MANGALA
Mangaly, the southernmost summer resort on the Black Sea coast, was founded by the Greeks of Pontic Heraclea (other sources mention Miletus) at the end of the sixth century BC. After ancient Callatis (current Mangalia) there are several small archaeological objects left. More attractions are offered by small holiday villages concentrated further north: Saturn, Venus, Aurora and Jupiter. The closest to Mangalia is the eternally crowded Saturn, where, to get something to eat, you have to stand in long lines. Time passes here on trips to the beach, which on hot summer days resembles a frying pan full of cracklings. Neptune-Olympus seems to be more recommendable, Costinesti albo Mamaja.
Orientation and information
The train station is one kilometer north of the city center. Soseaua Constantei runs south of the station exit to the right (main road). Turn left at the roundabout, you can reach the Mangalia hotel. If he doesn't stray from the road, you come to the tourist office and the Cultural Center (House of Culture). Private and city buses stop in front of the train station and near the roundabout.
Tourist offices – Internal Tourism Agency (tel.751889), Constanta Road, 20 m north of the Cultural Center, it is useless – does not book private accommodation, there are no maps etc.. But it is possible, that the situation will improve soon.
The CFR office is located at strada Stefan cel Mare 16.
Post and telecommunications – The telephone exchange is located at the post office at Stefan cel Mare street 16, 50 m west of the Cultural Center (codz. 7.00-22.00). Country code for Mangalia:041.
Sightseeing
The street to the left of the roundabout leads to Hotel Mangalia and the beach, where there are from the 6th century. ruins of an early Christian basilica and a fountain, from which the sulfur mineral waters flow. The numerous apartment buildings around the Mangalia Hotel were built at the end of the Ceausescu era.
On the Constantei road, south of the roundabout, you reach the Archaeological Museum of Callatis on the left (closed. pn.). The museum's collections include. interesting collection of Roman sculptures. Just behind the tall building next to the museum, you can see the remains of a 14th-century necropolis.
Also on Soseaua Constantei, 500 m from the city center, there is the House of Culture (House of Culture), with a facade decorated with a mural (to the right). Cultural events take place here on summer evenings. Even further is the Turkish mosque of Sultan Esmahan (1460) and the Muslim cemetery. All these facilities can be easily visited in two hours.
Mineral water sources – Three kilometers north of Mangalia, opposite the Adriana and Venus hotels, there is a bathhouse (half May-September daily; 3 $) with springs of hot sulfuric waters and healing muds, recommended for people suffering from rheumatism, nervous upsets, skin diseases, constipation and many other ailments listed on the board at the entrance. Open daily from mid-May to September. The complex has separate entrances for men and women.
Hotel Mangalia is the only place worth recommending to patients. A week of intense thermal treatments costs money 150-250 $. More detailed information can be obtained, by contacting by fax 753510.
Accommodation
Camping – Overnight in a tent on Popas Saturn (tel.751380; VI-half IX) it costs 2 $. Moreover 56 small cabins offer space after 4 $, but in the season, the chances of winning a seat drop below 50%. The area is shaded, there are bars and beer halls, you can count on a hot shower – occasionally – and easy access to the beach. To get here from the Mangalia train station, one kilometer north on the Constantei road to the sculpture "Saturn”, in art deco style, turn right, a po 50 meters to the left. Buses also run from the station to the statue of Saturn #14, 15 i 20 (two stops).
Alternatively, you can use similar campsites in the resorts of Venus and Jupiter, especially that frequently running buses provide a convenient connection and take those who want to go beyond their own abilities.
Hotels – Parallel to the beach, between Mangalia and Saturn has grown a row of multi-story hotels, where in summer the prices for a double room with a bathroom are on average approx 30 $. Many of the hotels are only open from June to September. In Mangalia itself, the Mangalia Hotel is popular (tel.752052; fax 753510), Rozelor street 35. Singles / doubles with a bathroom cost money 32/55 $.
Gastronomy
It is best to go to the hotel restaurant for dinner (but how long can only pork be eaten?). W Peach-Pit pastries, przy Soseaua Constantei, between the archaeological museum and the tourist office, at breakfast time, fresh bread and delicious coffee are served. W Four Season, right next to the museum, you can enjoy a pizza, sandwiches and ice cream, but only until. 18.00.
Drive
Train – Mangalia is not difficult to reach from the capital. A fast train departs from the North Railway Station (296 km; 4,5 hours). Mangalia has express connections to Arad, I'm in Bucharest, A casserole, Jassami, Oradea, Sibiu, Suceava and Timisoara; some seasonal.
Bus – Private buses run from Constanta all day long; they stop at the train station and near the roundabout. Also a city bus #12 drives the main road to Constana.
To Bulgaria – Bus #14 It runs six times a day from the Mangalia train station to the border crossing in Vama Veche, 10 km south of Mangalia. If someone crosses the border on foot, and he fails to catch the opportunity, he will then have to take the 6-kilometer walk to Durankulak (the first town on the Bulgarian side).