Constanța is located in the county with the same name, in the southeastern part of Romania. It is located on the coast of the Black Sea, in a lagoon area in the east, hilly in the north and in the central part, and plain in the south and west. The city of Constanța has its own 6 km long beach. The northern part of the municipality, Mamaia, the most populated tourist resort on the coast, is on the shore of a lagoon, with a 7 km long beach, which continues for another 6 km on the territory of the city of Năvodari.
Constanța is the oldest attested city in Romania. The first documentary attestation dates from 657 BC. when a Greek colony called Tomis was formed on the site of the current peninsula (and right under today’s waters, next to the Casino). The town was conquered by the Romans in 71 BC. and renamed Constantiana after the sister of Emperor Constantine the Great.
During the 13th century the Great Sea (as the Black Sea was then called) was dominated by Italian merchants from Genoa who helped develop the city. Later, Constanța declined under Ottoman rule, becoming a simple village inhabited by Greek fishermen and horse and sheep breeders, Tatars.
The locality became a city again after the construction of the Cernavodă-Constanța railway and the port, in 1865, for the export of Romanian grains. After the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878), when Dobrogea became part of the Kingdom of Romania, Constanța, the state’s main port, grew continuously, holding this role until today.
A large part of the city’s surface is located in a lagoon area, with Lake Siutghiol (the milky lake in Turkish, known as “Mare Ghiol” among Constantinians and “Mamaia Lake” in tourist language) in the north and Tăbăcărie lake (“Little Ghiol” ) in the northeast. Constanta is practically on an island, the municipality being bordered to the north and northwest by the Poarta Albă-Midia Năvodari Canal, to the east by the Black Sea, and to the south and west by the Danube-Black Sea Canal.
Although there is no source of running water on the surface, an underground river passes under Constanța through the Jurassic-upper Barremian aquifer, which flows at a very low speed from the southwest to the northeast and whose flow rate is comparable to that of the Danube , being the most important deposit of drinking water in Romania
Constanta is an industrial, commercial and tourist center of national importance. Here is the largest port in Romania and the fourth in Europe, where the shipyard operates, one of the largest in terms of the number of vessels built and repaired.
River transport has its departure point from the port of Constanța Sud Fluvial, on the Danube-Black Sea Canal, further on the Danube river, the terminus being the port of Rotterdam. Every day, more than 200 river vessels are in port for cargo loading or unloading operations or waiting to be operated. The facilities offered by Constanța Sud-Fluvial Port allow the mooring of any type of river vessel.
Air transport is represented by Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport and Tuzla Airport. The airport was built for reasons of security and noise outside the city, being on the territory of the Constanța Metropolitan Area. Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport has a runway 3.5 km long, completely concreted and a beaconing facility that allows landing in any weather conditions.
Tourism is an important branch of economic activity. Although Constanța was already promoted as a spa resort by King Carol I, the development of the naval industry had the effect of shrinking the beaches. However, due to its location near the tourist towns, many people discover and visit the monuments in the city. Constanța is also a center of trade and education, which are also important aspects of the local economy.