Mamaia
The royal resort between the sea and the lake, 120 years of Romanian summer.
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Mamaia, in full
Mamaia is a narrow strip of sand, about eight kilometers long, sandwiched between the Black Sea and Lake Siutghiol. To the south it connects to Constanța, to the north it extends towards Năvodari. It's not a city and it's not an island: it's a coastline where Romanians have learned to spend their summer.
On August 22, 1906, the Baths Mamaia were opened, with two wooden pavilions designed by Petre Antonescu. The royal family chooses its place: in the following decades, the lakeside villa, Queen Maria's house and the prince's villa Barbu Știrbey are built here. Mamaia was born as a bathing destination, not as a dining resort.
In 1935, Carol al II-lea inaugurates the Beach Casino, the work of architect Victor Ștefănescu, connected to the shore by the Royal Footbridge. Then come the 60s and 70s: the high-rise hotels on the boulevard, the sand sculptures, syndicate tourism. The strip remains the same; only the scale changes.
In summer, the promenade is the busiest corridor of the coast. In winter, the same sand is almost empty, with the Siutghiol at sunset. The place did not become famous because it is the wildest, but because it held, for a century, the idea of a vacation at the sea.
Timeline
Mamaia through time
From the making of the landscape to today, a timeline.
Bathrooms Mamaia
On August 22, the resort opens, with the wooden pavilions of Petre Antonescu, between the beach and Siutghiol.
The Royal Ensemble
The royal villa, the house of Queen Maria and the villa of the prince Barbu Știrbey, on the shore of the lake, are erected.
The Casino and the Walkway
Carol al II-lea inaugurates the Beach Casino and Royal Walkway on August 15.
Meal station
Tall hotels fill the boulevard; Mamaia becomes the classic destination of the Romanian summer.
Aqua Magic
The first large water park on the coast opens at the southern end of the resort.
Telegondola
A line of almost two kilometers aerially connects the southern end to the central area, above the beach.
Summer and winter
Promenade, water sports and nightlife in summer; silence and sunsets on Siutghiol in winter.
To see
Landmarks of the region
Casino in Mamaia
The 1935 Beach Pavilion, linked to the shore by the Royal Walkway.
Inaugurated on August 15, 1935 by Carol al II-lea, the Casino is the work of architect Victor Ștefănescu: a pavilion on the sand, above the sea, accessible via the wooden walkway that has kept its royal name. It is the other casino of Constanta, distinct from the Art Nouveau building on the seafront.
The Casino and the Royal Walkway are inaugurated by Carol al II-lea.
Landmark of the central beach, visible from the promenade.
The Royal Ensemble
The royal villa, Queen Maria's house and Știrbey villa, on the bank of the Siutghiol.
After opening in 1906, the royal family choose Mamaia as their summer residence. The lakeside villa, Queen Maria's house (later Bar Orient) and the prince's villa Barbu Știrbey preserve the memory of a resort born for the court, not the crowd. They are best seen from the west bank, towards Siutghiol.
The Mamaia baths open with the pavilions of Petre Antonescu.
Royal lakeside villas are being built.
Visible ensemble from the promenade at Siutghiol.
Telegondola Mamaia
Air line of almost two kilometers above the resort.
Since 2004, the gondola connects the southern end of Mamaia with the central area, above the beach and the hotels. It's the easiest way to see the whole strip: sea to the east, Siutghiol to the west, the sand like a narrow strip between the two waters.
The aerial line above the resort opens.
Panorama of the beach, the lake and Constanta.
Aqua Magic
The first large water park on the coast, opened in 2003.
At the southern end of the resort, near the gondola station, Aqua Magic was the first large-scale water park on the Romanian coast. It is the destination for families with children, a few steps from the beach and the entrance of Constanța.
The water park opens at the southern end of Mamaia.
Summer season, near gondola and boardwalk.
Promenade and Siutghiol
The Corso on the sand and the quiet shore of the lake, two sides of the same strip.
The central promenade is the summer heart of Mamaia: terraces, sand, sea. To the west, Siutghiol is the other side: lagoon water, sunsets, quieter walking. The two-three hour route connects the entrance of the resort with the lakeside and the corso.
The Corso is set up with the opening of the resort.
2 km walk between the sea and the lake.
Map
Landmarks on the map
Pins open a short preview. Details are on the place sheet.
The beach season has closed (after 15 September). On the coast it is autumn/cold: promenade, museums, towns. Not bathing weather. Bathing season: 1 June–15 September
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Software rooted in these places
From the region of Mamaia we build four free apps: iShopSync, Gym, iMemory and Daunomania.
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