Find out the most thrilling stories about the dark past of Odessa. After meeting your local guide at the reception of your hotel or at your residence, the journey will start. The fascinating criminal history of one of the most beautiful Ukrainian cities, Odessa, starts from the very day of its foundation. Being a new port city with tempting opportunities to get rich quickly, the city attracted many people with a dubious reputation.
During the tour, you will see the most significant places of the criminal Odessa, including the famous Shevchenko Park, where one of the legendary fortress’ walls is still visible, and the customs office. Moreover, you will visit such intriguing crime-related places as Myasoedovskaya and Moldavanka Streets, the quarantine harbor, and the famous “Chumka”. The Moldavanka district became popular because of Mishka Yaponchuk, the famous chief of the Odessa mafia, who was born here.
Moreover, the higher robbery academy, preparing “staff” for both the Russian Empire and campaigns abroad, was operating in Moldavanka. Odessa was home to numerous legendary thieves, pickpockets, and tricksters, including the well-known Sonka the Golden Hand.
Walking through the streets that once were home for the famous gangsters, the criminal past of XIX-XX century’s Odessa will surprise you with its scale and intensity. Walk into the mystery, and uncover the secrets of Odessa’s dark past.