Driving up North, to the ruins of Histria. Histria represent the first urban settlement on today's Romanian territory when founded by Greek settlers in the 7th century BC, then under Roman rule from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD.It’s also the first Greek colony on the west shore of the Black Sea, being for centuries, both during the Greek and Roman periods, the most powerful economic and cultural center of the area. It was abandoned during the migratory times, but rediscovered at the beginning of the 20tth century. The archaeological excavations continue until today. We will admire the discoveries of this archaeological work by visiting the nearby museum where the exhibits include sculptures, inscriptions, ceramics, and many more ancient objects. 

Back to Constanta - founded by Greek settlers in the 6th century BCE, was given the name Tomis, possibly in honour of Queen Tomyris. After the Romans conquered the area in 29 BC, the Roman poet Ovid (Ovidiu) came here, banished by Emperor Augustus, and stayed here for the rest of his life. In his poems Tristia and Epistulae Ex Ponto, Ovid talks about his exile in Tomis, finding this city "a town located in a war-stricken cultural wasteland on the remotest margins of the empire". A statue of Ovid stands nowadays in the Ovidius Square, in front of the History Museum - which is the former City Hall.

The name of Tomis later became Constantiana in honour of Constantia, the half-sister of Constantine the Great. The most famous Roman monument preserved in the city is the famous mosaic discovered in the 1960s. The mosaic probably dates back to the 4th century CE. It covers an area of ​​approx. 850 m2 and is located in the ruins of a former secular basilica, located between the centre of the ancient city and the port.  It is made of stones of various colors: white, red, black, green, and yellow, giving the impression of a bright carpet, decorated with geometric and floral motifs. In the complex below the basilica, ruins of ancient Roman-era houses have also been discovered. There are also exposed fragments of the walls of ancient Tomis in the city. Marvellous Roman exhibits, including a collection of vases, coins and craft tools, are housed in the Archaeological Museum, in the former Town Hall building. Visit of the Archaeological Museum.

Return to Eforie Nord in the afternoon.