Culture of Odessa. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Each street of the city of Odessa features plenty of landmarks and monuments of historic significance. It is rather hard to distinguish the most important sights and landmarks among them. However a few objects deserve special attention of guests and tourists. Among religious landmarks of Odessa the Church of the Dormition which was built in the 19th century and was badly damaged during the war is of great tourist interest. The building of the church was restored only in the middle of the 20th century. Today the church is a significant pilgrimage of orthodox Christians. The church keeps ancient icons and other relics.

Another spot of tourist interest in Odessa is the Cathedral. The first religious building on the place of the Cathedral was erected as far back as in 1841. But in a few years the first church was totally ruined and a construction of the scale cathedral was started. The height of the cathedral with a bell tower is 56m.

The most attractive and favorable place for hiking in Odessa is still Deribasovskaya Street. It hosts several significant samples of architecture and known statuary groups. The street will lead to the City Garden (Gorodskoy Sad). The garden is an age mate of the city. It stuns the tourists and city residents with its majesty and beauty. The same attractive and astonishing destination in Odessa is the Pushkinskaya Street which has inherited its name from the famous author Alexander Pushkin. This is exactly the place where the famous author and poet lived. Today in a legendary house number 13 a museum (Alexander Pushkin Museum) dedicated to the creative work and life of the poet is located. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

A brand identity of the city of Odessa is Pymorsky Boulevard which will be of great interest for hiking and touring enthusiasts. The boulevard hosts an ancient building of stock exchange, Alexander Pushkin monument and several memorials dedicated to military machines. This is exactly a place of location of a significant sample of architecture which is the Vorontsov Palace. The palace was built in 1826.

Odessa offers its guests several dozens of museums for exploration. Each of the museums offers unique collections of showpieces. One of the most visited museums is the Odessa Archeological Museum, the Wax Museum is a perfect destination for a family visit. Pictorial art admirers will love the Museum of Western and Eastern Art and those tourists wishing to get a deeper insight into the history of the city will find interesting the Local History Museum. Another interesting cultural destination is the Museum of Partisan Glory which is located in the underground tunnels of the war period.

By the way, fans of non-standard tours will appreciate the Odessa dungeons, the longest in the world - none of the man-made caves can boast a length of two and a half thousand kilometers. As a comparison, the Catacombs of Paris are three hundred meters long, and the Catacombs of Naples have a length of four hundred meters. In the 19th century, the Odessa Catacombs were a gathering spot for robbers and smugglers, in the 20th century, they served as bomb shelters, and today, only homeless people and tour-goers can be seen down here.

Theater Square is one of the greatest places to walk in Odessa. This is all because of the most picturesque landscapes - green spaces, sculptures, and buildings striking with their architecture. It's also a good idea to stroll along the Passage of Mendelevich, which acquires a special charm at night when the illumination and charming melodies are turned on. The atmosphere is also created by cozy cafes and shops, as well as amazing architecture all around. Odessa Sea Port - the hallmark of the South Capital - is another wonderful place for a promenade. It is famous for its romantic atmosphere - local sunsets will boggle the imagination of every tourist.

The city has many interesting sculptures. One of the most famous of them is the Monument to the 12th Chair - the "character" of the cult novel of Ilf and Petrov who were Odessa natives. Of interest is the Sailor's Wife Monument standing on the waterfront just like hundreds of other women did when their husbands had to leave them for a long time. A meeting point for many young people is the Statue of the Duc de Richelieu, another symbol of the South Capital. A completely unexpected sculpture is the Monument to Steve Jobs called "Thanks, Steve". Although the monument is located away from tourist trails, it is still popular with connoisseurs of sculptural art. However, dozens of other interesting sculptures can be found throughout the city, and it's always a pleasure to stumble upon them.

Of particular architectural value is Faltz-Fein House (or simply the House with the Atlanteans). The famous statues depicting the Atlanteans supporting the vault of heaven were created by Toviah Fishel. As for its architecture, the building was designed by Lev Wlodek in 1899. The house was owned and rented out by the Faltz-Fein family. After the Bolsheviks came to power, all members of the family fled Odessa. After that, the house was used as a residential building, and during the Second World War, Romanian officers lived here.

