Radio Romania International has launched a new prize-winning competition entitled “Holiday on the Black Sea”. Focusing on the southern part of the Romanian Black Sea coast, the competition will introduce you to some of Romania’s most attractive destinations for foreign visitors, with emphasis on the town of Mangalia, the ancient Callatis, and the resorts of Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Neptun, Olimp and Cap Aurora.
Tune in to Radio Romania International’s broadcasts, go to our website at
www.rri.ro, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn and send in correct answers in writing to a few questions and you may be the lucky winner. Just remember to post your letters and send your emails and messages by 30th of April.
There will be two Grand Prizes consisting of two trips, each for two persons, including double-room accommodation for 7 nights and full boarding, between 12th and 19th June and again between 6th and 13th September 2015, at the Delta Hotel in the resort of Jupiter, Constanta county. As usual, the winners will have to provide for their own international transport to and from Romania, and cover possible expenses related to obtaining a visa for Romania.
The competition is sponsored by the Delta Hotel (SC Delta Aurora SA) and benefits from the support of the Mangalia Town Hall, the Callatis Archaeology Museum in Mangalia and other local partners.
The site of today’s Mangalia is mentioned in Genovese historical records from the 13th century. The name itself was first used in 1593 and its similarity with Tartar names in the region and the presence of a significant Tartar community in the town point to the Tartar origin of this name. Before the 13th century, the place was known by its ancient name of Callatis, a Greek colony founded by the city of Heraclea Pontica (today Eregli in Turkey) in the 6th century BC. The port and half of the ancient settlement are now covered by waters. Despite wars and different rules, the town flourished for 1,200 years, sometimes on its own, at other times during successive Persian, Macedonian, Dacian and Roman rule, and event had its own coinage. The citadel was destroyed during the raids of the migrating populations in the 8th and 9th centuries before being partly rebuilt in the 11th century when Dobrudja came under Byzantine rule. In 1225, however, it was burnt down by the Tartars.
Mangalia is today a modern port, the second largest in Romania after Constanta. In 1938, it had 3,000 permanent residents and more than 10,000 during summer. The town developed at a fast pace because of its beach stretching on several kilometres. After WWII, Mangalia became a border military area and tourism stagnates. Restrictions were lifted in 1954 and in 1962 it starts to flourish as a important tourist centre.
6 resorts were built in the Cmorova forests, along the coast: Olimp, Neptun, Jupiter, Cap Aurora, Venus and Saturn.
Mangalia’s most important tourist attractions include the Esmahal SultanMosque, the Callatis Archaeology Museum (where Romania’s only papyrus manuscript can be found), the Heroes Monument, the Navy Museum, the Mangalia Horse Tracks, the Hagieni Nature Reserve, the tourist port, the Movile Cave (a scientific wonder because of its ecosystem, which is completely isolated from the exterior environment; not open to visitors), the Comorova Forest, the Documaci Hillock, the Byzantine building, Mangalia Lake, the Callatis citadel and the Limanu Cave.
And now, here are the questions you need to answer to win the big prizes:
What is the ancient name of Mangalia? What is the name of the unique cave located close to Mangalia? What are the names of the resorts in the southern part of the Romanian Black Sea coast? Name five tourist attractions in Mangalia and the surrounding area.
Along with the answers to these questions, please tell us what motivated you to enter this competition and why you follow RRI’s broadcasts on air and online.
As usual, we are Radio Romania International, 60-64 General Berthelot Street, sector 1, Bucharest, PO Box 111, code 010165, fax 0040.21.319.05.62, e-mail
engl@rri.ro. Please send in your answers by 30th April, mailing date. The winners of the Grand Prize will be announced soon after that date, allowing them to prepare for their trip to Romania. Good luck!
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