Izmail city, Ukraine

Izmail overview

Izmail is a city of Odessa oblast of southern Ukraine. Izmail is situated in southeastern part of the region on Danube river, 80 kilometers from Black Sea coast. Izmail is the largest port on Danube river in Ukraine. There is an airport in the city.

Izmail city population is about 75,000 (2010).

The phone code of Izmail is +380 4841; the postal code is 68600.

Izmail city coat of arms

Izmail city map location

Izmail history

The date of Izmail foundation is unknown. From 12th century there was a fortress there. Izmail fortress was the object of rivalry of Russian and Turkish armies. July 26, 1770 Russian army captured Izmail fortress. In 1774 according to peace treaty between Russian Empire and Turkey it was returned to Turkey.

By December 1790 Izmail fortress had heavy defense and was called unassailable but famous Russian army commander A.V.Suvorov captured it that year. In 1791 it was returned to Turkey again. September 14, 1809 Russian army once again captured Izmail fortress and once again it was returned to Turkey in 1856.

April 13, 1877 Izmail fortress was captured by Russian army fourth time. In 1918 Izmail city was captured by Romania. In 1940 Soviet government forced Romania to return Izmail to USSR. From July 1941 to August 1944 Izmail city was under German and Romania armies control during World War II. From 1991 Izmail belongs to Ukraine.

Izmail features

In Izmail there is a port, a ship-repairing plant, a ferro-concrete items plant,a paper and pulp group of enterprises. Trade (food, medicines, household technique) has been developed lately.

The city stretches 13 km along the river Danube and it is located in the center of numerous and environmentally important lakes, not far from well-known Danube biosphere reserve in Danube delta.

The first Saturday in October is the city day. Izmail is included into the List of historically inhabited settlements in Ukraine.

Izmail is crossed by international highway E-57 Izmir (Turkey) - Rostov (Russian Federation).

Izmail streets

Izmail city, Ukraine street

Author: Denis Ivanov

Izmail city street view

Author: Evgeny Raschenko

Izmail city hall

Author: Oleg Kuznetsov

Izmail attractions

Among the main places of interest of Izmail are numerous museums:

Izmail historical museum named after A.V.Suvorov (Pushkin str., 37) is located in an old detached house which is a historical and architectural monument of 19th century. The building was constructed in 1899. The museum shows the great commander’s glory as well as memory of heroic deeds of Ukrainian Cossacks in Russian-Turkish wars in the second half of 18th centuries.

The museum is rather special as it exhibits unique collections of uniform and armament of Russian and West-European armies, side- and fire-arms of 16th-20th centuries, banners of Russian and Turkish armies of 18th-19th centuries, paintings, graphic works and coins. There is a branch of the museum - a diorama “Russian and Ukrainian Cossacks headed by A.V.Suvorov are conquering the fortress Izmail on December 11th, 1790” (Krepostnaya str., 1-a).

The diorama was opened in 1973 in the oldest building of the city - former Turkish mosque of the end of 16th century - a monument of national importance which is one of few preserved samples of medieval Moslem architecture in Ukraine.

Izamail historical museum named after A.V.Suvorov and the diorama “Conquering the fortress Izmail” are on the list of tours in the south of Ukraine as well as of the program of international Danube cruise “From the Alps to the Black Sea”.

Izmail museum of history and local study of Danube area (Kotovsky str., 51) possesses materials and statistic data on history of Danube area inhabiting by Ukrainians, Russians, Bessarabian Bulgarians, Gagauzes, Greeks and other nationalities. There are several permanent topical exhibitions in the museum.

Museum of Ukrainian Danube steamship-line (Krasnoflotskaya str., 28) is located in the highest building of Izmail - Administration of Ukrainian Danube steamship-line. The museum informs visitors about history of Ukrainian Danube steamship-line as well as of Danube area tightly linked with it.

Izmail picture gallery (Suvorov prospect, 19) is based on art collection made of works from Ministry of Culture and Artists’ Union of Ukraine and Russia, Odessa art museum, State Tretyakov Gallery, Russian Museum in St.Petersburg, State Hermitage, private collections as well as works of local artists.

In the House of Izmail Artists’ Union (Benderskaya str., 43) various studios are located as well as a saloon-exhibition where works of local artists are exhibited.