CONSTANTA GENOESE LIGHTHOUSE

Among the interesting things to be seen on the Black Sea Coast, the Genoese Lighthouse is an important tourist objective.

The Genoese Lighthouse is situated in the Northern part of the sea-wall. It is believed to have been built by the Genoese merchants in order to guide their ships which were making their way towards the Constanta bay, around 1300 A.D.

The octagonal lighthouse is 8 meters high and is topped by a metal dome. The lighthouse has been rebuilt in its present shape by the English between 1860-1861. It represents an interesting architecture monument. As the wars caused great damages to it, it was restored in 1948.

Not far from the lighthouse there lies the aquarium.

It is the first public aquarium in Romania and it was inaugurated on the First of May 1958. The building where the aquarium is set up was built in the beginning of the 19^th century. Until 1950 the building was destined to another use and that is the reason why it does not really answer the exigencies of an up-to-date aquarium. In spite of all these, the Constanta aquarium remains the most important establishment of this kind in the country though afterwards other natural science museums have created departments with the same profile. In the 57 pools permanent aquatic fauna and flora are shown but temporary exhibitions displaying different aquatic biological and ecological themes may be organized as well.

It is worth walking this way !

PRAGUE CASTLE

Prague Castle (Prazsky hrad) is the largest medieval complex in Europe with an area 570 meters long and 7.28 hectares, it is the biggest attraction in Prague. The castle was first built in the ninth century transformed from a wooden fortress inprejmuita stone walls in an imposing building as it is today. From the complex include: St. Vitus Cathedral, museum and art galleries, Golden Lane, Lobkowicz Palace and the church of St. George.

TODAY IN THE MOUNTAINS BUCEGI FUNDATA

BRAILA

Brăila is an ancient settlement on the left bank of the Danube. An investigation on the Brăila origins shows that the region has been inhabited from time out of mind.

The old town lies inside the space limits marked by the Danube and the present Strada Cetăţii (the City street) which follows even today the line of the former city wall. When the town was brought back within the limits of Wallachia, in 1829, the Russian occupation authorities decided to draw the town planning anew; this plan aimed at the seating of the new streets under the shape of a semicircle arc, each street would start from the Danube and stop at the Danube as well. Even nowadays the boulevards Cuza Vodă, Independence and Dorobanţi appear in this way as well as the streets Plevna, Rahova, Griviţa and Ştefan cel Mare (Steven the Great). As a matter of fact, Brăila is one of the very few towns in the country that have maintained unchanged the street names during the last 130 years even under the communist regime. As well, the town has preserved unchanged very many buildings from the 19^th century, representing a real architectonical museum for those concerned.

Many years ago I was in Brăila and I loved the flowerdial realized by flowerbeds in the . But I have photographed an ancient clock which I liked best. It was situated in the main town park.