sightseeing & excursions odessa

Odessa

The sightseeing tour around Odessa begins with the Seaside Boulevard. Its main attractions are:

the Potemkin Stairway (Maritime Stairs, 1837-1842, designed by F.Boffo, built in Classical style, 192 steps, 27 m high and 136,5 m long).
the Cannon, the A.Richelieu monument (1828, sculptor I.Martos), the Pushkin Monument (1889, sculptor Zh. Polonska).
the Archaeological Museum and the Maritime Museum (1841,architect H.Toricelli, built in the Classical and Renaissance styles).
Opera and Ballet Theatre (1884-1887, designed by the Viennese architects H.Helmer and F.Felner who constructed theatres in Vienna, Budapest, Dresden, Zagreb. It was built in the Renaissance style with elements of Baroque and decorated with sculptural groups and masks. The interior was designed in the Late Rococo style. It's five-tiered hall holds 1560 persons. Considered to be one of the finest in the world).

The guests will also pass Odessa University named after Mechnikov, then go to the heart of the city - Deribasovska Street. They will admire the old trees of Pushkinska Street and driving along the old section of the city they will pass: the Pushkin Apartment-Museum, the Museum of Western and Oriental Arts (19th c., architect L.Otton), Old Stock Exchange (1829-1837, F.Boffo), New Stock Exchange (1894-1899, A.Bernardazzi), the Philharmonic Society. For the tourists it is also interesting to go along Shevchenko Prospect - a new thoroughfare with a lot of modern shopping malls and finally to reach Arcadia - a resort district with the astonishing views to the sea and parks and numerous café and restaurants.

The city is also interesting for fans of speleology by it Catacombs. This are an estimated 2,500 kilometres of labyrinths stretching out under the city.

The Jewish Routes

Proposed program works for a whole year.

Odessa was a famous sea port and trading center in the south of the Russian Empire. Before the revolution in 1917, around 30% of its population was Jewish. Before World War II, half a million Jews lived in Odessa, and the city boasted dozens of synagogues and active Jewish cultural centers. Many of the synagogues were destroyed by the Soviets, but now most of them have been renovated by the local communities. Beside Jewish history, Odessa is home to a famous opera theatre, dozens of architectural monuments, and one of the biggest ports in the territory of the Former Soviet Union. A rebirth of the community has brought renewed activities, institutions, and religious services to the present-day 80,000-strong Jewish community of Odessa.

During the excursion you will visit the Museum of History of Odessa's Jews at first. You will deepen into Odessa Jews` life atmosphere and will learn Jewish history as a part of Odessa history in this comfortable museum-apartment. Due to the interactive nature of the Museum`s exposition you will get marvelous afterglow from its visit.

Later on you will get a chance to go on the excursion "Jewish Odessa" (by foot or by car — depending on your desire). Excursion is held on Russian, Hebrew and English languages. The tour lasts on for 2 or 3 hours depending on your desire and includes visiting memorials and places connected with famous people and events in Jewish history of Odessa.

Also you can go on a tour "Old Odessa yards" during which you will absorb original atmosphere of the city.

And in the evening you can get acquaintance with variety of programs of Jewish Community Center "Migdal" - work of its art groups and clubs. Also the program of visiting "Migdal" can include (with the previous agreement) concert of these groups many of which are winners of different international contests. This is a splendid show - bright costumes, dances, theater performances, songs (on Russian, English, Hebrew and Yiddish).

A Trip to Bielhorod-Dniestrovsky Fortress

Bielhorod-Dnistrovsky (85 km. From Odessa) is one of the oldest towns in Ukraine (2500 years). Of exceptional interest is the fortress - a priceless medieval historical and architectural monument. It is located on the high bank of the Dniester estuary on the foundations of the antique town of Tyra (5thc.B.C.). In 1433-1454 the fortifications were renovated by the Turks, the round towers were connected with high ramparts to form enclosed citadel with inner courtyards and the fortress got the name of Akerman.

After 1812 the fortress continued to be one of the strongholds of the south frontier defence system of the Russian Empire at least 20 years onwards. The scenic chivalry single combats and imitations of historic battles are arranged here occasionally by the fancy’s of the Middle Ages. After a long day, rich with deep emotions you can relax having a dinner with national Ukrainian meals and the superb wine-tasting in the village Shabo.