Odessa or Odesa is a city in Ukraine and a major seaport and transportation hub located on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. Odessa is also an administrative center of the Odessa Oblast and a multiethnic major cultural center. It is the third biggest city in Ukraine and known in Ukraine as Black Sea Pearl or Southern Palmyra. It’s best known for its lovely beaches and 19th-century architecture, including the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater.