About Odessa
Odessa is the
largest city along the entire Black Sea with a population of
over one million. It looks and feels more like a Mediterranean
city and enjoys a mild climate and architecture heavily
influenced by French and Italian styles.
Odessa has always been very a cosmopolitan city and attracted a
wide variety of people of various ethnicities. Ukrainians,
Russians, Moldovans, Turks, Romanians, Bulgarians and Greeks are
just some of the nationalities that call Odessa, the pearl of
the Black Sea, home.
Odessa's buildings are a mixture of different architectural
influences; some are built in the Art Nouveau Style which was in
vogue at the turn of the 20th century while Renaissance and
Classicist styles are also widely present. A young city by
Ukrainian standards, Odessa was officially founded in the late
1700's, but settlements have been found to date back to ancient
times.
Odessa is beautifully situated on green rolling hills,
overlooking a small picturesque harbour. While Odessa is a
year-round destination, the summer is an especially good time to
enjoy the parks and beaches of the famed Black Sea.
Attractions
Odessa is a city that abounds in architectural wonder,
natural beauty and famous landmarks. Perhaps the most famous
site in the city is the Potemkin stairway. The 192 steps of the
famous staircase was built in the mid 1800's and were made
famous by Sergei Eisenstein's film 'Battleship Potemkin'.
The Odessa Opera and Ballet house is among the worlds most
splendid theatres. Designed by Austrian architects and loosely
modeled on the Vienna Opera House the building reflects the
cities multi-ethnic tone throughout. Its interior feels French,
exterior looks Italian, sculptures are Greek, its frescoes
depict Shakespearean prose, its performances world class and,
best of all, its prices Ukrainian!
Also worth visiting is the Statue of the Duke of Richelieu, the
Vorontsov Palace on the waterfront and the Archaeological Museum
with exhibits from the Black Sea area and Egypt. Stroll along
the waterfront and don't forget to try some delicious Odessan
cuisine using fresh seafood from the Black Sea. One word to
remember…caviar! Panorama Tours offer a number of excursions
that can be booked in advance including a Panoramic City Tour
(2hrs); City and Monuments Tour (3hrs); Catacombs Visit (3hrs)
and a Museums and Galleries Tour (3hrs).
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