Odessa, Ukraine

Odessa is the "Pearl of the Black Sea". Odessa has always shown more color, spunk, and irreverence than other cities of Ukraine. There's an excitement, a verve, an anything-is-possible feeling in its streets. It's a sea port with bathing and boardwalks, a resort city with health spas. With its balmy climate, seaside vistas and sandy beaches, and year-round street life, Odessa has an ambience more Mediterranean than Slavic.

It is the third largest city in Ukraine with a population of over 1.5 million and was founded in 1794.

An important cultural center, it is filled with architectural landmarks, including the legendary white stone steps leading to the sea, the famous Opera House, Vorontsov Palace from 1820, the former Potocki Palace and Uspensky Sobor with its five great domes. It boasts many schools of higher learning, including one of the oldest universities in the former Soviet Union, Odessa is the fifth largest education center in the country. It was always a center for the arts with its Conservatory and Odessa Art School.

1.28.15.WP26