Visiting Odesa without walking along Prymorskyi Boulevard is nearly unthinkable, as this is where the city's most iconic landmarks are located — the famous Potemkin Stairs and the monument to the Duke de Richelieu. Though the boulevard is only 500 meters long, it’s packed with historical significance and architectural gems. It stretches from Odesa City Hall to the Vorontsov Palace and is considered one of the finest examples of urban ensemble architecture in Ukraine. One side of the boulevard features elegant buildings, while the other offers a lush green slope descending toward the Black Sea. A funicular connects the boulevard with the seafront below.
Interesting fact: During restoration work, archaeologists uncovered the remains of an ancient Greek settlement. These ruins were preserved under a glass dome, creating a small open-air museum — a unique feature of the boulevard.
One of the most notable buildings along the boulevard is the Londonskaya Hotel, which hosted famous guests such as Isadora Duncan, Sarah Bernhardt, and Anton Chekhov. Nearby stands a statue of Alexander Pushkin, widely praised for its likeness to the poet. According to local legend, the poet’s back is turned to City Hall in protest of its refusal to fund the monument — though in reality, this is just a myth.
Photo: Discover.ua
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