2026 QSL series – January
RRI’s 2026 series of electronic QSLs captures the Casino in Constanța in different guises, a landmark building in Romania's most important Black Sea port and one of its biggest cities.
Eugen Cojocariu, 28.01.2026, 12:12
The history of the Constanța Casino begins after 1878, when the Dobrogea region became part of the Romanian state. The first building intended for entertainment was erected in 1880 and was made of wood and straw. It was called “Cazin” and was located on the high cliff, near the Genoese Lighthouse. The place quickly became the centre of social life, hosting theatre performances and balls.
In 1891, a strong winter storm seriously damaged the structure and destroyed the roof of the building. The city hall decided then that the city needed a more impressive structure built of durable materials and that would reflect the strategic importance of the city, which was also a Black Sea port.
The new building that would be erected to host the casino was to define the city’s new urban profile in the context of European maritime trade. This architectural ambition marked the beginning of a phase of rapid modernisation of the entire Romanian coastline.
