Odessa is a city of elegance, nowhere does this shine through clearer than at the Odessa State Academical Opera and Ballet Theater. The true beauty of the structure is clearly evident from the inside out, with crowing achievements in dance and performance taking place beneath the ornately designed treasure of old world architecture. Construction began in 1884, completed over the course of 3 years, following the design of Austrian architects Ferdinand Fellner and Herman Helmer, occupying the same grounds an even older theater that had succumbed to fire just 11 years prior. Today’s Theater offers the timeless classic feel of yesterday with up to date renovations, having undergone both exterior and interior repairs and refurbishing from 2003 to 2005.
Though most shows start at 7 pm, a daytime trip to theater gives attendees the chance to survey to lovely gardens that accent the theater’s curb appeal. Consider arriving early simply to marvel at the architecture before focusing your attention to the stage for an equally breathtaking experience. Lines may be long as the attraction is in high demand from tourists and locals alike. Ballets are generally more popular than operas in terms of attendance, so plan accordingly. Tickets are generally available for under 20 American, going down from there depending on availability and seat location. The main entrance to Odessa State Academical Opera and Ballet Theater is located on Lanzheronovskaya Street, next to the Palais Royal Garden, the Teatralnaya and the Maritime Museum.
Among Odessa’s most iconic images is the Potemkin Stairs, a giant stairway that has come to be most recognizable emblem of the city. Known as the Boulevard Steps, the Giant Staircase and the Richelieu Steps throughout various times in the city’s history, the Potemkin Stairs date back to 1825, when the first 200 stairs were originally designed. In the years spanning from 1837 to 1841, the staircase was expanded to more closely resemble the colossal stairway that still stands today.Serving as a formal entrance into the city of Odessa from the from the Black Sea, the stairs scale 27 meters high, extending for 142 meters. To the human eye, the stairs actually appear vary in appearance. In their innovative planning, the Potemkin Stairs were designed to create an optical illusion. Read the rest of this entry »
For tourists looking to get beyond a mere surface scratching tour of Odessa and delve deep into the heart of the city’s history, the Odessa Catacombs offer a unique chance to do just that. Stretching for an estimated 2,500 kilometers beneath the city’s streets, the catacombs are the remains of 19th century stone mines that served the city and the surrounding region of the Ukraine. The numerous limestone homes and buildings that have become of staple of Odessa’s classic architecture trace their roots to just below the ground on which they stand.Once stone mining was banned and the mines were shut down after the Russian Revolution of 1917, the catacombs still continued to play a large part in Odessa’s cultural heritage. During World War II the catacombs served as hiding places for resistance groups struggling against fascist invasion at the hands of the Axis powers. Read the rest of this entry »
