Odessa is the fourth largest city in Ukraine, a major seaport on the Black Sea and the largest port in Ukraine.Odessa used to be an ancient Greek colony. Later these lands were a part of the Kievan Rus, Galich and Volyn Principality, the Golden Horde, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Crimean Khanate and the Ottoman Empire. Yedisan Tatars traded there in the 14th century.Odessa was a free port (porto franco) from 1819–1858.
Odessa is a center of ironic humor, a city that is a home to the spirit of freedom and tolerance. Every year, on April 1st, thousands of people come to Odessa to celebrate there Odessa’s most famous holiday, “Humor day”. Odessa is referred as a city of vivid small yards, cheery people with philosophic views on life, as a city with lots of Jews.
The climate in Odessa is mild, the sea is warm. The city is green and cozy. There are many beautiful squares and lightly pastel buildings. The architecture of Odessa displays a mixture of different styles, such as the Art Nouveau Style, distinct French architecture with a distinct Russian flavor, classical architecture of the XIX century.If you visit Odessa you should definitely see Deribasovskaya Street, the heart of Odessa, Potemkin Steps, French Boulevard, Privoz Farmer’s Market, go on the catacomb trip, spend time at the beach and walk along the beautiful streets of Odessa – the Pearl by the sea.