Constanţa
[key], city, SE Romania, on the Black Sea. It is the administrative center
of Dobruja and a
major railroad junction and industrial city, but its chief importance
derives from its role as Romania's main seaport. Petroleum (brought by
pipeline from the Ploieşti oil fields), grain, and lumber are the
leading exports. Besides handling general overseas trade, Constanţa
is important in the transit traffic with the Czech Republic, Hungary, and
Slovakia. It also serves as Romania's major naval and air base and as a
seaside resort. The city was founded in the 7th cent. b.c. as the
Greek colony of Tomi and came under Roman rule in 72 b.c.
Ovid lived in exile there. Constantine I
(4th cent. a.d.) named the city Constantiniana and made it an
episcopal see. It was captured by the Turks in 1413. Romania acquired it in
1878. There are several synagogues and mosques, an Orthodox cathedral, and a
statue of Ovid, as well as many Roman and Byzantine remains. The regional
archaeological museum and the marine biology station are also of
interest.
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