Constanta

Constanta is a major port city and the seat of Constanta County in the Dobruja region of southeastern Romania. It is the country's oldest continuously inhabited city and its largest maritime port, situated on the Black Sea coast.

Historically known as Tomis, the city was founded around 600 BC by Greek colonists. According to legend, it was named after a princess. It later became a significant part of the Roman Empire, and it is famously the place where the Roman poet Ovid was exiled in 8 AD. Following the Roman and later Byzantine periods, the city was included in the medieval Bulgarian Empire before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire for several centuries. It was returned to Romania in 1878.

The modern city's economy is dominated by the Port of Constanta, one of the largest ports on the Black Sea. This port is a crucial hub for trade, connecting maritime routes with the Danube River-Black Sea Canal. Besides its commercial importance, Constanta is a noted tourist destination, featuring beaches, the historic Old Town, and landmarks such as the Genoese Lighthouse, the Carol I Mosque, and the iconic Casino, a historic art nouveau building on the seafront.

The city also houses several cultural institutions, including the National Museum of History and Archaeology and the Constanta Planetarium. Mamaia, a popular resort town located immediately to the north, is often associated with the greater Constanta area. The city's diverse history is reflected in its architecture and multi-ethnic population.