The Constanta Casino will become entirely a cultural destination and will also host a cafe, nevertheless, gambling activities will no longer take place there, Marketing Director of the Casino Maria Besnea told AGERPRES.
“The Casino was reopened a few days ago, on May 21, during the City Days celebrations, after an extensive renovation process lasting about five years, funded by the National Investment Company with approximately 40 million euros. Everyone who steps into the Casino again will discover its original architecture, preserved as much as possible, and the attention given to architectural details. The Casino now welcomes visitors in a complete and complex format,” Maria Besnea explained.
The public visiting areas of this iconic building are organised across three levels. On the ground floor there are an exhibition showcasing lighthouse structures and their symbolism, linking them to the city’s and Casino’s history. On the ground floor is another exhibition that tells the Casino’s story, including some of the more colourful episodes from its tumultuous past, with original plans and archive documents.
Access to the upper level is via the famous staircase, largely preserved in its original form. From the main hall, guests can enter a smaller room with a sea view, called the Hall of Mirrors, which hosts an exhibition dedicated to Anghel Saligny.
“This exhibition also discusses Anghel Saligny’s role in the development of Dobrogea through the Cernavoda Bridge and the region’s connection to the rest of the country. It also presents his impact on the development of the port, which, thanks to his plans, led to Constanta becoming one of the most modern ports in Europe at that time,” said the marketing director.
In the basement of the building two immersive exhibitions are currently open, “more attractive to younger visitors and children, but certainly enjoyable for adults as well, featuring virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences about the marine environment, the Black Sea, underwater life and fish.”
Ticket prices are as follows: Full visit (adults): 50 lei (10 euro); Students, pupils, pensioners: 25 lei; Children under 7 and persons with disabilities (plus one companion): Free; Ground floor + basement only: 30 lei (adults), 15 lei (discounted categories); Upper floor only: 20 lei (adults), 10 lei (discounted categories); Guided tour of entire building for groups of 25–30 people: 100 lei per person.
“Inaugurated in 1910, the Constanta Casino was once the favorite place of European aristocracy, a pearl of Art Nouveau architecture built on the Black Sea promenade. It has survived wars, regimes and neglect, but has always remained in the city’s heart, as a symbol of elegance and resilience. Today, fully restored, the Casino reopens as a contemporary cultural centre where history lives in harmony with art, technology and the spirit of a new generation,” reads the official Casino website.
The National Association of Travel Agencies (ANAT) and its partners are organising a familiarisation trip (infotrip) along the Romanian seaside from May 28 to June 1, ahead of the official start of the summer season.
