea Babylon, Small Paris, The Capital of The South - these are some of the epithets that were given to Odessa! And it was not in vain, because when the city didn't exist yet and only the first harbor piles were put, people who watched this even then predicted brilliant future to the city, maybe they foresaw the birth of happy "golden city"!

Odessa is the largest port on the coast of the Black Sea in the South of Ukraine. It is a major industrial, cultural, scientific center and health resort of high countrywide meaning. Odessa occupies the territory about 160 square kilometers, stretches for 50 kilometers along the coastline of Odessa Bay and has population about 1.5 million of people. In Odessa here are about 1400 streets, avenues, lanes, boulevards and squares. The scientists say that in Odessa here are 15 square meters of greenery per every citizen.

If you want to relax, Odessa is a great place to visit! We have many beautiful beaches and very developed structure of night life, with many disco clubs, cafes and restaurants, different entertainment programs and concerts. Common opinion of tourists who already visited Odessa is that it is very beautiful city and people here are very beautiful and hospitable too. You can find in Odessa everything you wish according to your interests and tastes!

Flag of city It is accepted in 1999. On June, 29th, 1999 authorities of Odessa have approved a flag.

Odessa is one from the largest resort centers of Ukraine. The climate of Odessa differs softness and moderation. An original regulator of climatic conditions is Black sea - it weakens heat in the summer and softens frosts in the winter. The combination of a sea and steppe climate, the warm sea, fine beaches, a plenty of sunny days an abundance of fruit and vegetables - all this creates here exclusive conditions for rest, tourism and strengthenings of health of people. The increasing popularity is won with a new resort zone Carolina-Bugaz, Zatoka. In the summer about 100 bases of rest the Resort here operates to be in 60 kilometers on the SOUTH from Odessa. Located on a height washed from the SOUTH and the WEST by Black sea, surrounded from the north and the east steppes where nothing interferes with free movement of air, Odessa has one of the most healthy climates. Air in it dry, soft, pure, especially in the summer. It much more richly oxygen, than ordinary air. The summer lasts till 145 days.

DERIBASOVSKAYA Street is the very heart of Odessa city. It has its own unique character and magnificent architecture, crowds of people leisurely sit on the terraces of numerous cafes and restaurants at any time of the day and night. You can see that Deribasovskaya Street has perfect cobblestone road with no traffic and big shady linden trees along it! The main street also leads to the City Gardens with its amazing singing fountain, the old summerhouse and the sculpture of lion and lioness. The City Gardens were laid out shortly after the foundation of Odessa city and were its first park.

Historical information

For European countries, Odessa is a young city. It has been founded by Ekaterina the Second in 1794, when Russian empress realized that the sea port on the coast of the Black Sea for expansion of communication with the countries of Europe is necessary for the country. Many years ago in the place where Odessa city is today, the ancient Greek settlement was settled down, then Crimean Tatars lived here. They were replaced here by the Turkish- Osmans who based the Khadjibey fortress which was grasped by the Russian army in 1789. According to its successful geographical location Odessa quickly turned from small settlement in trading, industrial and scientific center on one level with European cities. By the 100th anniversary from its foundation, Odessa borrowed the fourth place by quantity of population and its level of economical development in Russian Empire after such cities as St.-Petersburg, Moscow and Warsaw. During the First World War and after it The Civil War in Russia, the city buried in the ruins and chaos. Odessa received the rank of The Hero City in twentieth century for its unprecedented courage and the courage of its inhabitants in defense of their native city which they shown during the Great Domestic War. Later new machine-building and metal cutting factories, chemical factories, food and light industry and many other fields developed in Odessa. Odessa city became the large industrial center of Ukraine. Its sea-port - is the largest sea-port on the Southern coast of the Black Sea, its moorings were stretched for many kilometers along the coast of the sea. Odessa nowadays still keeps all its denominations and swiftly moves toward new attainments.

The SIGHTS OF ODESSA CITY

Odessa is rich on many interesting places with magnificent architecture and which have big historical importance and of course which are worth to bee seen by the tourists who come to Odessa in hope to open the secret of its wonderful city!

One of such places in Odessa is well-known Potemkinskaya Ladder, which has 192 steps and the citizens of Odessa have the legend that if you want to receive enormous luck in your life, you should go down and up the Ladder by your feet, all 192 steps, discovering how the air and landscape changes when you come closer to the sea or go away from it, to the city! The Ladder was constructed by very famous Odessa leader Vorontsov as a gift for the city and for his wife, Elisabeth, and for this wonderful architectural monument which nowadays is admired by millions of tourists, generous Vorontsov pain 800 thousands of rubles.

