Pushkin arrived in Odesa as a civil servant in the office of Count Mikhail Vorontsov.
The monument commemorates the poet’s 13-month residence in the city, which was a highly productive period for his writing.
The statue is positioned with the poet facing away from the City Hall toward the sea, symbolizing his desire for travel and creative freedom.
The monument was constructed during the Soviet era, specifically as part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the poet's birth (observed retrospectively/commemoratively in city history).
Pushkin lived in a building on the nearby Rishelievska Street, which now serves as the Odesa Pushkin Museum.
The Monument to Alexander Pushkin is a bronze sculpture located on Prymorskyi Boulevard in Odesa, commemorating the poet's stay in the city between 1823 and 1824. Designed by sculptor Z. I. Azgur and architect L. M. Narezhny, it was unveiled in 1967. The statue depicts the poet in a contemplative pose, standing on a pedestal that includes inscriptions related to his literary connection with Odesa. It sits directly in front of the Odesa City Hall building, reflecting the historical significance of the poet's exile period in the region. The monument is a focal point of the historic boulevard, which overlooks the Black Sea port area. It serves as a tribute to the period when Pushkin frequented local literary circles and composed sections of 'Eugene Onegin'.
Stand slightly to the side to capture both the statue and the grand facade of the Odesa City Hall in the background.
Combine your visit with a walk along the entire length of Prymorskyi Boulevard.
Visit during the evening to see the monument illuminated against the backdrop of the illuminated City Hall.
The surrounding park area offers benches that provide a clear view of the seaport.
Do not mistake this for the larger, more ornate Pushkin monument in Moscow; this is a smaller, site-specific tribute to his Odesa exile.
