Monument to Orange, Odessa

The Monument to the Orange is one of Odessa’s most distinctive and whimsical landmarks, reflecting the city’s affection for humor and its layered history. Installed in 2004, the sculpture commemorates a well-known anecdote from the early 19th century, when Odessa was a young Black Sea port struggling for development. According to local legend, a shipment of 3,000 oranges was sent as a gift to Russian Emperor Paul I, who was so pleased by the gesture that he released funds to complete the city’s unfinished port. Whether true or embellished, the episode has become part of Odessa’s civic mythology.

The monument was created by sculptor Alexander Tokarev, with design contributions from Valery Balukh and architect Vladimir Glazyrin. It stands along Zhvanetsky Boulevard, a popular pedestrian route overlooking Odessa’s historic harbor. The sculpture features a giant metal orange set on wheels, recalling a carriage drawn by horses. Inside the partially opened fruit, Emperor Paul I is shown lifting an orange toward his face in a gesture of approval. Crowning the monument are miniature figures of several well-known Odessa buildings, adding a local architectural touch. This imaginative combination of realism and historical reference embodies the city’s lasting tradition of humor, satire, and cultural pride.

In contrast to grand imperial monuments, this sculpture embraces lightness and irony. The figures appear mid-gesture, as though caught in the act of presenting the oversized fruit. The peeled orange, resting on classical architectural fragments, symbolizes both the city’s fragility and its resourcefulness—turning something small into something transformative.

Today, the Monument to the Orange is not only a photo stop but a reflection of Odessa’s spirit. Visitors encounter a site that blends myth, civic memory, and the city’s unmistakable sense of humor, all set against the backdrop of its historic port and seaside atmosphere.