Construction of this huge ladder has begun in 1837 and finished in 1841. The author of the project was famous architect of that time F. Boffo, who had important mission to develop carefully the proportions of the construction. After arrival to the Sea-Port and after you will rise up the famous Potemkin Steps, you will see the Seaside parkway - the most beautiful in the city. From here the panorama of the Sea-Port is well visible. Along the parkway many architectural ensembles last. In this district, near one of the most beautiful cities in Odessa, the monument of Great Russian poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin is settled. This Seaside parkway - is a favorite place of the city dwellers and tourists for walking.

Also you can find in Odessa very beautiful Central recreation park named by Ukrainian Great poet Shevchenko. In this park the monument of the Unknown Soldier is situated. The fire that is eternally burning at its bottoms reminds the people about the great feat of defenders of the city. Surely we also have to tell about the main street of the city, Deribasovskaya Street! It received its name thanks to the first mayor of the city Osip Deribas, also Russian admiral (1749-14.12.1800).

The main street of the city is also famous by its numerous restaurants with different kitchens on your taste, pleasant small and big cafes with open summer terraces, fashion -shops and shop centers, and many other places for your entertainment. From Deribasovskaya Street you can come to the City Gardens. There you will feel the atmosphere of the old Odessa, sitting on the bench in front of the colored-singing fountain, in circle of inhabitants of the city and other tourists, enjoying the famous Odessa humor and jokes! The City Gardens is also place for open art-galleries, where the artist place and sell their works, as pictures, different souvenirs, jewels and other things that you can buy as memory about your trip to the "Pearl on the coast of the Black Sea".

ODESSA AS RESORT

Odessa climate is famous by its softness and the abundance of sunny days. In summer thank to breezes, even in hot days you don't feel heat of the nearby steppes. The cultivate dirt of estuaries and mineral sources involve to Odessa a lot of visitors. The resort zone of Odessa is stretched on ten kilometers along the coast of the Black Sea. One of the most popular entertainment summer arias in Odessa is Arcadia, which is situated on the coast of the sea and includes the system on night clubs, famous beaches and places for summer activities on your taste and works twenty four hours a day in warm season. It is also the sanatoria territory; there is balneary, resort policlinic, tourist bases and hotels. On the Odessa coast you can find such beaches as: Luzanovka, Lanzheron, The Joy, The Dolphin, the group of beaches of Big Fountain, Chernomorka and others. You also can visit very famous beach "the Gold Coast", it is luxurious beach with soft white sand, small cafes where you can sit in the shadows of the tents, drinking cold ice beverages and watching the waves, playing around the berth. The seaside in Odessa is also beautiful by its parks, where people tired from the summer heat, can find desired coolness under the leaves of age-old trees. From the first of May the Odessites begin the tradition of the pick nicks on the nature beside the sea. As usual it has place on the weekends, but very often people tired from the noisy and crowed restaurants prefer to celebrate even their birthdays on the nature.

CULTURE,ART and MUSEUMS IN ODESSA

Odessa was always very artistic city with developed culture and art. The most important place in the row of Odessa theatres the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre takes. It has amazing and long history and is one among five the most beautiful theatres in the world. The second one is also in Ukrainian city Lvov. The visit to this theatre lives indelible impression in the soul and memory. The Opera House is real Pearl of Odessa city and is included to the Seven Miracles of Ukraine. The history of the theatre leads to the foundation of the city. It was built in 1809 by the project of famous French architect Tom de Tomon. In 1873 the theater was absolutely destroyed by the fire. It was big tragedy for the city, but fortunately no one died in the fire. After eleven years from the fire, the restoration of the Opera House began. This time the project was made by the Viennese architects F. Felner and G. Gelmer. The new theatre was opened October the first in 1887. The Odessa Opera House is famous by its architecture, planning, inside planning. Many words can be sad about this cultural and historical masterpiece, but the biggest pleasure you will receive seeing this beauty by your own eyes! The address of the Opera House is: Chaikovskiy Lane, 1.

THE OTHER THEATHRES IN ODESSA ARE:

1. Theatre Of Musical Comedy by M. Vodianoy
2. The Regional Russian Drama theatre
3. The Ukrainian Musical Drama Theatre by V. Vasilko
4. The Regional Philharmonic Theatre
5. The Regional Puppet - Show Theatre
6. The Public Young People's Theatre by Ostrovskiy
7. The Public Circus
8. The Clown House
9. Odessa Municipal Theatre of the spiritual music

In Odessa you can also find many Museums: as The Art Museum, Literature Museum, The House - Museum of N. K. Rerih, The Manor of counts Tolstie (Odessa scientists' House).

Visiting the museums and theatres, walking the old Odessa streets, feeling the salted smell in the air, going from the Black Sea - everything this helps the tourists to understand the main sense of Odessa people mentality, history of their traditions, the way of their thoughts. For many visitors, Odessa becomes the second home, because this city is able to unite different cultures, different nationalities and different languages. Odessites - is separate nationality, as we say!