Pearl of the Sea – Duke and around

Once again, welcome to the southern capital of our vast and beautiful homeland, in solar Odessa. Beaches, parks, plenty of restaurants, clubs – you would know how much is Odessa loved by tourists of all moods and financial opportunities!

This time the WE ♥ UA team wish to tell you about a place where half of the trips around this wonderful city starts. Getting to this place is worth for anyone who really wants to go to South Palmyra.

Of course, we are talking about the to the Duke de Richelieu, which is often simply called as “Duke.”

Almost the first founder

For a start – a bit of history. In fact, the city and the port were built under the direction of Joseph de Ribas, in whose honor named a central street of the city is named. Armand Emmanuel du Plessis (namely the so-called the Duke de Richelieu, the monument of who is told about) was the third mayor of Odessa and was so loved by the residents, that the Duke often is called a founder of the city.

During the reign of de Richelieu Odessa turned from the city into a major trading port, and probably Duke managed to do much more, but for political reasons was forced to leave to France. A few years later de Richelieu died from a stroke.

Found out about this, Count Langeron called on the population to raise funds to build the monument, which had been commissioned to the sculptor Ivan Petrovich Martos. Statue was made in the form of the Duke with a scroll in his hand and three brass high reliefs on the sides of the statue, symbolizing agriculture, trade and justice.

On the front side there is also a brass plate with the text of gratitude from the people of Odessa to Duke for his contribution to the welfare of the city. Near the monument, you can often find a lot of tourists and photographers offering their services. The very same monument aims to face the Potemkin stairs leading from the city to the sea port.

Stairs to Odessa

If you’re afraid of heights – you’d better not watch down! Initially consisting of 200 steps, separated by sites into ten equal parts (8 steps have been lost in the reconstruction of the city), Potemkin Stairs can turn the head of an impressionable man.

The staircase is built prospectively. Thus, when viewed from above it appears even, and only platforms are visible, and, when viewed from below, you can see only steps, and stairs seem to be very long.

The first thing you will see, rising in the city – a monument to de Richelieu, and from the top of the stairs there are wonderful views of the sea port, where is located the hotel «Odessa». Especially attractive the sea port looks at night, in the light of numerous artificial lighting. Also, you can often see a variety of ships arriving and departing from Odessa, as well as people who met or send off for sailing their friends and relatives.

And around?

Are you bored with the historical reports and stories guide? Just make a step to any of the sides of the Duke a few meters back and relax on a bench. I will not lie if I say that the Primorsky Boulevard – one of the most picturesque and pacified place of South Palmyra. Located between the Dumskaya square and the Vorontsov Palace, it became the place for the best hotels, banks and cafes.

Green area with lanterns, benches, regularly spaced urns is very popular among tourists, and among the inhabitants of Odessa, who need a calm and friendly atmosphere for thinking and creativity. You can often meet artists and musicians on the Boulevard, entertaining people with their hobbies or offering to use their talents for a small fee. As well, almost ten years ago the trees on the boulevard were brightly decorated with garlands, every evening and every night aesthetically pleasing the eye.

WE♥UA team wishes you a pleasant vacation and asks you to visit us more often. Every single one may find something interesting for himself here.