Odesa - Pearl of the South

This wonderful city on the Black Sea coast is often called the "Pearl of the South." It has a special architectural style and a special ambiance. Fortunately, most of the marvelous buildings that went up in Odesa during the 18th and 19th centuries were only partially destroyed during World War II. That means the city retains the charm of yesteryear.

Odesa residents are known to be hospitable, warm-hearted, independent, proud - and to possess a sophisticated sense of humor. The city holds festivals of humor and satire every year on 1 April. And when the festivals are held, local businesses give their employees the day off.

The city has had a colorful history. On Sept. 14, 1789, General Suvorov's detachment of Ukrainian Cossacks took a Turkish fortress called Eni-Dunya under the leadership of Anton Golovatiy. Six years later, on June 25, 1795, Russian officials showed their gratitude for the victory. They announced that an area that is today the Peresyp section of Odesa would be given to "Cossacks of the Black Sea army" for settlement.

Therefore, the first settlers of the new city on the coast of the Black Sea were Ukrainians, the "Peresyp Cossacks". Odesa's current inhabitants get their reputation for being able to face anything from these indomitable warriors of the late 1700s.

At the start of the 21st century, Odesa was about 200 years old - a young city for this part of the world. By comparison, Kyiv is about 1,500 years old, and Lviv even older.

The late 18th and early 19th centuries were a "golden age" for Odesa, the peak of its development and richness. These times are connected with the name of one of the founders of the city, France's Duke de Richelieu. The founders were an enlightened bunch and did a good job of guiding the city. They included Field Marshal Suvorov, Count Potemkin-Tavrichesky and a number of notable figures, including de Ribas, de Volan and Langeron.

They did such a good job of laying the foundation for the port city that it has become known throughout the world as a gate to a large inland empire.

Odesa was lucky enough to enjoy a great deal of freedom under Russian rule. The central government kept its thumb on the vast majority of its vast empire.

Odesa was allowed to breathe politically because of its advantageous geographical location, convenient sheltered inlet, fertile black soil and eclectic mix of population.

Russian Emperor Alexander I felt the newly won lands in the south needed a progressive administrator.

He chose Duke Arman de Richelieu as governor in 1803.

Though a foreigner, Richelieu became a zealous Odesa booster. He went all out to create favorable conditions in the city for development and trade.

That included convincing the government to cut tariffs to only a quarter of what they were at other ports. A fifth of the revenue from the money saved on the lower tariffs went toward developing the new city.

The prosperity trickled down to all levels of society, giving Odesa residents a good standard of living.

Count Langeron, who took over as governor from Duke de Richelieu in 1815, bolstered Odesa's prosperity by convincing the Russian government to establish a duty-free international trade zone in the city. The good times in the city during that era led to Odesa gaining a reputation as a European city.