Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța
About Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța
The Museum of National History and Archaeology in Constanța (MINAC) holds the most important collection of antiquities in Dobruja. The first pieces were gathered at the prefecture after 1878, and its founding act is considered to be Vasile Pârvan's report of 1911. Since 25 December 1977 the museum has occupied the former Town Hall (Palatul Comunal) on Piața Ovidiu, built between 1911 and 1921 to designs by the architect Victor Ștefănescu in the Romanian Revival style, with a 42 m clock tower. In front of it stands the statue of Ovid, the poet exiled to Tomis.
The centrepiece of the collection is the Tomis Sculpture Hoard: 24 marble statues and reliefs from the 2nd–3rd centuries, found on 1 April 1962 on the site of the old railway station, carefully buried side by side. Among them are the Glykon serpent and Fortuna with Pontos, god of the Black Sea. The archaeological collection numbers some 52,000 pieces and the coin collection some 87,000.
Next to the museum, on the cliff above the port, is the Roman Mosaic Edifice, also run by MINAC. Discovered in 1959, while the foundations of a block of flats were being dug, it was built around the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries and served as the commercial centre of the port until the 6th century. A large hall, vaulted stores and warehouses stepped down towards the port on three terraces.
What you can see
In the Edifice, from the walkways, you look down on the great hall paved with polychrome mosaic: of the original 2,000 m² or so, around 400 m² survive in place, with geometric and plant motifs and a single animal, a white dove hidden among the leaves. On the terrace below are the vaulted rooms where amphorae, anchors and iron ingots from a ship were found.
Good to know
The museum building has been closed since November 2024 for restoration, and the collections have been moved to storage. Work began on 15 January 2026 and is scheduled to last 24 months, so the Sculpture Hoard cannot be seen in Constanța until the museum reopens. The Roman Mosaic Edifice was restored and reopened on 14 November 2025.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The polychrome mosaic of the Edifice's great hall, with the white dove hidden among the leaves growing from a vase.
- The vaulted rooms on the Edifice's second terrace, the stores where amphorae, anchors and iron ingots were found.
- The long wall of the mosaic hall, in stone and brick, preserved to its full height on the port side.
- The Romanian Revival façade of the former Town Hall, with its arched entrance and 42 m clock tower.
- The statue of Ovid in the middle of the square, in front of the museum.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Bucharest it is ~225 km on the A2 motorway, about two and a half hours. In Constanța, head for the peninsula (the old town); the museum is on Piața Ovidiu, and the Roman Mosaic Edifice is right next to it, on the side facing the port. The streets on the peninsula are narrow and busy in summer, so it is easier to leave the car further away and walk.
Public transport: the CT Bus lines that reach the peninsula stop a few steps from Piața Ovidiu; check the route in the operator's app. Trains from Bucharest reach Constanța in two to three hours, and from the station to the peninsula it is about 3 km.
- Where to park
Neither the museum nor the Edifice has its own car park. The peninsula is parking Zone 0: you pay at the meter, by SMS or in the Constanța Parking app. In summer spaces on the peninsula fill up quickly; it is easier to park further away and walk.
- Fees & discounts
Roman Mosaic Edifice: 25 lei for adults, 12 lei for seniors, 6 lei for pupils and students; a guided tour costs 75 lei. Tickets can also be bought online. On 6 August, the anniversary of the Edifice's discovery, admission was free in 2026, and the museum intends to repeat this every year. For the museum on Piața Ovidiu, currently closed, the listed price is 20 lei full and 5 lei reduced. The Painted Tomb of Tomis, another MINAC site in the city, has a separate ticket.
- Rules
The mosaic is viewed from the walkways: do not step onto the floor or touch the walls or the exhibits. Photography for personal use is generally allowed; photo shoots and filming for events carry a separate fee and must be approved by the museum.
- Facilities
online tickets · guided tours on request · workshops and events announced on minac.ro
Frequently asked questions about Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța
- How much is a ticket to Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța?
- A ticket to Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța costs 25 lei (Mosaic Edifice only). Roman Mosaic Edifice: 25 lei for adults, 12 lei for seniors, 6 lei for pupils and students; a guided tour costs 75 lei. Tickets can also be bought online. On 6 August, the anniversary of the Edifice's discovery, admission was free in 2026, and the museum intends to repeat this every year. For the museum on Piața Ovidiu, currently closed, the listed price is 20 lei full and 5 lei reduced. The Painted Tomb of Tomis, another MINAC site in the city, has a separate ticket.
- How long does a visit to Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța take?
- A visit to Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța takes about ½ – 1 hours (estimate, Mosaic Edifice).
- Can you visit Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța with kids?
- Yes, Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța is suitable for children (short visit, on walkways).
- Where can I park at Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța?
- There is paid parking at Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța (peninsula, Zone 0). Neither the museum nor the Edifice has its own car park. The peninsula is parking Zone 0: you pay at the meter, by SMS or in the Constanța Parking app. In summer spaces on the peninsula fill up quickly; it is easier to park further away and walk.
- How do I get to Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța?
- Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța is located at Piața Ovidiu 12; Roman Mosaic Edifice: Piața Ovidiu 5, Constanța, Constanța County. By car: from Bucharest it is ~225 km on the A2 motorway, about two and a half hours. In Constanța, head for the peninsula (the old town); the museum is on Piața Ovidiu, and the Roman Mosaic Edifice is right next to it, on the side facing the port. The streets on the peninsula are narrow and busy in summer, so it is easier to leave the car further away and walk. Public transport: the CT Bus lines that reach the peninsula stop a few steps from Piața Ovidiu; check the route in the operator's app. Trains from Bucharest reach Constanța in two to three hours, and from the station to the peninsula it is about 3 km.
- When is the best time to visit Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța?
- The best season for Museum of National History and Archaeology, Constanța: All year round (indoors, all year round).
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