Constanţa (old names: Kustendji, Kustendja, Köstence, Constantza) is a seaport on the Black Sea and the capital of Constanţa county, Romania.

Geography

In the vicinity there are mineral springs, and the sea-bathing also attracts many visitors in summer. The chief local industries are tanning and the manufacture of petroleum drums. The opening, in 1895, of the railway to Bucharest, which crosses the Danube by a bridge at Cernavodă, brought Constanţa a considerable transit trade in grain and petroleum, which are largely exported; coal and coke head the list of imports, followed by machinery, iron goods, and cotton and woollen fabrics.

The harbour, protected by breakwaters, with a lighthouse at the entrance, is well defended from the North winds, but those from the South, South-East, and South-West prove sometimes highly dangerous. The Black Sea squadron of the Romanian fleet is stationed here.

Mamaia is a beach resort immediately to the north.

History

Constanţa is the Constantiana which was founded in honour of Constantia, sister of Constantine the Great (274-337). It lies at the seaward end of the Great Wall of Trajan, and has evidently been surrounded by fortifications of its own. In spite of damage done by railway contractors there are considerable remains of ancient masonry walls, pillars, etc. An impressive public building, thought to have originally been a port building, has been excavated, and contains the substantial remains of one of the longest mosaic pavements in the world.

Constanta shipyard

Panoramic view of Constanta

A number of inscriptions found in the town and its vicinity show that Constanţa lies where once Tomis stood. The Roman poet Ovid (43 BC-17) spent here his last eight years in exile. A statue of Ovid stands in the Ovid Square (Piaţa Ovidiu) of Constanţa, in front of the History Museum (the former City Hall).

Population

In 2002, the population of Constanţa city proper was 310,471. The urban area around Constanţa, however, includes the town of Năvodari, with a population of 32,400, increasing the total population of the Constanţa urban area to 342,926.

Historical population

• 1900: 13,000
• 1910: 27,000
• 1930: 59,000
• 1950: 80,000
• 1970:172,000
• 1985:319,000

A number of inscriptions found in the town and its vicinity show that Constanţa lies where once Tomis stood. The Roman poet Ovid (43 BC-17) spent here his last eight years in exile. A statue of Ovid stands in the Ovid Square (Piaţa Ovidiu) of Constanţa, in front of the History Museum (the former City Hall).

Twin cities

Sulmona (Italy), Turku (Finland), Yokohama (Japan), Brest (France), Istanbul (Turkey), Rotterdam (Holland), Odessa (Ukraine), Boulogne-sur-Mer (France), Thessaloniki (Greece), Mobile (USA), Trapani (Italy), Saida (Lebanon), Latakia (Syria), Dobrich (Bulgaria), Heraklion (Greece), Izmir (Turkey), Novorossiysk (Russia), Alexandria (Egypt), Santos (Brazil), Havana (Cuba), Perugia (Italy), Shanghai (China)

Births

Constanta was the birthplace of:

• Gheorghe Hagi, Romania's most famous soccer player
• Catalina Ponor, triple gold medalist in Athens 2004
• Simona Amânar, famous gymnast

Airport

Constanta International Airport , (CND)

Education

• Ovidius University
• Constanta Maritime University (UMC)
• "Mircea cel Batran" Naval Academy

External links

• Official administration site
• Map
• Map
• Constanta Online
• Constanta Online