Roman Castrum in SE Romania town to be 'rebuilt' with EU money

The local authorities of Ovidiu, a town in Constanta county, in South-Eastern Romania, have obtained EU funding worth some EUR 3 million to rebuilt the 'Roman Castrum', planning to integrate it in the tourist circuit.

Aerial view of the Castrum [Credit: Observator de Constanta]

The archaeological site is located on the shore of Lake Siutghiol, a former Black Sea bay, on a total area of 7,120 sqm, the Ovidiu Town Hall said in a press release. The project targets the so-called Roman Castrum (a Byzantine fortification from the Sixth Century), a Basilica church outside the Castrum walls, a Byzantine settlement and an aqueduct.

According to the City Hall, archaeologists have been investigating the 'Roman Castrum' since 1979. The Castrum had the role of protecting the aqueduct that supplied Tomis (the city of Constanta today). In terms of architecture, the Castrum has four towers at the corners, two circular and two rectangular. The two rectangular towers have only two sides outside the enclosure and this is, according to the local authorities, an unusual feature not seen in other fortifications of this kind.

The fortification’s interior covers 2,200 sqm, of which about half has been researched so far. Back in 1984, a money deposit was discovered inside the Castrum, with pieces from the time of the Byzantine Emperor Zeno (474-491).

The proposed tourist installation at the Castrum [Credit: Primaria Ovidiu]

The Ovidiu Town Hall said that part of the Castrum’s interior would be arranged for exhibitions and part as an amphitheatre area with concrete benches covered in wood. It will be partially covered with a light metal structure and will have state-of-the-art multimedia equipment, an open-air stage to be used for screenings, cultural events, children’s history classes, and other such events.

The Basilica was built before the Castrum but was discovered later, outside the city walls. It was identified in 1998 and researched until 2003. The project proposes the creation of a bridge made of secure glass, from where the visitors will be able to see the entire site.

The project also includes the construction of sanitary groups, pedestrian alleys and car parks. It should be completed in two and a half years from the moment the work starts.

Author: Irina Marica | Source: Romania Insider [October 18, 2018]