ATTRACTIONS
Archaeology Museum
Odessa Archaeology museum is one of the oldest museums not only in Ukraine but also in the whole ex-USSR, was founded in 1825. Now collection exceeds over 160 thousands of exhibits, being one of the biggest collections of materials and artifacts on northern Black Sea region history. Entering into the first exhibition hall of the museum you will find paths left by Greek colonists in Odessa and at the whole northern Black Sea region. Next halls dedicated to the culture of Scyths and Sarmaths tribes settled steppes of Black Sea region. Museum has its Golden Treasury room (one of three in Ukraine). The Golden Treasury of the Archaeology museum includes collection of gold belongings excavated from the Scythian and Sarmathian tombs, also there are gold and silver coins of ancient Greece and Rome, Byzantine and Russian empires etc.
Local Lore Museum
Museum, neibouring with city garden, located at house that was build in 1876 for well-known Odessa merchant Alexander Novikov. The first exposition opened in August 1944, was "Odessa heroic defence", dedicated to the resistance of Odessa citizens to Nazi during WWII(later this exposition was moved to republican museum of Odessa defence). The actual Local Lore museum was opened on May the 6th, 1956.
Tolstoy Palace
The architectural complex constructed in 1832 by the project of architect Boffo for nobleman count Tolstoy. The case with a facade was made in baroque style with furnished fretworks by ornaments. The White Hall, Silk Lounge and Marble Lounge(where by legend played Franz Liszt), Nut-tree reception room will charm you with its original furniture and rich decoration. In 1887 the architectural complex was complemented by picture gallery(Green hall) designed by the Viennese architects Felner and Ghelmer(the same architects who designed Opera House ). Up to 1934 palace accommodated Fund of gallery of Russian painting of the Odessa art museum. Tolstoy family left great sign in the history of Odessa by their social and wide philanthropic activity. Countess is for life honor member of city board of guardians of orphanage. the member of philantropic society of assistance to the poor andpatronage on homeless children. Count M M Tolstoy, the son of countess - court councelor, chamberlain, and memeber of seven municipal Duma commisions about health protection, public education and culture. During 22 years count Tolstoy was guardian of the public Library, which was built on his account (now it is odessa state scientist library) the honor citizen of Odessa. Count Toltoy with his wife were initiators and organizers of foundation of the first in Russia Medical Emergency Service.
Literature Museum
The building was constructed by design of architect Otton in the middle of XIX for nobleman prince Gagarin, one of the first citizens of Odessa. Classicism, baroque and ampir styles found their reflextion in the interiors of the palace. Each of twenty halls decorated in its own specific style tipical for certain period of literature it dedicated to. Rich decorations of Golden hall - the gala hall of the museum, will not leave you untouched. Famouse Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer Franz Liszt perfored here, as historians stated. This is the place where declaimed Vladimir (Zeev) Zhabotinski, the future ideologist of Israel state creation.
Western & Oriental Art Museum ( Abaza Palace )
Building constructed under project of architect Otton, in 1920 became this unique museum. Carrara marbel staircase leading from the lobby to the originaly decorated interiors with the unique works of artists among which are real masterpieces. Twenty three halls accommodate antique, western-european and oriental departmets. Odessa Western and Oriental Arts museum has one of the richest collections at Ukraine, among its exhibits are works of Frans Hals, Caravaggio, Strozzi, Magnasco, percelain from the best european factories of XVIII - XX cc with sculptures and ceramics from Iran, Tibet, China and Japan.
Fine Arts Museum
Museum was opened at a house of prince Pototsky in 1899. The beginning of the museum started from collection of canvases given by Saint-Petersburg Academy of Arts. Twenty six halls store wide range of fine arts : paintings, graphics, sculptures and decoration art, including special room provided for exhibition of Russian and Ukrainian iconographers' works of XVI - XVII. Among it's collection - works of famous artists Ayvazovsky, Levitan, Repin, Surikov, Shishkin. One of the best of it parts represented by canvases of XIX and XX ceturies Kandinsky, Benois, Kustodiev, Serov, Vrubel, Roerich. Also under museum there is an artificial grotto where classical music performances take place.