TODAY

Odessa (Ukraine) is fairly considered to be “a pearl” of young independent Ukraine, being a very picturesque city on the Black Sea shore.

But also it is a large and quickly developing port. And the most important transport corridor linking Europe to the Middle East and Asia. A strong foreign trade, banking and business centre.

An intellectual and cultural capital of the region, giving higher education in 26 Universities and Academies. And  offering job in numerous enterprises, local firms and foreign companies. A perfect place for new construction. 

All in all Odessa is a modern international city with perfect prospects.

HISTORY

Odessa, as you do or will now, is one of the outstanding cities of the globe.

In 1794 on the place of the future “Black Sea Southern Palmira” it was only a small Turkish fortress with handful of soldiers and one tree. And all around – a dry unmanned Wild Area. There, to conquer the lands for the Russian Empire, came the brightest commander in the history of wars – Generalissimos Suvorov (63 battles won and no defeat). No chances for the enemies – and the Emperor Catherina the Great ordered to ground the new port named Odessa.

Who could imagine that in 30 years it would arise a perfect European city even with its own Opera House?

By the way, the settlement Odessos, put on by Greeks, had successfully existed on these picturesque shores six hundred years B.C.

Odessa was established by brilliant Russian general Duke de Richelieu, later the Foreign Minister of France. His occupation as the leader of Odessa area later on took another general – Duke Vorontsov, who previously ruled Paris instead of conquered Napoleon in 1815.    

During the leadership of the Odessa Governor Duke Langeron the city obtains a status of “Porto-Franco”. It was like an explosion: instant development of commerce, banking, industry, husbandry, science, culture. Starting from 1818, till 1858 Odessa became the third city in the Russian Empire after Moscow and St Petersburg.

Afterwards the commercial experience of Odessa was perfectly used by such free ports as Singapore and Hong-Kong. 

LEGENDS

“ALL THE BETTER IS FROM ODESSA”. That’s the motto of our city. And it is absolutely true.

The first feature film in the world was demonstrated in Odessa (two years earlier than in France).

The best Opera House in Europe is in Odessa (after the Vienna one).

Thousands talented people all over the world honour their Odessa roots. For example, the father of the very first rocket which got the man to the space, Hero of the Soviet Union Sergey Korolyov and the “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” Oscar possessor Steven Spielberg. And the greatest chemist Mendeleev worked over his Periodic Table in Odessa. And the grand mother of Sylvester Stallone is from Odessa too.

Citizens of New York call their city “Apple”. Citizens of Odessa call their city “Mother”. 

More of that. For all the former USSR (on the six part of the world) Odessa was a consummate Capital of Humor and Optimism. Until now the First of April – Day of Humor – is a legal city nonworking holiday with a carnival to be just a little bit more modest than in Rio. There are 16 towns in the world named after Odessa, 5 of them – in the USA.

LEGENDS COME TRUE

Every summer more than one million people all over the world come to Odessa in order to visit historical places, theatres, museums, concert halls, night clubs, sanatoriums and golden beaches, but also to breathe in its unique atmosphere. As we say: “Odessa is not only a city, it’s a way of life”. Many residents of Odessa left their native city in the last century, but now we observe the former foreigners coming back.

Odessa itself is a city-millionaire (due to the quantity and diligence of its inhabitants). Yes, the most important treasure of the city – its people. They are laborious and creative, ironic and accessible; they are proud of their brilliant history and face the future confidently.

Being 215 years old, the city of Odessa is still young and ambitious.