Another must-have point on the list of places allowing tourists to learn more about the local history and culture is the Tolstoy Palace. It was built in 1923 as the House of Scientists (that's why many locals still call it so) and belonged to Count Tolstoy since 1934. During the Romanian occupation, which ended in 1944, the building was used by the Romanian authorities, after which it became the House of Scientists again. Between 1960 and 1980, it was possible to have tasty and inexpensive meals right in the building, which was liked by students and teachers for whom it became a meeting place. The building was converted into a museum only in 2000. Today, you can visit it to get acquainted with the life of the aristocracy at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries.

Built in 1895, the Odessa Central Post Office deserves mention as an architectural monument in the style of classicism. The building is also noteworthy for the fact that it was the first building in the Russian Empire designed specifically for communication purposes (mail and telegraph). A must-have is climbing the Potemkin Stairs, at the top of which tourists can enjoy magnificent views of the sea and the Port of Odessa. The staircase has earned many epithets from great people - for example, from Mark Twain and Jules Verne. However, many prominent figures were equally highly complimentary for the Vorontsov Lighthouse dating back to 1845. Thanks to the reconstruction of 1954, the lighthouse is still operational today (despite this, it can be visited as part of a tour).

Besides the Transfiguration Cathedral, Odessa has several other remarkable shrines. For example, St. Paul's Lutheran Church is another masterpiece by Franz Boffo who also designed the Potemkin Stairs, the Vorontsov Palace, and the Exchange Building. The Neo-Gothic cathedral was built in 1825. The building itself amazes tourists both with its exterior and interior decoration. The Church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana is for those who like quiet and spacious churches with their pacifying atmosphere. The church is also famous for its unusual architecture, which is just as admirable as the interior. Another interesting monument of sacred architecture is the Church of St. Mary Magdalene where the first service was held back in 1846. The building itself is a fine monument of Byzantine style.

Among cultural institutions, the Museum of Interesting Science deserves special attention. This is definitely a must-have if you are traveling as a family with your kids. Here they can find out a lot of interesting information about the world around. However, adults will also remember physics and have a great time exploring interactive exhibits. An equally exciting cultural institution for children is the Museum of Chocolate, for the opening of which a collection of about 150 chocolate exhibits was created. Here you can learn all about chocolate - from its place in the history of the Maya civilization to modern manufacturing processes. The favorite part of the tour for many is the tasting of sweets.

To find out how they produce cognac, another product beloved by many, head to the Shustov Cognac Winery Museum where you can watch how the drink is made, see pictures and a movie about the factory. The Museum of Smuggling is a unique cultural institution where a veil of secrecy is lifted over the illegal subject. Even if it seems that nothing can surprise you anymore, this museum with its fascinating collection will prove otherwise. Visitors can find out not only about the most popular smuggled goods at one time or another, but also what role smuggling plays in the world. Odessa State Literary Museum is interesting not only for its exposition attracting connoisseurs of prose and poetry but also for its Sculpture Garden created in its courtyard in 1995. The museum building itself is a vivid mixture of styles (eclecticism) - classicism, baroque, and empire.

Odessa film studio has long become a symbol of the city. People come here to see iconic film locations and try on costumes of characters. Interesting festivals are sometimes held here too. Another interesting museum is the Museum of Human Anatomy. A favorite one among many tourists and locals is the Museum of the History of Odessa Jews, perhaps the most distinctive place in town. It is a popular spot to start acquaintance with the South Capital. Not only its exposition but fascinating true stories from the life of Odessa Jews make it especially attractive.

In Odessa, you can find two cultural institutions paying tribute to the tragic events in the life of the city and the rest of the world. These are the Holocaust Museum dedicated to the fascism victims and the open-air Memorial Park of Heroic Defense of Odessa. Be sure to visit them to learn more about that time and its consequences. As for fans of theatrical art, they will surely find themselves some great cultural institutions. Among them are the Odessa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet and the Odessa Drama Theater, as well as the Tea Factory Modern Art Experimental Center. As a rule, great classical music concerts take place at another cultural institution - the Odessa Regional Philharmonic.