Archaeologists uncover 14th-century fortress beneath Odesa square

Archaeological excavations beneath Odesa's historic Primorsky Boulevard have revealed the remains of a 14th-century Genoese fortress known as Ginestra, offering new evidence of the Ukrainian Black Sea port's extensive medieval history. The discovery, completed in July 2025 by researchers from South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University and the Institute of Archaeology of Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences, also confirmed the location of the long-lost Ottoman fortress of Hadzhibey.euromaidanpress+1

The three-week excavation near the Duke de Richelieu monument uncovered stone walls, ceramics, and bronze artifacts from the medieval Italian fortress, which would have served merchants from the Republic of Genoa during its 11th to 18th-century existence. According to Andriy Krasnozhen, the university rector leading the project, "Now we know exactly what is literally located under the Duke".ukrainetravelnews+1

Solving a 200-Year Mystery

The excavation also resolved a nearly two-century debate about the location of Hadzhibey Castle, the Ottoman fortress blown up by Russian troops in 1789 during the Russo-Turkish War. Archaeologists discovered the front wall of a coastal artillery battery and traces of wall dismantling, confirming the fortress occupied approximately 40 by 40 meters between the semicircular building, funicular, and Duke monument.news.artnet+3

"Hadzhibey Castle has been found! The debates about its location, which lasted for almost 200 years, have been put to rest," Krasnozhen announced on Facebook. The Ottoman fortress was strategically positioned just two meters from the coastal cliff, 32 meters above sea level, providing commanding views over the harbor.pdpu+3

Layers of Ancient History

The discoveries revealed Odesa's complex historical timeline, with fortress walls embedded in a 5th-century BCE layer from the ancient Greek settlement of Istrian Harbor. This marked the first time archaeologists traced cultural layers of the Greek colony within its northern boundary.news.artnet+3

Ivan Liptuga, director of Odesa City Council's culture department, called the findings "a major event for the city, for the country, for history," noting they enhance the universal value of Odesa's UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The excavations began in 2021 but were interrupted by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, resuming in June 2025.ukrainetravelnews+3

The discoveries challenge assumptions about early European civilizations, showing evidence of Italian, Ottoman, and ancient Greek presence in a location known primarily for its 19th-century Russian imperial development.wikipedia

genoese fortress discovered

The Genoese presence in the Black Sea region extended far beyond the newly discovered Ginestra fortress in Odesa, forming part of a vast commercial network that dominated medieval maritime trade. The Republic of Genoa established strategic settlements and trading posts across the Mediterranean and Black Sea from the 11th century through the late 15th century, with their Black Sea colony of Gazaria in modern-day Crimea serving as a major hub. This extensive network included powerful fortifications like the Genoese Fortress in Sudak, built between 1371-1469 with 14 towers connected by solid walls, and the massive fortress in Feodosia (Kafa), which was the second largest in Europe after Thessaloniki.ukrainetravelnews+2

Archaeological evidence suggests these Italian merchant-rulers profited significantly from Black Sea slave trade until the mid-15th century, actively exporting slaves to Egypt and Western Europe. The discovery of Ginestra adds a crucial missing piece to understanding how Genoa's maritime empire functioned, bridging the gap between the better-documented Crimean strongholds and the western Black Sea coast. Plans are underway to preserve the Odesa site with glass covering and bronze informational plaques, potentially making the fortress remains visible to visitors while protecting this newly revealed chapter of medieval European expansion.odessa-journal+1

Potemkin Square

The square where these archaeological discoveries unfolded has witnessed as many transformations as the civilizations buried beneath it. Originally named Elizaventiskaya after Empress Elizabeth, the space later became Dyukovskaya to commemorate Duke de Richelieu before evolving through at least seven different designations reflecting Ukraine's turbulent political history. Under Soviet rule from 1920, it was known as Karl Marx Square, then Potemkin Square from 1965, before being renamed Catherine Square following Ukraine's independence in 1991.visitukraine+1

At the square's heart stands the Monument to the Founders of Odesa, itself a testament to contested memory and political upheaval. The original 1900 monument honoring Catherine II and her associates was removed by Bolsheviks in 1920, replaced first by a bust of Karl Marx that was destroyed by a storm, then by a full statue nicknamed "Karl the Second" by locals. The current monument, carefully reconstructed in 2007 using original fragments with only Catherine's head requiring remaking, sparked fierce opposition from Ukrainian patriots who viewed honoring the Russian empress as inappropriate in independent Ukraine. The installation required moving the existing Potemkin Mariners statue to the port entrance and weathering protests that included demonstrators burning effigies and erecting an Orthodox cross to halt construction.leodessa+2