From Bucharest: Roman Empire footsteps and Constanta day tour

Things to do in Romania
Things to do in Bucharest
Starting from your hotel in Bucharest.
Visits:
Adamclisi Tropaeum Traiani monument
Archaeological Museum Adamclisi
The Roman building with mosaics in Constanța
Constanta Cazino Building

This unique tour includes ancient history starting with the 2nd century.

Recommended for history and architecture enthusiasts.

The Adamclisi monument, Tropaeum Traiani, was built in 109 CE, as evidenced by the dedicatory inscription on the plinth of the trophy statue stating the titles held by Emperor Traian. The monument was erected to celebrate the victory of the Roman army in the Daco-Roman war of 101-102 CE. On this occasion, the Roman army, led by Emperor Trajan, suffered significant human losses. Second century AD. begins with the expansion of the Roman Empire to the much-coveted Dacian Kingdom led by Decebalus. Aware of the danger of seeing Sarmisegetuza fall, Decebal organizes a diversion in Dobrogea, trying to distract the Roman army.

Allied with the Boers and Roxolani Sarmatians, the barbarian tribes, in the winter of 102 AD Decebals entered into direct conflict with the Roman army probably right on the plateau of Adamclisi and nearby, at Istrum or Nicopolis. The decisive battle at Adamclisi proves bitter, with many lives lost. The Roman army, emerging victorious from this war, suffers the loss of approximately 4000 soldiers.

Following this important victory for the empire, Trajan ordered the construction of the commemorative monument in 109 CE. Proof of this fact is the very inscription on the upper part of the triumphal monument, which describes the Emperor: "To the god Mars the avenger, emperor Caesar, son of the divine Nerva, Nerva Trajan, Augustus, conqueror of the Germans, of the Dacians, high priest, having the power of tribune of the plebeians for the 13th time, proclaimed emperor by the army for the 6th time, elected consul for the 5th time, father of the country after defeating the Dacian and Sarmatian army..." Dedicated to the god Mars the Avenger, Mars Ultar, this monument marks the beginning of Roman rule over the province.

The first version of the Constanța Casino was built with a wood frame in 1880 and was named Cazin or Kursaal l. It was the first Romanian building to be constructed on the shore of the Black Sea shortly after Northern Dobruja came under Romanian administration as a result of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) and the Romanian War of Independence.
The building's design utilized slopes to create two rounded, overlapping terraces with the purpose of providing a full view of the cliff, the sea, and the Constanța harbor from all angles. It was situated adjacent to the Genoese Lighthouse. The interior housed a ballroom, two games halls, and two reading halls, where visitors could read local, national, and international press. Initially, the City of Constanța leased and rented the building and space to entrepreneurs. One of those casino entrepreneurs was Captain Constantin Creangă, son of writer Ion Creangă and father of Horia Creangă, the leading Romanian architect during the interwar period. The building was later transferred and administered by the County Council, which opened it up for use. Finding that the building merely produced enough income to cover maintenance, it was once again leased out to wealthy entrepreneurs.In 1891, the wood-structured Cazinoul din Constanța was almost entirely destroyed by a storm, and on January 29, 1892, its demolition was approved.

The Roman building with mosaics in Constanța, with almost 2,000 square meters of mosaics, erected in the 4th century CE, probably under the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great, in place of earlier port buildings, was repaired in various stages until the beginning of the 7th century, when it ended its existence with the abandonment of the ancient fortress of Tomis, following the great raids.