Mangalia
Ancient Callatis, Romania's southernmost port.
Back to the Dobruja pageAbout the town
Mangalia, in brief
Mangalia is the successor to the Greek city of Callatis, a Dorian colony founded in the 6th century BC by colonists from Heraclea Pontica. Beneath the modern city lie ancient walls, temples and necropolises, and in 1959 the only tomb with papyrus in Romania was discovered here.
The city also houses Esmahan Sultan Mosque (1573), the oldest mosque on Romanian territory, built from stone taken from the walls of the ancient city, with a Muslim cemetery whose gravestones are hundreds of years old.
Today's Mangalia means port, shipyard and gateway to the southern seaside resorts: Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Neptun and Olimp. And the stud farm at the edge of the city carries on the tradition of purebred Arabian horses.
History
Mangalia through time
The moments that shaped the town, from the first settlements to today.
Callatis colony
Dorians from Heraclea Pontica found Callatis, one of the great West-Pontic cities.
Alliance with Rome
Callatis concludes a treaty with Rome, among the first documents of international law in the region.
Esmahan Sultan Mosque
The daughter of Sultan Selim II builds the oldest mosque in Romania.
Tomb with papyrus
Archaeologists discover a Hellenistic tomb with a papyrus, unique in Romania.
Southern resorts
The Saturn–Olimp chain of resorts develops, and Mangalia becomes a tourist and naval city.
To see
What to see in Mangalia
Callatis Archaeology Museum
Remains of the Greek city, including the famous tomb with papyrus.
The museum gathers the treasures of the Dorian city: amphorae, terracotta figurines, Hellenistic jewellery and a reconstruction of the 1959 tomb with papyrus, the only one of its kind discovered in Romania. The papyrus, taken to Moscow for conservation, was repatriated in 2011.
The Hellenistic tomb with papyrus is discovered, unique in Romania.
Fragments of the papyrus are repatriated from Moscow.
The museum displays the treasures of Callatis in central Mangalia.
Esmahan Sultan Mosque
The oldest mosque in Romania, built in 1573.
Founded by Esmahan, daughter of Sultan Selim II and wife of Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pașa, the mosque is built from reused stone from the walls of Callatis. In its courtyard, the Muslim cemetery preserves gravestones over three centuries old.
Esmahan Sultan builds the mosque from stone of the ancient city.
Successive restorations preserve its original form.
The oldest mosque in Romania, still in use.
Mangalia Stud Farm
Purebred Arabian horse breeding farm, with a tradition since 1928.
Founded in 1928, the stud farm at the edge of the city raises internationally recognised purebred Arabian horses. Visitors can see the horses in training, and in summer rides and equestrian demonstrations are organised steps from the beach.
The stud farm is established, continuing Dobrogea's horse tradition.
Arabian purebred breeding farm, open to visitors.
From the database
Places around Mangalia
The beach season has closed (after 15 September). On the coast it is autumn/cold: promenade, museums, towns. Not bathing weather.
Map
Landmarks on the map
Pins open the place sheets for Mangalia.
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 Mangalia we build four free apps: iShopSync, Gym, iMemory and Daunomania.
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