The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Odessa

Privoz was once the largest food market in Odessa, but today, according to local residents, here you can buy “Anything, even a new mom and dad!” The name Privoz comes from part of the Old Market of Odessa, where non-local goods were brought and traded directly from the carts. The popular place quickly grew, and then gave its name to one of the brightest attractions of Odessa. It is believed that it was Privoz who gave the world the famous Odessa humor.

The hotel was built from 1898 to 1899 according to the design of architects Alexander Bernardazzi and Adolf Minkus and at that time was one of the most luxurious hotels in Odessa. It became the first 4-storey hotel in Odessa. Coming to Odessa, many famous people stayed at this hotel, falling in love with it at first sight, seeing its external beauty, and finally giving preference to it, appreciating its internal beauty. Famous artists of the 19th-20th centuries visited here: the writer I.A. Bunin, French writer Henri Barbusse, American writers T. Dreiser and D. Aldridge, German writer W. Bredel and other extraordinary personalities. Many politicians and famous people have stayed at the Krasnaya Hotel.

After the conquest of the Khadzhibey fortress, a Russian fortress was built on this site (the powder tower and arcade of which have been preserved). The fortress existed, however, only less than 20 years - when, as a result of the Russian-Turkish war, the Russian-Turkish border moved further to the south-west, the fortress was abolished as unnecessary. For a while, the place remained neglected and unsafe. According to the surviving plan of the architect F.C. Boffo from 1840, a park was to be laid out on this site. However, these lands did not belong to the city. And only on September 7, 1875, the park was finally opened, and on September 10 it was named Aleksandrovsky, in honor of the visit to Odessa by Emperor Alexander II, who personally planted an oak in it on the occasion of the opening of the park.

Despite the current situation in the country, the Philharmonic is undergoing a large-scale reconstruction.

Restaurant "Khadzhibey" once again confirmed my opinion about it: despite all the current conditions, the staff tries to feed their guests just as tasty and serve them with high quality. Thank you very tasty!

Restaurant of Crimean Tatar cuisine in Odessa. I was in it on my last visit to Odessa and this time I could not pass by: very tasty! In addition to a wide variety of mouth-watering dishes, there is a wonderful draft beer. I recommend very much!

The building, built in 1898 by the outstanding architect A. Bernardazzi, is undoubtedly one of the best creations of the Master in his entire long career. Initially, the building was intended for exchange trading, and therefore the New Merchant Exchange was located in it, which was erected to replace the Old Exchange on Primorsky Boulevard. This need was caused by the increase in grain exports through the city's port, the appearance of a railway in it and, accordingly, the growth of trade transactions. In Soviet times, when planned trade replaced the stock exchange, the building changed its purpose: for many years various public and state organizations were located here, plenary sessions were held, and literary evenings were organized. Since 1946, the building of the exchange was occupied by the Odessa Philharmonic. The building resembles the Doge's Palace in Venice. Skillfully imitating the forms of the Renaissance of the Florentine school, the architect made the ceiling of the main entrance in the form of a vault of heaven, decorated with the signs of the zodiac. The exterior decor was created by M. Molinari, using stained glass windows and Carrara marble. The architecture of the Philharmonic's courtyard is no less successful, looking into which, you find yourself in the era of the Italian Renaissance. A majestic white marble staircase leads to the hall. Its walls are decorated with paintings by the St. Petersburg artist Karazin and the Florentine painter Cassioli with scenes of trade between peoples at different stages of human development.

At the intersection of the central streets of Pushkinskaya and Grecheskaya there is one of the most recognizable and beloved architectural gems of the city - the Odessa Museum of Western and Eastern Art. The collection of Western European painting is the core of the museum collection. It covers the art of the early 16th - second half of the 20th century, from the Renaissance to contemporary artistic trends. The exposition of the painting department opens with works of the Renaissance period, this unique phenomenon of the artistic history of mankind. The presented canvases embody the bright features of the art of Italy, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and the uniquely original vision of the world of the masters of the Northern Renaissance (Netherlands, Germany). The period of the formation of national schools - the 17th century - is marked in the museum collection by such names as the great Dutch portrait painter Frans Gals, Flemish Teniers the Younger, court painter of the Spanish king Carreño da Miranda, works of the workshop of the great Peter Paul Rubens, etc. applied arts of Western Europe XVI ‒ XX centuries. Open from 10 to 18 (now until 17 due to the pandemic), closed on Wednesday. Ticket 70 hryvnia + 100 hryvnia excursion (optional). The downside is that there are no e-tickets.