Prepare yourself for a journey that is going to take you over two thousand years back in time, to ancient Greek colonies, Roman cities, harbours, monuments and places of worship founded by apostles, all of these right next to the Romanian Black Sea…
We will depart from Bucharest early in the morning and drive on the highway, along large corn and sunflower fields, to the medieval province of Dobrogea. For almost 500 years, it used to be a part of the Turkish Empire and because of its geographic location (along the Black Sea and the Danube Delta) has attracted many different ethnics and rulers during the centuries. After a couple of hours, you will reach Constanţa, one of Romania’s biggest cities and the most important harbour on the Black Sea. The history of this city is immense: from the Greek colony of Tomis, to the prosper Roman town and the strongly fortified medieval city, this place has seen it all. Constanţa is also famous because of the famous Roman poet Ovidius, who was exiled here in the last years of his life and died of a broken heart. A statue guarding the main square of the city reminds tourists of the great Roman poet. You will also visit the great mosque – Constanţa is housing the biggest Muslim community in Romania. At the end of the tour, you will get the chance to admire the old casino, a superb “Art Nouveau” palace, situated right on the banks of the Black Sea… If the weather is right, we probably won’t resist going for a swim as well…
Departing from Constanţa, we will drive south, to Adamclisi, a small village of huge historic importance. At the beginning of the second century, the Roman army led by the great emperor Traian, fought a dramatic battle here, loosing hundreds of soldiers. The emperor decided to erect a monument right next to the hero’s cemetery, to preserve the memory of the fallen. We will visit both the monument and also an incredible museum situated in the centre of the village, housing hundreds of rare Roman gravestones and carvings.
Departing from Adamclisi, you will reach Ioan Corvin, where according to the tradition and some oral sources, the apostle Andrew, the holly protector of Romania, has preached. We will get the chance to visit the cave where legends say that he used to live and the new orthodox monastery which was built in this place.
In the afternoon, we will cross the Danube with a small boat and drive back to Bucharest.
